NEW POLITICS ACADEMY AND Service Year Alliance,
A Partnership Forged in Service

New Politics Academy and Service Year Alliance are working together to bring more service year alums into public office. The new partnership will see the two service-focused organizations working collaboratively to share resources and opportunities available through each organization to service year alums in their networks. The partnership is rooted in a shared belief that an expanded pathway from national service to public service will better enable service year alums to represent and lead their communities.

“Service years prepare alums to lead, connect across lines of difference, and address complex challenges with determination, empathy, and resolve,” said Kristen Bennett, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “As the home for Service Year Alums, this partnership means we can more readily equip alums to step into their next chapter of service. By working with New Politics Academy, alums in our network will have more opportunities to continue their journey as servant leaders.”

“For over a decade, we've seen that people who've already served carry something rare into public life: the instinct to put people and communities first, and lead alongside them,” said Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics Academy. “This partnership with Service Year Alliance means we get to do that work together, helping more of these leaders step forward than either of us could alone.”

★ Nearly 2 million Americans have completed a service year through AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, YouthBuild, and other service programs. 
★ Research from 2025 shows service year alums are twice as likely to run for public office as non-service alums. 
★ 77% of alums say they are likely to engage in conversations with people they disagree with, compared to 52% before their service experience. 

“Leading a fourth-grade classroom through City Year Washington, D.C., taught me that meaningful change happens when you show up consistently, listen to the needs of others, and work alongside them to solve problems,” said Drew Mitrisin, AmeriCorps alum and City Council Member for Overland Park, Kansas. “New Politics Academy helped me build the confidence to take the next step and run for elected office to continue solving problems for my neighbors. This partnership with Service Year Alliance will help more service year alums recognize that they have the skills and experience necessary to follow this path and ‘get things done’ for their communities.”

If you’re a service alum interested in exploring political leadership, visit www.newpoliticsacademy.org, and join the service year alums network through www.serviceyearalliance.org.