Since his appointment as chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in February, trustee Alan Solomont (A '70) has served at the forefront of a surge in national volunteerism and active citizenship that he said only comes "once in a generation."
Solomont, who was in 2000 appointed to the CNCS's board of directors by President Bill Clinton, holds major influence over what he calls a growing movement for national and community service. His position is all the more important in the absence of a CEO at the CNCS.
"My good fortune is to be in this leadership role at probably the most exciting time in service since the Corporation was established in 1993," Solomont told the Daily. "We are at an inflection point where Americans are looking to serve more than ever before."
The CNCS supports the national volunteer and nonprofit sector through grants, research, training and other types of support. Solomont's position is a volunteer role, according to CNCS spokesperson Sandy Scott.
"He's really devoted much of his life to active citizenship, and I think he brings that passion for active citizenship to the Corporation," said Tufts Trustee Deborah Jospin (LA '80), who directed AmeriCorps, a CNCS program, from 1997 to 2001. "He really wants to help expand service opportunities for all Americans young and old."
Solomont, a Tufts lecturer of political science, has long been actively involved at Tufts. He was one of the founders of the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.
Last semester, Solomont taught a political science seminar entitled "Decision 2008: Campaign for the Presidency."
Jospin, now the chair of the Board of Advocates at the Tisch College — a position previously held by Solomont — called Solomont a "lifelong activist." He is particularly qualified for his new position because of his close ties to President Barack Obama's administration, his dedication to community service and his connections to the CNCS itself, Jospin said.
Solomont was an active member of Obama's campaign throughout 2007 and 2008, including serving as chair of the campaign's Northeast fundraising efforts. He has long been a major Democratic financier.
Solomont said he has a lot in common with the president, notably with respect to his experience as a community organizer.
"When Obama was elected, the [CNCS] board chose to elect me as its chair, and they wanted to elect someone who was close [to] the president and the first lady and the people in the Obama administration," he said. "I consider myself a loyal, strong supporter, and one who actually shares something really important in common with him."
Solomont is well-suited for the position, according to Scott.
"Alan is the perfect chairman for this unprecedented moment of need and opportunity for national and public service," Scott told the Daily. "He brings a lifetime of skills as an organizer."
So far, the CNCS's board of directors has been instrumental in working $200 million in funding into the stimulus package for 13,000 paid service positions to aid those suffering from the economic crisis.
It has also promoted bipartisan legislation for a large expansion of service initiatives across the country, in the form of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009. That bill passed Congress late last month with strong bipartisan support and will increase the ranks of service members in AmeriCorps.
"This bipartisan board of directors is sort of a Washington success story in terms of bringing national leaders together in a bipartisan way to get things done," Scott said.
The $6-billion Serve America Act will raise the paid stipend for one year of CNCS-supported national or community service from $4,725 to $5,350, according to Solomont, who said the bill will likely prove to be Obama's most bipartisan-supported legislative effort.
"It [will] mobilize people to do community service and help on community problems, provide a transformative experience for people of all ages … and also help young people pursue an education," Solomont said.
Solomont was "quite involved" in the bill's passage according to Scott, who said that the measure would put AmeriCorps' ranks on a path to grow from 75,000 to 250,000. Solomont will be present for the bill's signing, which is supposed to take place today.
