Mayor Freeman-Wilson Joins Nationwide Effort to Recognize Impact of National Service
Gary, IN — Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson joined more than 800 mayors across the country for the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, a nationwide bipartisan effort to highlight the impact of national service in tackling city problems.
“In the face of budget cuts, volunteerism and community service are ways that we fill major voids within our city,” said Mayor Freeman-Wilson. “AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps participants have a positive and lasting impact, making our cities better places to live. As Mayor, it is my honor to salute them today for all they continue to do in our community.”
More than 60 volunteers hailing from a variety of non-profit organizations (United Way, RSVP, Catholic Charities, Sojourner Truth House, The NWI Arc, NWI Adult Guardianship Services, and One Accord Global) packed the council chambers at City Hall. Volunteer coordinators from each of the organizations shared brief remarks about the important work volunteers perform every day. Freeman-Wilson then read a proclamation and proclaimed it National Service Recognition Day in the City of Gary.
The Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service was conceived of by Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, as a way to recognize the positive impact of national service in cities, to thank those who serve; and to encourage citizens to give back to their communities. The day is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the National League of Cities, and Cities of Service.
“Mayors are leaders who get things done, responding every day to needs in their cities,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “I commend Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson for joining in this important effort to recognize the impact of national service. We are proud to work hand-in-hand with mayors and other local partners to improve lives and strengthen communities through national service.”
As the federal agency for service and volunteering, CNCS annually engages more than five million citizens in service at more than 70,000 locations in 8,500 cities across the country through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and other programs. National service participants address the most pressing challenges facing our cities and nation, from educating students for the jobs of the 21st century and supporting veterans and military families to preserving the environment and helping communities recover from natural disasters.
Across the country, mayors are participating in a variety of activities, including visiting national service programs, hosting roundtables at City Hall, issuing proclamations, and communicating about national service through social media. By shining the spotlight on the impact of service and thanking those who serve, mayors hope to inspire more residents to get involved in their communities.
For more information on the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, including background and a list of participating mayors, visit www.nationalservice.gov/
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads President Barack Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
Tags: call to service initiative, city of gary, community service, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, national service, President Barack Obama, volunteerism
