In Service to Community

Watch nine prominent leaders explain how service can help young people gain work experience, meet community needs, and come together across political divides

By Matt Schiavenza

Aug 1, 2026

Young Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 are struggling to find good jobs, and employment prospects are declining for early-career workers in occupations disrupted by artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, communities are increasingly divided along political lines, leading to less civic engagement and trust in institutions.

These issues have spurred calls for ways to help Americans reconnect with each other while providing greater economic mobility, civic opportunities, and social cohesion. More than a century ago, Andrew Carnegie wrote that one had a “duty to contribute to the general good of the community,” and today the foundation is following his example with funding to promote paid service programs. Most recently, Carnegie committed $10 million to establish the Service United Fund, a philanthropic collaborative to help states develop service programs in partnership with the National Governors Association.

In October 2025, the foundation hosted the Carnegie Summit on National Service, where nine leaders in the field described the lifelong impact of service on their lives and its potential benefits for others.

Why National Service Matters

“Where did you serve? That question seems to bond people a bit, in ways that are difficult to describe.”

Lloyd J. Austin III, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense

“Our communities are about a shared purpose, and that comes from serving others.”

Stephen Goldsmith, Derek Bok Professor of the Practice of Urban Policy, Harvard Kennedy School; Former Mayor of Indianapolis; and Former Chair, AmeriCorps

“Today we need service more than anything.”

Asa Hutchinson, Former Governor of Arkansas

“Service changes how you lead. The people and the causes are now a part of you.”

Mike Johnston, Mayor of Denver

“Service gives every single young person the chance to discover their special gifts.”

Alan Khazei, Cofounder and Former Chief Executive Officer, City Year

“Service will improve the health of our country.”

John B. King Jr., Chancellor, State University of New York

“I can’t think of a better opportunity than service to help our communities thrive.”

Alise Marshall, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs and Social Impact, Pinterest

“I think a great many people perceive a service year as a way of helping the country move beyond polarization.”

Dame Louise Richardson, President, Andrew Carnegie Foundation

“Being involved in service creates a level of community, identity, and socialization that we’re otherwise lacking.”

Angelica Williams, Youth250 National Advisory Bureau Member, Made by Us

Service United Fund

The Andrew Carnegie Foundation has committed $10 million to launch the Service United Fund in partnership with the Schultz Family Foundation. The fund will help states expand paid service opportunities in collaboration with the National Governors Association.

Learn more