Young Leaders Engage Government and Each Other
by Amy Throndsen
The U.S. Public Service Academy will be the civilian counterpart to the military service academies, a flagship institution designed to build a “more perfect union” by developing leaders of skill and character dedicated to service in the public sector.
Its co-founders, Chris Myers Asch and Shawn Raymond, met in 1994 when they joined Teach for America and were sent to teach school in Sunflower County, Mississippi. After their stint in the classroom, they co-founded the Sunflower County Freedom Project, an intensive academic enrichment and leadership development program for middle and high school students. Asch ran the Freedom Project for seven years before leaving in the summer of 2006 to pursue the Academy full-time. Raymond served as chairman of the Freedom Project’s board while pursuing a legal career in Houston.
In early 2006, Chris Myers Asch and Shawn Raymond sent proposals outlining the Academy to anyone they thought might be interested. For many months, they paid for everything themselves and to this day, the two have been volunteering to turn their vision of the U.S. Public Service Academy into reality. With the help of dozens of volunteers and some donated office space, they are going to make it happen.
I am one of those volunteers, and last week I helped organize The Academy’s Summer Youth Leadership Conference where more than 40 supporters of The US Public Service Academy (US PSA) from across the country arrived in DC on Wednesday, July 14 to engage in straight-up democratic action. But this group wasn’t just heading to the Hill to rattle off a quick presentation and to hop back on their bus. This group of young people connected with civic leaders, spoke with folks committed to lifelong service, and networked with each other.
The conference began with a presentation by former U.S. Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) followed by an afternoon of Lobbying 101. Former Representative Davis is now President and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, an organization working to promote thoughtful leadership in the GOP, and “to partner with individuals, organizations and institutions that share centrist values.” Congressman Davis served seven years in the U.S. House and shared his views on engaging with government.
Academy co-founders Shawn Raymond and Chris Myers Asch, briefed participants on the Public Serve Academy and its legislative position, and coached participants on how to make effective presentations and engage with congress and congressional staffers, and learned how to practice their presentation skills in preparation for the day they spent at the Capitol.
Thursday was dedicated to spreading the message about the USPSA to Senators and Representatives. Participants were invited to Congressman Jim Moran’s (D-VA) office for a Q&A session on the USPSA and the current political climate. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA), first elected in 1990 and currently carrying out his tenth term.
After a panel discussion on social media as it relates to advocacy with Chris Golden (myimpact.org); Whitney Soenksen (AmeriCorps Alums); Ernesto Gluecksmann (http://www.infamia.com/), Mobilize.org’s Vice President for Programs, Decker Ngongang, led the group in a conversation about how Millennials can engage with our government to find solutions to challenges facing the next generation and our nation. Steve Loflin, Founder and Executive Director for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, closed night by discussing ways to strengthen higher education.
Friday the conference wrapped up with engaging presentations – from learning about national service opportunities to discussing the future of service with President and CEO of Youth Service America, Steve Culbertson, and with participants meeting a career congressional staffer.
USPSA attendees got much more than just a quick trip to DC. The conference was both an advocacy and learning event where youth engaged their elected officials on an issue that they believe in and were able to take away ideas, knowledge, and new connections that will make their communities and our country better.
Amy Throndsen is an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Alum (2004-05), a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (China 2006-08), and is leading the effort to organize the The Academy’s Summer Youth Leadership Conference as its 2010 chair. For more information about the Academy or the US Public Service Academy’s Summer Youth Leadership Conference, please email Amy at throndsen@uspublicserviceacademy.org.
