The American Way to Change ─ How National Service & Volunteers Are Transforming America

How ordinary citizens dedicated to service can change the face of America's most critical issues
What 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.

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.

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.