Braddock Mayor John Fetterman will be among 150 AmeriCorps Alumni leaders from 25 states who will be honored by the White House on Friday.
Since 1994, more than 775,000 Americans have served in AmeriCorps, and more than 80,000 will serve this year. The event, which includes a day-long briefing, will highlight AmeriCorps Alumni and public service as a pathway to opportunity and career advancement.
Fetterman will be recognized as one of 12 AmeriCorps Alums who are “Champions of Change.” Described in a White House press release as "extraordinary leaders," Fetterman and the others have demonstrated how AmeriCorps alumni have leveraged their national service experience to become influential in their careers and leaders in their communities.
Fetterman will have the opportunity to share his story with administration officials and AmeriCorps members across the country. The Champions of Change program was created to honor ordinary Americans doing great work in their communities.
Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.
A Harvard graduate with a master's degree in public policy, Fetterman moved to Braddock in 2001 to work with AmeriCorps. Four years later, he became the town's mayor—winning the election by a single vote—and has been at the forefront of a massive effort to revitalize the once prosperous town ever since.
In 2009, Fetterman won a second term by nearly a 3-1 margin. As of Aug. 15, Braddock is in its 40th consecutive month without a homicide. A relentless advocate for reimagining and redesigning Braddock, Fetterman is focused on creating a safer, more just Braddock by developing youth-oriented programs, attracting artists and other 'creatives' to his community, and by pursuing green urban renewal and economic development.
“President Obama has always been a strong supporter of the AmeriCorps program and the role members play in strengthening communities across our country,” said Jon Carson, deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Engagement, Jon Carson.
“We’re excited to honor 12 AmeriCorps Alums who are continuing in the spirit of their AmeriCorps pledge to ‘get things done for America’ as leaders in the public, for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and to celebrate AmeriCorps as a pathway to opportunity for those who serve.”
To engage people around the country in the conversation about AmeriCorps and public service opportunities, the White House will host a Google+ Hangout with AmeriCorps members and alumni. The online event will be moderated by CEO of the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) Wendy Spencer. People can join the discussion live on Twitter using the hashtag #WHHangout.
Watch the events live and learn more at WhiteHouse.gov/live. Live stream events include AmeriCorps Alumni leaders briefing at 9:30 a.m., a Google+ Hangout at 12 p.m. and the Champions of Change event at 2 p.m. on Friday. People around the country can join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WHAmeriCorps.
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