By Zach Maurin, Co-founder and Executive Director of ServeNext, and an AmeriCorps alum

Since my service with AmeriCorps seven years ago and my three years with ServeNext, seeing the impact of individuals and programs has been amazing. Yet, it has been equally inspiring when people across the field come together on behalf of the larger service movement.

I remember being in college in Washington, DC when individuals, programs, and leaders across sectors helped united to save AmeriCorps in 2003.  More recently, our field rallied across the country to help pass the historic Serve America Act. These experiences helped crystallize for me the importance of grassroots organizing around service and the need to remain proactive as a field. We must work together to ensure that those who serve have a voice that is heard by key leaders.

That’s why I’m so excited to announce that last February, thanks to the support of many of those in the service movement, ServeNext won a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project that allows us to launch our most ambitious effort yet: the inaugural year of our Field Corps community organizing program.

Field Corps will recruit, train, and support an annual cohort of community organizers to build and lead local networks.

The goal is simple: so many people care about service that we want to unite that passion into collective grassroots action so that more leaders understand the impact of service programs and more citizens serve.

In June of 2010 we will select 10 organizers for the inaugural year of the program. You can apply here until June 15 and you can also use this online form to nominate others who would be interested.

To create the strongest program possible, we’re looking for exceptional people who are leaders in their communities, but leadership can show itself in all kinds of ways, so traditional organizing experience isn’t required.

We are looking for people who are active in their communities and plan to remain there.

Field Corps is a six month program designed for working professionals, running from August to January, and requires a commitment of about 10 hours/week and includes a stipend.

Organizers will receive extensive training in organizing grassroots campaigns, communication and social media, legislative advocacy, strategic planning and more.

Our search is nationwide as we look for 10 great people to build and lead local grassroots networks in different areas. You can read more about the program at servenext.org/fieldcorps.

This is our most ambitious effort yet and any help towards its success is much appreciated – to Tweet it and to share on Facebook.

Our vision is to build networks across that country that will be permanent, vibrant constituencies to form a powerful grassroots voice for the service movement.

We are excited to get the first year going to help build this momentous period for service and social innovation into long-term public and political will.

We believe that the grassroots is a critical component to make this happen!