ABSTRACT
The irony of the "fight" to save AmeriCorps is that as an institution, Ameri-Corps, under the federal agency of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), has historically committed itself to an apolitical stance for over 23 years. The institutions that give rise to the service learning movement function in the interests of conserving the existing political economy of capitalism and neoliberal ideals. The typology of service learning was Robert Sigmon's attempt to move toward a more universal definition that included reciprocal learning and the balance between learning goals and service outcomes. Service learning and in particular, the learning aspect provides the opportunity for a pedagogical space that can be truly lived and transformative for both those served and those providing the service. Yet it is necessary to ensure that the concerns of vulnerable populations that service learning aims to serve are brought to the center of the discourse.
