Lead For America

We’re excited to share that Lead For America is one of 38 organizations selected for Volunteer Florida's $22.5 million statewide AmeriCorps investment! Through this grant, we will explore how national service can help prepare Floridians for a changing workforce, with a particular focus on AI readiness and cybersecurity. Over the coming year, we’ll connect with employers, educators, community organizations, and other partners in Florida to better understand workforce needs and help shape what this work could become. We’re grateful to Volunteer Florida and AmeriCorps for investing in this opportunity and helping us explore new possibilities for national service in Florida.

#MemberStories 🧩 An underscore: "_" That's all that stood between one older couple and free internet access. During their year of service as an ACC AmeriCorps Member, Emily Wanzer worked with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in Boston to help expand internet access in affordable housing communities across Massachusetts. One experience, which them shared during the American Connection Corps Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony, perfectly captured why this work matters. Emily and a colleague were helping residents connect to their newly installed wifi when an older couple asked for assistance. They had their password, but couldn't find the underscore on their TV's keyboard. Without it, they couldn't connect to the internet or cancel the expensive service they had been paying for. It took a little searching, even for Emily and their colleague, but once they found that single character, everything worked. That moment became a reminder that the barriers people face aren't always big. Sometimes, all it takes is someone willing to sit down, listen, and help solve what seems like a small problem. Throughout their year of service, Emily learned that digital inclusion isn't just about expanding broadband, it's about making sure people have the support and confidence to use it. Because sometimes, one small act of help can open the door to entirely new possibilities. Congratulations to Emily and the entire American Connection Corps Class of 2026 for a year of service that made communities stronger, one connection at a time. 💙

#MemberStories 🧩 For Nico Rivera, a year of service as an ACC AmeriCorps Member with the Carroll Technology & Innovation Council meant helping hundreds of people in Carroll County, Maryland, build the digital skills they need to stay connected, pursue opportunities, and live more independently. During the American Connection Corps Class of 2026 End of Service Ceremony, Nico shared the story of "Judy," one of the many community members whose journey left a lasting impression. After years working in retail, Judy wanted to return to the caregiving work she loved. But before she could apply for jobs, she had to overcome a different challenge: navigating the technology needed to create a resume, search online job boards, and submit applications. Working together, Nico helped Judy access free word-processing software, build a resume, find childcare job openings, and set up email alerts. With these new digital skills, Judy could apply with confidence and take steps towards returning to caregiving work. Looking back on the year, Nico reflected that Judy's story is just one of many. Every day, ACC Members across the country are helping bridge the digital divide: one conversation, one lesson, and one person at a time. Congratulations to Nico and the entire American Connection Corps Class of 2026 on your year of service and meaningful impact! 💙

#MemberStories 🧩 During the American Connection Corps Class of 2026 End of Service Ceremony, Shambhavi Punjala (Bhavi) shared about one of the most meaningful parts of serving with Lead For America as an ACC AmeriCorps Member with United Way of Pennsylvania: the opportunity to learn from the people and communities you serve. As part of her role, Bhavi interviewed people across Pennsylvania about how technology has impacted their lives. One conversation, with community leader Imani Badie, left a lasting impression. Imani had spent years advocating for her neighbors while quietly avoiding the computer on her own desk because she was afraid of breaking it. Determined to better serve her community, she took free computer classes, spent hours riding buses across Philadelphia to practice new skills, and never stopped learning. Today, she uses those skills to help clients access jobs and benefits, support her family, and continue leading in her community. Listening to Imani's journey transformed Bhavi's own perspective. She came to understand that digital inclusion isn't just about teaching someone how to use technology. It is also about building confidence, opening pathways to new opportunities, and helping people recognize possibilities they may not have imagined. Throughout her year of service, Bhavi didn't just document stories like Imani's. She helped amplify them, ensuring that experiences like these inspire others and remind us that meaningful change often begins with listening. Congratulations to Bhavi and the entire ACC Class of 2026 for a year of service, learning, and lasting impact. 💙

Hearing from Community Partners offers a firsthand look at what becomes possible through a year of place-based service. During the American Connection Corps Class of 2026 End of Service Ceremony, we were honored to welcome: 🔹Chris Greene Hutchings, Host Site Supervisor at Merit Network in Michigan 🔹Jack Forinash, Host Site Supervisor at Blue Sky Center in California 🔹Brian Rathbone, Professional Development Partner at Broadband Catalysts in North Carolina Each reflected on the dedication, growth, and contributions of ACC AmeriCorps Members throughout their service years. Their experiences highlighted how Members strengthen local work while developing the skills, relationships, and confidence they will carry into what comes next. We are grateful to Chris, Jack, and Brian for supporting ACC Members and helping us celebrate the Class of 2026.

As a Senior Fellow with the Center for Sustainable Development at The Brookings Institution and host of the #ReimagineRural podcast, LFA Board Member Tony Pipa has documented stories of positive change in small communities across the country. During the American Connection Corps Class of 2026 End of Service Ceremony, Tony reflected on a common thread across these communities: local people bringing their capabilities, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and relationships together to shape the futures they want for the places they call home. But many communities do not have all the resources or bandwidth needed to turn those aspirations into reality. “That’s where you all come in,” Tony told ACC AmeriCorps Members. “It is the human capacity - the bandwidth - to come into that civic fabric and strengthen it that makes the difference for what communities can do to realize their aspirations.” We are grateful to Tony for celebrating the Class of 2026 and recognizing the essential role ACC Members play in helping the places they call home realize their visions.

We were honored to welcome Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, Interim Agency Head at AmeriCorps to our End of Service Ceremony celebrating the American Connection Corps Class of 2026. She joined us to hear stories and reflections from throughout the service year, thank ACC Members for their service, and recognize the inspiration they provide to her and her colleagues at the AmeriCorps agency. We are deeply grateful that she took the time to celebrate our Members, offer such meaningful words of encouragement, and lead the Class of 2026 in reciting the AmeriCorps Pledge together. Thank you for helping us mark this important moment, and congratulations again to the ACC Class of 2026!