January 18, 2010
Mayor Daley Accepts Cities of Service Leadership Grant
Mayor Daley's Press Office
Mayor Richard M. Daley accepted the Cities of Service Leadership Grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg today as part of a National Service Day to honor the life and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Chicago was one of ten cities selected across the nation to receive the $200,000 grant. "Dr. Martin Luther King showed Americans the power of volunteerism. He also showed us that one person can make a difference," said Mayor Daley at a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg at Dulles Elementary School, 6311 5. Calumet. "It is with this spirit that we accept the Cities of Service Leadership Grant."
Under the grant, the City will hire a Chief Service Officer to work with a Leadership Committee comprised of business leaders, community based service organizations, academic institutions, state and federal partners, and residents. Working together they will develop a new volunteerism plan for Chicago that will engage volunteers to help address key citywide challenges.
The group's initial efforts will focus on expanding resources and programs to support the City's ongoing efforts to:
- Develop out of school time programs to benefit Chicago's youth, especially teens at risk; and
- Help residents most affected by the recession get back on the path to economic recovery.
"I am proud of the high level of volunteerism we already have in Chicago and this grant is going to help take our service to the next level," said Mayor Daley. "By focusing our initiative on our City's youth and those that need our help the most, we will help to secure a stronger Chicago for future generations."
The City will begin implementing the grant's initiatives by first working with advisory partners to help structure a larger leadership committee, recruit a volunteer coordinator, and start the process of developing the city volunteerism plan.
In September 2009 Mayor Daley joined Mayor Bloomberg and mayors from across the country to form the Cities of Service Coalition. The group's mission is to find new and innovative ways to harness the power of volunteers to help solve problems in their communities.
"Volunteerism sends a powerful message people helping people to make our cities better places to live, work and raise a family," said Mayor Daley. "That's the message Cities of Service carries around the nation. It is why the City of Chicago is pleased to be part of this great effort to bring new energy and new ideas to the service movement."