10 Years of ServeMinnesota
Learn about all that ServeMinnesota accomplished in its first 10 years.
History
ServeMinnesota Has Been Part of Our State for 25 Years
Follow our history — from our launch as a state commission in 1994 to gaining Minnesota Legislative approval to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2002, to working with 18 programs and thousands of AmeriCorps members across the state.
1993
President Clinton Creates AmeriCorps and the CNCS
President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service to expand opportunities for Americans to serve their communities.
1994
Minnesota Commission is Established
The Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service is established as the state’s designated recipient of federal funding for AmeriCorps.
1994-98
Earliest Minnesota AmeriCorps Programs are Funded
City of Lakes AmeriCorps, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, Minnesota Conservation Corps and Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation AmeriCorps LEAP program and Minnesota Alliance With Youth .
2001
College Possible Receives AmeriCorps Funding
College Possible (originally known as Admission Possible) receives funding for AmeriCorps members.
2002
ServeMinnesota Becomes a Nonprofit
ServeMinnesota is established as an independent nonprofit organization and no longer is part of the Minnesota state government.
2003
Minnesota Reading Corps Launches
ServeMinnesota starts Minnesota Reading Corps to blend the resources of the AmeriCorps program with the science of how children learn to read
ServeMinnesota is surveyed by a team of experts against criteria established for high-quality state commissions and achieves an A rating.
2004
Community Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) Launches AmeriCorps Program
The Community Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) is launched at St. Paul Neighborhood Network to bridge the digital divide for new immigrants and low-income communities in the Twin Cities.
2004
True North AmeriCorps Program Begins
True North AmeriCorps in Duluth is launched as a program to tutor, mentor and provide service-learning and other opportunities to youth.
2006
ServeMinnesota Raises $1 Million for Reading Corps
ServeMinnesota launches a Business Advisory Committee that raises $1 million for Minnesota Reading Corps.
2007
Minnesota State Leglislature Gives Support
The Minnesota State Legislature passes legislation appropriating $1 million to support the expansion of Minnesota Reading Corps.
2008
Minnesota Math Corps Launches
ServeMinnesota launches Minnesota Math Corps, an initiative to help 4th-8th graders achieve math proficiency.
2008
College Possible Begins National Expansion
College Possible expands to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The program is now running in a total of six states.
2009
AmeriCorps Grows, Thanks to New Funding
President Barack Obama signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which positions AmeriCorps to triple in size.
Minnesota State Legislature passes legislation appropriating $2.3 million to support further expansion of Minnesota Reading Corps.
2009
Minnesota Green Corps Launches
ServeMinnesota launches Minnesota Green Corps, which matches AmeriCorps members with government agencies and nonprofits to implement environmental science projects in local communities.
2011
Opportunity Corps Launches, State Legislators Support Reading Corps Expansion
Minnesota Opportunity Corps is established to help unemployed people find employment and resources as part of a larger goal to fight income inequality.
2011
State Legislators Support Reading Corps Expansion
Minnesota State Legislature passes legislation appropriating $4.1 million to support further expansion of Minnesota Reading Corps, serving 30,000 students.
2012
Reading Corps Expands Nationally
The Reading Corps Program began to expand, launching in Colorado and is now active in 12 states plus Washington, D.C.
2014
AmeriCorps Turns 20, Total Learning Classroom Launches
AmeriCorps celebrates 20 years of national service.
Total Learning Classroom is launched to help overcome the achievement gap in some of the lowest performing schools in the state.
2015
ServeMinnesota is #1 State in AmeriCorps Grantmaking
ServeMinnesota ranks 1st among all 50 states in AmeriCorps competitive grantmaking for the 3rd year running. 100% of applicants received a grant award.
2015
ServeMinnesota Expands Mission Statement
ServeMinnesota changes the organization’s mission to include the sentence: We share our proven practices nationally.
2015
Math Corps Expands Nationally
The Math Corps program begins national replication and is now available in 10 states.
2016
Minnesota is #2 in Generating Members
Minnesota ranks 2nd in generating the most AmeriCorps members per capita.
2017
ServeMinnesota is #2 in Competitive Funding
Topping $20 million, ServeMinnesota ranks 2nd out of 50 states in AmeriCorps competitive funding for the 2nd year in a row.
2017
Law Enforcement Career Path Academy Launches
The St. Paul Police Department launches Law Enforcement Career Path Academy.
2017
ServeMinnesota is #2 in Competitive National Funding
Topping $20 million, ServeMinnesota ranks 2nd out of 50 states in AmeriCorps competitive funding for the 2nd year in a row.
2018
Recovery Corps and MORe Corps Launch
Minnesota Opioid Response Corps and Recovery Corps launch in order to use the power of AmeriCorps members to fight the opioid epidemic.
2020
Emergency Response Initiative Launches
ServeMinnesota launches the Emergency Response Initiative to address critical issues related to COVID-19.
2022
Resettlement Corps and Public Health Corps Launch
Minnesota Department of Human Services requested additional support in responding to the influx of Afghan evacuees. ServeMinnesota launches an initiative to support them, which inspires a new program – Resettlement Corps.
In partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, ServeMinnesota also launched Public Health Corps, an AmeriCorps program to increase capacity in the public health field and create a diverse pipeline of future public health employees.
2023
Summer Impact Corps and MN Energy Climate Corps Launch
Summer Impact Corps launches as a way to engage people who might not be able to commit to a full year of service.
Conservation Corps of MN & IA collaborates with ServeMinnesota to launch the Minnesota Energy Climate Corps, a cohort of AmeriCorps members who work on energy efficiency projects such as energy audits, weatherization, and efficiency maintenance.
2024
Improve Your Tomorrow Launches
With existing programs in California and Maryland, Improve Your Tomorrow launched in Minnesota in 2024. Improve Your Tomorrow AmeriCorps members support young men of color on their pathway to a college degree.
20 Years of AmeriCorps
In 2014, Minnesota’s newest AmeriCorps members took their oath from President Barack Obama in a simulcast ceremony at the Mall of America.
Solutions through Service
How can ServeMinnesota use the people power of AmeriCorps to solve complex problems? Here’s how.
