The Time is Now

As many know, Sargent Shriver was a key figure in the world of service. Influential in the development of the Peace Corps and VISTA programs, Sargent Shriver left a legacy of service for all. His unswerving commitment to seeking justice both abroad and within our own country is the backbone behind AmeriCorps programs.

My name’s Jenny and I recently had the opportunity to take part in leading a discussion with a group of AmeriCorps*VISTA, State, and National members from throughout Michigan. During the training we viewed The American Idealist, a documentary of Sargent Shriver’s life and legacy. After the viewing we had an honest discussion about our own personal experiences with AmeriCorps and the ideals we saw in Sargent Shriver. Two things stuck out in our discussion:

The first thing we all saw in the movie and that resonated with our own lives is that personal satisfaction from our service does not stem from affirmation. Though personal affirmation is a good thing, we seem to feel a deep sense of satisfaction when we see change for the better within people from the community or in policies which affect them. We are here to serve and everyday we have the opportunity to bring change and growth within our organizations and communities. It is this responsibility of service that keeps us serving. We serve for the folks who don’t have a home or those who have no health care coverage. We serve for the youth in school so they can have diverse experiences and a quality education. We serve to conserve the wildlife in Michigan and keep our natural resources healthy. It is from this motivation that Sargent Shriver developed these programs and it is from this motivation that we carry them on.

The second thing that stood out in our discussion is that the time to serve is now. We noticed huge similarities in the social and economic contexts in which Sargent Shriver was making an influence and today. We are experiencing record high unemployment rates and many people are without health care coverage. We are seeing government funding cut for schools and youth enrichment programs. Additionally, funding for the arts and wildlife preservation is also scarce. This is the situation we find ourselves in and the situation we find many of the people we work with. Members at the training expressed a sincere commitment to their service during these difficult economic times in our country.

Listening to AmeriCorps members’ stories of action and motivation were inspirational to me. I was grateful to be a part of the discussion. I walked away feeling proud to serve as an AmeriCorps member and motivated to continue to do my service well.

Have you viewed The American Idealist? If so, what did you think of Sargent Shriver’s impact on our country and service?