A Special Message from the Executive Director
Late last Friday evening, April 25, the federal government illegally and without warning terminated nearly $400 million in grant program funding which supports over 32,000 AmeriCorps members and programs in all fifty states.
The interruption of AmeriCorps operations in Washington State alone affects approximately 1,300 service members including our two AmeriCorps members Hillary Sanders and Kelly Kingdon (pictured above). On Monday morning they learned they’d been placed on administrative hold without pay, their positions were paused, and they could not accrue hours.
PTMSC has a long relationship with the AmeriCorps program for good reason. Kelly and Hillary are, like the AmeriCorps members before them, environmental leaders, educators, and advocates. They make PTMSC stronger and give us hope. We are committed to supporting them throughout this unprecedented disruption. After all, they have made a commitment to PTMSC by serving as AmeriCorps members here since last October.
We know that you appreciate and support them too, and we thank you for that. The immediate response in just the past few days from the PTMSC community has been one of concern and generosity. The good news is that our AmeriCorps members were quickly offered temporary employment by a generous donor. In this capacity they are able to continue as PTMSC volunteers while we await news and further direction from Washington Service Corps. Their terms with PTMSC end on August 31, and we will find ways to continue to keep them at PTMSC through this time.
In the meantime, we ask you to remind our elected officials that the AmeriCorps program is invaluable to PTMSC and to add your voice to those speaking out if you haven’t already.
Here are some resources:
- On Tuesday, April 29, Washington state’s Attorney General Nick Brown joined a multistate lawsuit and released this statement: Washington State Challenges Trump Administration’s Dismantling of AmeriCorps
- Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson (also an AmeriCorps alum) released a statement in support of AmeriCorps service: Governor Ferguson statement on termination of AmeriCorps funding
- America’s Service Commission, the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that acts as the collective voice representing the 52 governor-led state and territorial commissions across the United States, released this statement: America’s Service Commissions Statement on the Termination of AmeriCorps Grants
Take action:
- Tell your members of Congress to protect AmeriCorps
- Restore AmeriCorps Funding – 5 Calls
- If you are an AmeriCorps alum, share your story with our partners at Service Year Alliance
Thank you for your ongoing support of the organizations and humans that are champions for healthy oceans, and for your support of PTMSC.
Diane Quinn
Executive Director
Port Townsend Marine Science Center