Synopses & Reviews
Praise for The American Way to Change"The stories of everyday people changing the nation through service come to life in this book. Shirley Sagawa has been at the center of service policy for two decades, and if we follow the blueprint she offers, together we can solve the pressing problems of our day."
—Alan Khazei, founder, Be the Change, Inc., and co-founder, City Year
"We are at a critical moment when real change is needed. Service can play a central role in that transformation, and this book spells out how everyone can participate."
—Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO, Entertainment Industry Foundation
"Shirley Sagawa has written an invaluable how-to book for accomplishing nothing less than the transformation of our nation."
—Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO, America's Promise Alliance
"Sagawa vibrantly showcases our new opportunity to leverage civic energy to make a lasting impact. Policy makers, community leaders, and volunteers: this is your road map."
—Karen Baker, Secretary of Service and Volunteering for the State of California
"In this book, the godmother of national service and volunteerism takes her ideas to the next level and outlines a new approach to national problem solving—one that asks each of us to help reshape America."
—Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire state senator
"Sagawa offers a compelling case for the idea that citizen service is a critical strategy for solving the pressing problems of our time."
—AnnMaura Connolly, steering committee member, Voices for National Service
"Sagawa shows how we can improve the quality of life in America's communities through policies that encourage a lifetime of service."
—Stephen Goldsmith, chairman, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and author of The Power of Social Innovation
"This book highlights some of the most innovative and successful programs of our time and should be read by any policymaker or active citizen who is looking for effective strategies to solve our most critical social problems."
—Harris Wofford, former Pennsylvania state senator, and author of Of Kennedys and Kings, and former CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service
Synopsis
This book will outline a compelling vision of national service at scale and show what this means for our country. By profiling real people who have served, the impact they have made and the nonprofits they worked with, this book will tell a powerful story of change and teach readers (both nonprofits and engaged citizens) how they too can change their own communities through service. For example: Washington DC Public School Chancellor Michelle Rhee began her career as a Teach For America corps member, teaching in an inner city school in Baltimore. She went on to found the New Teacher Project, which has placed 23,000 teachers in hard to fill jobs and sparked important reforms in teacher hiring. Now she is a nationally recognized school system leader, pursuing reforms once thought impossible in a large city district.
The author will paint a picture of successes like these, demonstrating their impact in individual communities and how this was done. It will show how America would look if programs like these operated at scale across the country -- not just in one or two neighborhoods, but wherever they were needed. It will describe how we can achieve this goal, through action at the community and organizational level. It will help nonprofits create successful service programs to tackle different issues by offering examples and key lessons. Finally, it will speak to ordinary Americans about what they can do to make a difference -- by advocating, joining AmeriCorps or volunteering in their own communities.
Synopsis
How ordinary citizens dedicated to service can change the face of America's most critical issuesWhat if the nation were able to capitalize on the energy of Americans willing to serve and volunteer for a year or more? This inspirational book tells the stories of real people who have dedicated themselves to service and the nonprofits that engaged them. It shows how selflessness and service have transformed lives and communities, and can address similar problems throughout the country. The author profiles successes, demonstrates measurable effects, and shows how impact is made. This book describes how we can achieve change, through action at both the community and organizational level.
- Filled with illustrative examples and key lessons
- Highlights programs such as Teach for America, City Year, and Community Health Corps
- Shows how nonprofits can create successful service programs to tackle different issues
The book shows what America would look like if programs like these operated at scale across the country not just in one or two neighborhoods, but wherever they were needed.
Synopsis
What if our nation were able to capitalize on the energy of Americans willing to serve and volunteer for a year or more?
The American Way to Change offers a compelling vision of national service that clearly illustrates what this means for our country. Throughout the book, Shirley Sagawa (a leading expert on the topic) profiles real people who have performed national service, examines the organizations they have worked with, and reveals the often profound impact these local heroes have made through their efforts. Using powerful stories of transformation, the book shows how anyone can change their community through service.
The book highlights dedicated people such as Washington D.C. public school chancellor Michelle Rhee who began her career as a Teach For America corpsmember, teaching in an inner city school in Baltimore. She went on to found the New Teacher Project, which has placed thousands of teachers in difficult-to-fill jobs and sparked important reforms in teacher hiring. She is a nationally recognized school system leader, pursuing reforms once thought impossible in a large city district.
America could be transformed if programs like the New Teacher Project operated at scale—not just in one or two neighborhoods, but wherever they are needed. Filled with illustrative examples and key lessons, the book describes how to achieve change through action at the community and organizational level and shows how service programs can tackle a variety of issues.
The American Way to Change speaks to ordinary citizens who want to make a difference and offers a clear road map for achieving extraordinary results.
About the Author
Shirley Sagawa is a fellow at the Washington think tank Center for American Progress. She has been called a "founding mother of the modern service movement" in the United States and has served as head of the Obama transition team for the Corporation for National and Community Service. She continues to advise the administration and congress regarding national service policy. Shirley also consults and advises numerous nonprofits on volunteering and service and served as a staff member of the White House during the Clinton Administration.
Table of Contents
Foreword.Prologue.
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
About the Author.
1. Introduction.
About This Book.
Part I: Changing Lives: Impacts on Those Who Serve.
2. Powering Life Transitions.
Transition to the Teen Years.
Transition to Productive Adulthood.
Transition from College to Career.
Transition from Career to Retirement.
Transition from Crisis to Coping.
Potential for Transformation.
3. Strengthening Civic Engagement.
Service and Civic Engagement.
How Service Helps.
Political Activism.
Potential for Transformation.
Part II: Tackling Tough Problems: Impacts on Others.
4. Advancing Education.
Early Childhood Development.
Elementary and Secondary Education.
Potential for Transformation.
5. Improving Health and Well-Being.
Health.
Aging.
Potential for Transformation.
6. Helping People and Communities in Distress.
Poverty.
Disaster.
Potential for Transformation.
7. Protecting the Environment.
Conserving Energy.
Protecting the Environment.
Potential for Transformation.
8. Inspiring and Sustaining Innovative Solutions.
Service and Social Innovation.
Today's Innovators.
Service Alumni Entrepreneurs.
Potential for Transformation.
9. What You Can Do.
Individuals.
Groups.
Nonprofit Organizations.
Educators.
Business.
Media and Entertainment.
Philanthropy.
Locally Elected Officials.
State Policymakers.
Federal Policymakers.
Potential for Transformation.
10. Conclusion.
Appendix: High-Impact Service Programs.
Notes.
Index.