Cities of Service - Mayor's Council on Service
Background:
Mayor Smith demonstrated his commitment to service by signing on
as a member of the Cities ofService coalition in December.
Founded in New York City on Sept. 10, 2009, Cities of Service is
a bipartisan coalition of mayors who have answered a call to
action which included the recently enacted Edward M. Kennedy
Serve America Act. Coalition members, by signing a Declaration
of Service, will work together to lead a multi-year effort to
expand community service and volunteerism in cities across the
country.
Message from Mayor Smith:
Residents are empowered through volunteer service and when they
take ownership of their city, they are more likely to take care
of it in the long run. There is often a perception that
government will take care of everything. Communities are not
government driven. Communities function best when residents take
an active part in making their community a better place to live.
Mesa already has an excellent track record of volunteerism. We
want to build on that success and provide a focus for the 1000's
of service hours that are given. The City can be a facilitator
for resources that no one else has. By focusing our efforts we
can identify meaningful projects and help bridge the gap between
needs and resources. Work will continue with our faith-based
community, non-profits, businesses and other stakeholders to
help ensure volunteer service is administered in the most
effective and efficient way possible.
We can continue our legacy of volunteer service and "Build a
Better Mesa" by nurturing our greatest asset - our children. Our
youth need us now more than ever as families struggle and the
ills of society aim to destroy their futures. This year and
moving forward, I will focus on youth and educational service
opportunities. This initiative will concentrate on assisting
at-risk youth and connect volunteers and resources with the
individuals most in need.
One
of the first programs in this effort was the
Mayor's Youth Summer of
Service program where Mesa youth participated in
service-learning activities during their summer break. These
opportunities provided an avenue for young people to develop
their roles as active members of the community while learning
and having fun. See a
presentation made by student leaders in the
2011
Mayor's Youth Summer of Service.
The Mayor's Youth and Education Foundation is being formed to
encourage philanthropy to help further this cause. The Mayor's
Youth and Education Foundation will be managed by the Mayor's
Council on Service - a volunteer advisory group comprised of
service-minded Mesa residents. Members of the service council
will be appointed in the coming months.
For more information about the Summer of Service, the Mayor's
Council on Service, or the Mayor's Youth and Education
Foundation, please contact Kathy Macdonald, Chief of Staff, at
480-644-3002 or email
kathy.macdonald@mesaaz.gov