State Service Commissions – Making a Difference

By: Michigan Community Service Commission

There are organizations across America that are tackling the critical issues many communities face – and they’re doing it through service and volunteerism. We’re talking about State Service Commissions, governor-appointed public agencies or private nonprofits that are leading some of the nation’s broadest service efforts.

There are 54 State Service Commissions located across the country, including in all 50 states and in American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands. Their efforts are widespread as they leverage local, state, and federal funds and provide service opportunities to millions of Americans.

Here in Michigan there is the Michigan Community Service Commission, or MCSC. The MCSC acts as the state’s lead agency on volunteerism and promotes service as a strategy to address Michigan’s toughest challenges. In 2008, more than 2.3 million adults volunteered more than 325 million service hours. The MCSC looks to increase these efforts and their overall impact.

The Michigan Community Service Commission has four major initiatives: Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve – Michigan, Mentor Michigan, and Governor’s Service Awards. It also supports a variety of other initiatives related to service and volunteerism – such as National Days of Service. The MCSC receives funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service to provide AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve in Michigan – which are National Service programs. These funds then leverage millions of dollars in local communities, making the investment in service strong in many areas of the state.

The MCSC believes strongly in the impact citizens can have when they give their time and talent to service. The Commission believes communities can be strengthened through volunteerism and strives to do so by:

• Providing leadership to support, promote, and expand volunteerism
• Securing and delivering resources to expand programming and excellence in volunteering and service
• Focusing on the critical community needs identified at the local, state, and national levels

If you’d like to learn more about the Michigan Community Service Commission, check out their 2010 Informational Sheet or visit www.michigan.gov/volunteer.

Also be sure to connect with them online by finding them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MICommunityServiceCommission or following them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MCSConline.