“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the city where the movement for Black lives found its latest spark, Public Allies Twin Cities leaders have found a variety of ways to support their community. What’s their vision and plan for change? We asked them.
“The time is now. A “new normal” is being established in our country. We must embrace this opportunity to root out the biases inherent in many of our systems and rules. And we must accelerate progress through an infusion of leadership with a firsthand understanding of what it’s like to try to thrive in a racist world. Black lives not only matter, they are critical to ensuring our country’s promise and to an enduring and prosperous future that is built by and for everyone.”
“AS WE LOOK TO REBUILD OUR INSTITUTIONS IN A POST-COVID WORLD, LET’S NOT OVERLOOK THE EMERGING LEADERS WHO LIVE IN THE AREAS HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC.”
– Public Allies CEO Jaime Ernesto Uzeta
WHO WE ARE
Public Allies is a national movement committed to advancing social justice and equity by engaging and activating the leadership of all young people.
Since 1992, we have helped thousands of underrepresented young leaders serve our country, get on successful pathways to higher education and careers, and bring communities together to work for the common good. We operate our signature AmeriCorps program in 25 communities nationwide.
OUR MISSION
To create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it.
OUR LOCATIONS
Please click on a red dot to learn more about that particular Public Allies location, including staff contact information.
ALLY APPLICATIONS OPEN
AmeriCorps Allies are individuals from our communities who are committed to making a difference through service, and who are looking for an opportunity to build skills and a network of emerging grassroots leaders. Our AmeriCorps Ally program, which generally lasts 10 months and is a paid opportunity with benefits, is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, criminal record, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, community, or social affiliations. Anyone over 17 years with a high school diploma or GED, and who is a U.S. citizen or has permanent residency, is welcome to apply.
“PUBLIC ALLIES WAS MY FAVORITE JOB. I MEET ALLIES AND ALUMS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS AND I KNOW THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT,” SHE TOLD THE GROUP. “IT WAS AT PUBLIC ALLIES THAT I FIRST UNDERSTOOD THAT I WOULD ALWAYS BE ‘BECOMING.’”
– Former First Lady Michelle Obama
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Ally Jacob Bridges contributed this blog post for @nccdd. You can read Jacob's story of service here: https://nccdd.org/news-media/blog/89-ada-blog/1044-ada-story-july-31-jacob-bridges.html #EveryoneLeads
Raise your hand if you think national service is a great way to create jobs and support communities through the pandemic ✋
#CORPSAct #Stand4Service #BuildBackBetter
https://time.com/5868192/in-time-of-crisis-service-to-others-can-unite-a-nation/
ALUM SPOTLIGHT
Abel Núñez was the first person in his family to speak English, and as a result, from a very early age he was often asked to translate for his family. Fast-forward decades later, and Abel — who arrived in the U.S. with his family from El Salvador in 1979 — continues to be a vital bridge between recent immigrants and the larger community. For his work, including rising up to become executive director of CARECEN, an immigrant rights group in Washington, D.C., Abel was recently awarded Georgetown University’s John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
