by KYW's Karin Phillips

This week, Philadelphia and the nation are celebrating the national service program called Americorps and the work its members have done in the community.  

Americorps will be holding a variety of service events throughout the city this week in an effort to highlight its accomplishments, which centers around working through existing organizations and helping them reach more people and achieve their missions better. 

Pennsylvania state director of the Corporation for National and Community Service Mary Strasser says such work goes back for decades:

"Going back to the early 70's, there were Vista members making that same kind of contribution. So we can really reach back 40 years to see the great great contributions that Americorps and Americorps Vistas have made."

Philadelphia starts its celebration at 8am on Tuesday with a rally at Dilworth Plaza and a cleanup on Girard Avenue.