Roundtable Discussion On National Service & Housing

May 8, 2023

On Tuesday, April 25th, GO Foundation had the honor of hosting a roundtable conversation with incoming and current Fellows, civic leaders and GO Foundation staff. The discussion, which focused on national service and housing, took place at our newest housing location in Washington D.C. This fall, Washington D.C. will welcome incoming Fellows to their schools as part of our upcoming expansion into the city.

The extended conversation on national service led to many poignant moments. In reference to the importance of providing housing to AmeriCorps members, current GO Fellow Betellihem Ghebretinsae expressed that “the GO Foundation is…pursuing the idea of housing as a right”.Alexis Squire, Chief Service Officer, Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser – Serve DC added  “You don’t have to think about housing. You can think about how you are going to change the world”. 

The core of the Fellowship program is our Fellows. This conversation welcomed incoming Fellows and current Fellows who spoke to their experiences and about the difference that having housing made in the decision to become an AmeriCorps member. In her closing remarks, Director Squire addressed the incoming cohort of Fellows, saying, “from being an educator you can be a school principal, or be in leadership…or you can be the head of a nonprofit or the next Chief Service Officer…that is the beauty of this experience”. 

GO Foundation is committed to ensuring that our Fellows receive a comprehensive year of service which includes experiencing their program through lens such as housing. 

If you missed this engaging conversation, you can watch it here.