In this Edition:
National Summit Energizes Academy Supporters
Key Senator Becomes Co-Sponsor of Academy Bill
National Service Organizations Endorse Academy
Higher Education Leaders Embrace Academy
Academy Youth Conference to be Held in DC in July
Search & Shop for the Academy

“That is SIMPLY. NOT. TRUE.”
Barbara Jacoby (University of Maryland), responding to critics who claim that existing colleges and universities already do what the Public Service Academy proposes to do.

National Summit Energizes Academy Supporters
On April 22, the U.S. Public Service Academy and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation of Seattle sponsored a National Summit at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The Summit brought together Academy supporters, advisors, and volunteers for an intensive, one-day brainstorming and strategizing conference. It was an extraordinary success, and the day helped to energize Academy supporters from across the country.

Summit attendees spent the morning listening to a variety of passionate Academy supporters, beginning with former West Point Superintendent Dave Palmer and continuing with Academy leaders Chris Myers Asch and Shawn Raymond. Two panel discussions featured leaders in higher education (Barbara Jacoby and Craig Donovan), philanthropy (Cheryl Dorsey and Ariane Hoy), public policy (Patricia McGinnis and Wilson Goode), the national service movement (Rob Gordon), and student activism (Mark Pan).

The afternoon was devoted to workshops on media, endorsements, the Blueprint, and other key components of the Academy initiative. Participants not only had the chance to voice their opinions on strategy and structure, they also committed themselves to taking specific actions to help achieve the Academy’s goals. Their efforts in the next several months will help determine how far the Academy will advance.

Key Senator Becomes Co-Sponsor of Academy Bill
Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan became the 19th U.S. Senator to co-sponsor the U.S. Public Service Academy Act (S. 960). We are particularly excited to have Sen. Levin’s support because he is a high-ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs - the committee to which the Academy bill has been referred.

National Service Organizations Endorse Academy
The Academy is on the Organizing Committee of ServiceNation, a broad coalition of service organizations that is working to expand and enhance national service. We have earned the endorsement of many prominent members of the coalition, including AmeriCorps Alums, City Year, National Peace Corps Association, Public Allies, and Youth Service America. This past month, we added a number of new endorsements, including:
· Americans for a National Service Act
· Atlas Service Corps
· Building Tomorrow, Inc.
· Children for Children
· Jumpstart

Higher Education Leaders Embrace Academy
Two important leaders in higher education have endorsed the Academy initiative and are helping us to win more support among their colleagues: Mark Rosenberg, the chancellor of the state university of Florida; and Richard Guarasci, president of Wagner College. Chancellor Rosenberg, who learned about the Academy from our Florida Youth Advisory Council member Joe O’Shea, runs Florida’s eleven state universities, and he has made public service a top priority. Dr. Guarasci has written extensively about how to teach citizenship and democracy, and he has been an active part of efforts to build more civic engagement on campuses nationwide. Dr. Guarasci and Chancellor Rosenberg recognize that the Public Service Academy will be a unique addition to American higher education, and it will complement and advance work already being done.

Academy Youth Conference to be Held in DC in July
Plans already are being made for the Academy’s next major gathering of supporters. This time, we will bring 75-100 student supporters for a three-day working conference, which will include a day spent meeting with senators and representatives on Capitol Hill. To learn more about the conference, click here. You may find answers to travel questions here.

Search & Shop for the Academy
Your Internet searches and shopping can now help support the Public Service Academy! Just sign up for GoodSearch, a Yahoo- powered search engine that will donate 1 cent to the Academy every time you do a search online. GoodSearch also offers GoodShop, where you can shop at places such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, and the Academy will get a donation of 1%-4% of your shopping total. Simply go to goodsearch.com, choose the Academy as the charity to help, and then search & shop away!