Reimagining National Service: Building a Culture of Civic Commitment

By Hayden Johnson, NPCA Communications Intern

At this year’s Peace Corps Connect conference, a powerful and forward-looking panel tackled one of the most pressing questions for the service movement today: How can national service evolve to meet the needs of a changing world, while staying true to its mission of building community, equity, and civic purpose?

Convened by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), the session welcomed Scott Beale, former Peace Corps Associate Director; Shirley Sagawa, former President and CEO of Service Year Alliance and founder of AmeriCorps; Julie Budkowski, Managing Director of the National Museum and Center for Service; and Alan Khazei, Commissioner for the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Together, they explored not only the challenges facing AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, but also the tremendous opportunity to reimagine service as a transformative force for young people, communities, and democracy itself.

“If we can leverage some of that energy and talent [of the youth],” Sagawa said. “We have to look at this as a true opportunity. And what better field to do that than the service field?”

The AI Disruption and the Opportunity It Presents

One of Alan Khazei’s central themes was the rapid impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce and the need to offer young people meaningful alternatives.

“Something of like 5 million jobs are going to disappear for college graduates in the next four years,” he warned. “So why aren’t we thinking about how we can use that, both training them as part of their service experience?”

Rather than seeing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as just a threat, the panel framed it as a generational opportunity to realign talent with human-centered needs.

“AI can’t take care of kids in schools, or care for our elderly, or run an after-school program. So that’s also an opportunity for service.”

Young people displaced from traditional career paths may be ready to serve, especially if the structures are there to support them. And many will not wait for institutions to catch up.

“They’re not waiting for us to solve their problem. They’re going to invent stuff. They’re going to create their own businesses… And a lot of them will be suffering because they can’t figure that all out.”

New Models for a New Generation

To meet the moment, panelists proposed flexible, decentralized service models that expand access and choice.

“This idea of service-shared fellowships is give them their stipend, give them their post-service award, certify not-for-profits, communities that come up with plans,” Khazei explained. “There’s still a core element, but young people can choose where to serve with any not-for-profit that wants to host them.”

By allowing more choice in location, issue area, and type of service, but keeping the cohort model, programs could scale faster and appeal more to Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Khazei plainly stated: “We need to think differently about how we’re designing services.”

However, Budkowski took it in an optimistic direction by emphasizing the fact that she can see that the youth is incredibly passionate. If those programs are there for them, they will use them.

Making Service Equitable and Accessible

Panelists also confronted a key equity issue: current national service models often exclude the very young people who could benefit most, due to inadequate pay and support.

“We have to understand it’s OK to pay young people more and also change the post-service award,” Khazei said. “Originally the idea was post-service award would cover a full year of college tuition at a state school. It barely covers a semester now.”

In some cases, AmeriCorps members qualify for food stamps.

“It’s amazing how many AmeriCorps members get by because they get food stamps, for example, which I think is outrageous.”

Programs like the Corps Network, which serves many youths of color and low-income communities, are especially vulnerable.

“That organization is struggling because they are funded largely through pass through AmeriCorps grants… If the AmeriCorps side disappears, I don’t know how those young people will get paid.”

Universal Service: Culture Shift Over Mandate

The panel explored the idea of universal service, but favored a voluntary, values-driven approach over a mandatory one.

“People love to talk about mandatory national service. The truth is, if we decided today, we wanted to have it, it wouldn’t work, because you’d have to have opportunities for 4 million people.”

Instead, the goal is to build toward universal expectation and opportunity.

“If we had the right incentives… if we tied service to jobs after they got out, if people did get certifications… if they got preference in college admissions… I don’t think you need mandatory service. I think people would do it.”

Budkowski expanded that point: “It’s the difference between an intrinsic and an extrinsic motivation. When it’s intrinsic motivation, you now have created someone who is going to serve for the rest of their lives. And that’s what I go back to, we need to change our thoughts and feelings and how we see ourselves as a nation [and see] that service is a fundamental part of who we are.”

Service as Identity and as a National Movement

The need to elevate service as a core part of American identity was a major thread throughout the discussion.

“Service is a fundamental ingredient to our democracy. You can’t have a democracy without people gaining service to one another.”

Quoting the Declaration of Independence, one panelist reminded the audience:

“We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortune, and our sacred honor.”

This isn’t just historical poetry, it is a roadmap.

“We need a new movement from the bottom up…” said Khazei, “and you guys have credibility because you’ve served.”

Concrete Actions for the NPCA Community

At the close, panelists offered specific steps that NPCA members can take right now:

• “Go to the Voices for National Service website and sign up for alerts.”

• “Talk to your state legislatures… There is real opportunity at the state level, bipartisan.”

• “Tell your story. Write an op-ed, write a letter to the editor, post on social media.”

• “Invite more people to this room, to this conference next year… encourage more people to get engaged.”

• “Be proud of your service… Even in this time of despair and challenge, speak loudly from your experience.”

Looking Ahead

The panel closed with a shared vision: service that reflects today’s realities and aspirations, not yesterday’s assumptions.

“The image of JFK’s black and white photo is not going to be the same image that inspires young people,” said Beale, “It’s going to be the day in the life video that are on social media now.”

If the service movement can grow with authenticity, flexibility, and inclusion, it can become a launching pad for a generation in flux, and a unifying force in a fragmented time.

“Let them come up with the solutions. Let them recruit their friends. Let them learn how to sell the idea.”

This article just provides a glance into the incredible discussion that happened at the Reimagining National Service Panel. Join NPCA at Peace Corps Connect 2026 to hear these nuanced accounts firsthand and meet incredible members of the Peace Corps and NPCA community.