American Ingenuity Award
Recognizing the heroic efforts of Congressional caseworkers, volunteers, and federal employees during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan
About the Award
This award is a collaboration between POPVOX Foundation and #AfghanEvac. Questions? Contact us at casework@popvox.org.
POPVOX Foundation and #AfghanEvac are honored to announce a special award to recognize the extraordinary efforts of Congressional caseworkers, volunteers, and federal employees involved in the relocation and resettlement efforts of Americans and American allies from Afghanistan. The award is inspired by the efforts detailed in POPVOX Foundation’s report, American Ingenuity: Congressional Casework in the Afghanistan Withdrawal, specifically this quote from #AfghanEvac Founder and President Shawn VanDiver:
“The really unique thing about this was that it was a shared experience: I had the privilege to have seen that the volunteers working on this, Congressional caseworkers, and within the federal government, the entrepreneurial, expeditionary bureaucrats — they’re all experiencing same feeling of helplessness, the drive to do better, the same desire that other stakeholders would do more faster, smarter, better, and the deep anguish when you feel like you’ve failed even though you didn’t fail. I’ve been trying to figure out how to make sure people see that shared experience. [...] This was so unique and different, and should be a badge of American ingenuity. Look at what these people all did together.”
Details
Who’s eligible?
Any Congressional caseworker, volunteer, and federal employee who participated in the Afghanistan relocation and resettlement efforts.
Who can nominate?
Caseworkers, volunteers, and federal agencies can be nominated by their respective offices, colleagues, and we also welcome self-nominations. Details forthcoming in Spring 2024.
What’s the timing?
The call for nominations will go live in Spring 2024, and the American Ingenuity Award will be awarded in late 2024. Recipients will receive an invitation to attend a recognition ceremony in Washington, DC, and will be invited to participate in a virtual wall of participants commemorating their work in this historic whole-of-society effort.
What does the award entail?
Recipients will be invited to participate in a virtual wall of participants commemorating their work in this historic whole-of-society effort. Selected recipients will also receive an invitation to attend a recognition ceremony in Washington, DC, or a toolkit to host a local award ceremony to recognize other volunteers and staff
What’s the selection process?
Nominees will be contacted to confirm their participation and desire to be recognized, and will also be extended an opportunity to share any stories or reflections from their experience for the virtual wall (anonymously or with attribution).
Additional Resources
-
![]()
American Ingenuity: Congressional Casework in the Afghanistan Withdrawal
This report presents a narrative account of Congressional casework in the Afghanistan withdrawal, and points to ways that Congress can tap into its strengths to evolve in the 21st century and beyond.
-
![]()
Recording: Congressional Casework in the Afghanistan Withdrawal
POPVOX Foundation brought together current and former caseworkers and experts from #AfghanEvac to discuss the findings and recommendations from “American Ingenuity: Congressional Casework in the Afghanistan Withdrawal.”
-
![]()
Casework Navigator
Through our Casework Navigator program, Congressional staff can access regular webinars, workshops, resources, and research on the state of casework today, and the future of constituent service in a landscape of rapidly-evolving technology and expectations of government
