More than 200 national service alumni and corps members gather together on September 11 to mark the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States with a renewed commitment to service and our communities. Attendees represented such organizations as the NCCC, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Teach For America, City Year, Generations Incorporated, and the Massachusetts Promise Fellows (to name a few!).

The event, planned by the National Service Alumni Network (NSAN) started off with a plenary session led by Michael Dukakis, former governor and presidential candidate, and Robert Lewis, Jr., the executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice – Boston. Governor Dukakis noted that 9/11 is the transformative event of this generation, and commended national service alums for not simply experiencing the event, but for making the conscious effort to make the world better. Lewis reminded the assembled crowd that there are powerful concerns facing Americans today, and it is the burden of each one of us to make things right. Each speaker also presided over a powerful minute of silence, in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

After the rousing call to service, attendees split into groups for a series of workshops and panel discussions. As part of a program designed to bring the best of Boston, NSAN partnered with Boston Cares, LiNC Boston, COOL / Idealist.org, United Leaders, and the City of Boston. Presenters and attendees were equally pleased with the event.

NSAN is the nonprofit membership association for people who have done a year of full-time national service. NSAN also works in partnership with service organizations to build meaningful programs for alumni.