A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

In my visits to schools and communities across the nation, I often speak about the importance of quality teaching and learning in this Education Era. What a young person knows makes all the difference in determining what and how well he or she will do.

But, as all of you know, a quality education involves far more than what you can learn from a textbook or computer software. A complete education involves building strong character and integrity. It includes learning how to think critically, to accept personal responsibility, and to understand the full implications of your decisions.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education." In my mind, there are few places where students can learn these lessons better than through community service opportunities-the chance to help their fellow citizens-just as you are doing as AmeriCorps volunteers.

As members of AmeriCorps, you are helping to further not only the American Dream but also the dream that Dr. King had, in which our nation is free from hatred and full of opportunity for all.

When President Clinton created AmeriCorps five years ago, he knew that this nation's young people had enormous potential to help achieve this goal and to do good across the country. Since the launch of this exciting initiative, more than 150,000 committed Americans like yourselves have served in less fortunate neighborhoods and have helped this country's citizens strengthen their own communities.

You have worked as tutors, you have cleaned up communities, you have responded to emergencies. And let me tell you, in all of these projects and many others, you have made a difference. President Clinton, Vice President Gore, and I are proud of you-and so is the nation.

The success of AmeriCorps is one reason why the president just announced that he will work to increase the investment for AmeriCorps in next year's budget. In this way, we will be able to keep on track towards our goal of more than 100,000 members each year.

And, for the first time, the Corporation for National Service will award $5 million in grants to place a "community coach" in nearly 1,000 schools. These coaches, who can be AmeriCorps members, teachers, and counselors, will serve as a vital link among the school, businesses, and others in the community.

AmeriCorps is part of a broader effort that the president and vice president are making to preserve our democratic and egalitarian values. It is a way to build on the economic prosperity that is all around us and to ensure that every American benefits from this success.

It is a way to break down the walls that divide Americans and-as the President's National Dialogue on Race suggested-to truly build one America. But these results can only be achieved through the kind of hard work you are contributing. As Dr. King said, "We must work passionately and unrelentingly to make the American Dream a reality." And you are.

I am confident that we will continue to work together successfully to strengthen our nation and to become one national community. And as we do so, our schools will continue to be not only centers of academic learning, but also of positive personal growth, and a training ground for more committed and compassionate citizens like yourselves`.

I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity to read Tuesdays with Morrie, the best-selling book by Mitch Albom. As you may know, the author, a journalist, learned that a beloved professor from his college years was dying and he decided to spend time with him before he passed away. The book is a collection of many of Morrie's pearls of wisdom.

I would like to close with one of them that I believe is particularly appropriate for today's gathering. At one point, Morrie tells Mitch: "The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose?"

Thank you so much.