Nicki Fiocco and Jerome Tennile: Volunteerism, National Service & America at 250
About this episode
Swim Karim discusses volunteerism and civic engagement with Nicki Fiocco and Jerome Tennile, focusing on the upcoming 2026 Points of Light Conference and the future of service in America.
In this episode of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast, Swim sits down with volunteer engagement leaders Nicki Fiocco and Jerome Tennille for a conversation about service, volunteerism, and the future of civic engagement in America. As members of the 2026 Points of Light Conference Welcome Committee, Nicki and Jerome take listeners behind the scenes of the nation's largest volunteer-focused gathering and discuss what attendees can expect when the conference arrives in Washington, D.C. The conversation also explores the meaning of National Service, the role programs like AmeriCorps play in strengthening communities, and how volunteerism can look different depending on the people, places, and histories involved. Swim, Nicki, and Jerome also discuss the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the opportunities and challenges of using major cultural moments to inspire service, and why volunteer engagement cannot always be viewed through a purely corporate lens. And rather than ending with a traditional final question, Nicki and Jerome each take the floor to share what's currently on their minds—from the future of volunteerism to the challenges and opportunities facing the…
People in this episode
Host: Swim Karim
Guests: Nicki Fiocco, Jerome Tennile
Topics covered
- volunteerism
- national service
- civic engagement
- community strengthening
- nonprofit sector challenges
- cultural moments
Keywords
- volunteer engagement
- civic engagement
- AmeriCorps
- Points of Light Conference
- nonprofit sector
- community service
- national service
- 250th anniversary
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: AmeriCorps
Places: Washington, D.C.
More episodes of The Nonprofit Insider Podcast
- Amy Lavender: What 15 Years of Nonprofit Fundraising Leadership Teaches You
- I Spent 55 Hours in D.C. for the Points of Light Conference. Was It Worth the Time and Money?
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