Message from Wendy Zenker
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for National Service

Dear National Service Colleagues:

We in the national service family send our hearts and prayers out to the friends and families of victims of yesterday's horrible tragedy, and we salute the courage of the emergency workers and volunteers engaged in the heroic rescue effort.

The attack was a national tragedy that will require a national response. The Corporation for National and Community Service is in communication with White House, FEMA, the American Red Cross, and state and local authorities to offer support and volunteers. Our AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps volunteers and Learn and Serve America students can play an important role in the healing and rebuilding that must occur in the wake of recent events. We stand ready to respond, but we want to make sure that our resources are deployed in the best possible way.

Meanwhile, it is more important than ever to rededicate ourselves to our common mission of service. The Corporation and the millions of Americans in national and community service are at work today, as they are every day, helping neighbors, meeting social needs and strengthening the ties that bind our people together. Indeed, yesterday's events will make Americans even more eager to serve their country, and we remain committed to supporting opportunities for people to give back to their communities.

As President Bush said last night, "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." We in the family of national service must be bold and strengthen our resolve and respond with the best of America.

We will keep you informed about any requests for assistance that we receive. If you have suggestions of ways to help, please forward them through your normal channels to headquarters.

In addition, many of you are asking what you can do locally. Yesterday's events engender a range of feelings, from sympathy with those directly affected to shock, anger and fear. Members and volunteers should be encouraged to reflect on these feelings. In addition, we have listed a few ways to help and resources for more information.

Donate blood: The American Red Cross is encouraging people to make and keep appointments to give blood, whether it is in the next few days or weeks. Anyone wanting to donate can call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or your local Red Cross chapter to make an appointment. Medical personnel who want to donate their services should contact their local American Red Cross office.

Donate cash: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging those interested in helping the victims by making cash donations to contact the American Red Cross (call 1-800-HELP NOW) or the Salvation Army (call 1-800-SAL ARMY).

For further information:

• US Justice Department's Family Assistance Center Victims Hotline - 1-800-331-0075
• Anyone with information about the terrorist attacks should call - 1-800-483-5137 or you can report your information at http://www.ifccfbi.gov
• Army personnel assigned to the Pentagon on Sept. 11 (or families trying to locate their loved ones) should call (800) 984-8523 or (703) 428-0002.
• Navy and Marine personnel assigned to the Pentagon should call (877) 663-6772.
• American Airlines - 1-800-245-0999
• United Airlines - 1-800-932-8555
• The FEMA website has tips on how to talk to children about terrorist attacks, types of disaster aid available, and other useful resources
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September 19, 2001

In the wake of last week's tragic events, Cari M. Dominguez, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, called on all employers and employees across the country to promote tolerance and guard against unlawful workplace discrimination based on national origin or religion.

"We should not allow our anger at the terrorists responsible for this week's heinous attacks to be misdirected against innocent individuals because of their religion, ethnicity, or country of origin," Chair Dominguez said. "In the midst of this tragedy, employers should take time to be alert to instances of harassment or intimidation against Arab-American and Muslim employees. Preventing and prohibiting injustices against our fellow workers is one way to fight back, if only symbolically, against the evil forces that assaulted our workplaces Tuesday morning."

Dominguez exhorted all individuals to heed the words of President Bush, who said: "We must be mindful that as we seek to win the war [against terrorism] we treat Arab- Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve."

I want to remind all Corporation employees and projects of the Corporation's mission statement, and its policies against discrimination and harassment.

Our mission statement states:

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to support people and organizations in using citizen service as a strategy to meet critical national and community needs, to foster an ethic of civic responsibility, and to strengthen the ties that bind us together as a nation.

It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants for employment and employees of the Corporation. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment because of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, mental or physical disability (including AIDS), sexual orientation, or any other improper criterion. We strive to provide a work environment free of sexual, racial, national origin, religious or other unlawful harassment.

Our policy for volunteers, service participants and other beneficiaries begins:

Recognizing that the fabric of our society is strengthened by the diversity of its citizens, the policy of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to ensure a mutual respect for all differences among us. Participation in the Corporation and its programs and projects will be based on merit and equal opportunity for all, without regard to factors such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, or religious, community, or social affiliations.

Our policy is to provide work and service environments free from sexual, racial, national origin, or religious harassment. Whether in Corporation or grantee offices, in other work- or service-related settings such as service sites, training sessions, or site visits, or at work- or service-related social events, such harassment is unacceptable.