The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Posted by Tara Greco

There is much legislation from the last 40+ years that bears the mark of Sen. Kennedy, but only one piece of legislation that carries his name: The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, an historic bi-partisan law that honors, encourages and supports community and public service.

For a man whose life was dedicated to serving others, it is fitting. Despite his privileged origins, Kennedy was able to empathize with and advocate for the forgotten and marginalized.
 
The Kennedy Serve Act will, among other things, enable a dramatic expansion of service opportunities for Americans of all ages, setting a path for increasing the number of AmeriCorps members to 250,000 by 2017, and establish a Social Innovation Fund pilot program to provide seed money and increase support of innovative and evidence-based programs that leverage private and foundation capital to meet major social challenges.
 
His brothers are often cited as “the reason” someone pursued a career in public service or dedicated time to community service and Senator Edward Kennedy has carried the torch, being a constant, accessible, engaged “real person” championing service by doing it. He has long been hero to the countless young Americans who have responded to the call to serve through programs like AmeriCorps, Teach for America, YouthBuild, City Year and the thousands of small community-based nonprofits found in cities and towns across the country.
 
Over the next few days and weeks, there will be much talk about Sen. Kennedy’s legacy, which no doubt is vast and significant. Years from now, I think we will come to realize that the fruits of the Serve Act, under the banner of his name, just might be his greatest contribution.