Commissioner Roles and Responsibilities
The Serve New Mexico Commission's (formerly the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism) mission is to engage citizens of all ages and backgrounds in community based service; such service will address New Mexico’s human, educational, environmental, public safety, health, housing and other needs to achieve direct and beneficial results.
Housed in the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS), the Commission was established in January 1994 to administer AmeriCorps national service programs which promote civic engagement and foster an ethic of service while meeting community needs. Serve New Mexico is made up of 16 Governor-appointed commissioners who serve for three-year terms of service. The Commission sets priorities for results-oriented community service programs; provides training and technical assistance to subgrantees; evaluates program effectiveness; and leverages federal program dollars with additional local, state, and private sector resources.
Specific Responsibilities of the State Commission
1. Assuring good stewardship of the AmeriCorps State resources in the state of New Mexico. Duties include:
- Administration of a grant program in support of national service programs which includes selection, oversight and evaluation of grant recipients.
- Development of projects, training methods, curriculum materials and other materials and activities related to national service programs.
- Availability of technical assistance to grant applicants.
2. Developing and communicating a statewide vision of service and fostering an ethic of service and volunteering throughout the state. Duties include:
- Preparation of a national service program for the state that:
- Is developed through an open and public process;
- Ensures outreach to diverse community-based agencies that serve underrepresented populations;
- Covers a three-year period and is updated annually.
Commissioner Recruitment
According to §2550.50 (b) Required voting members on a State Service Commission. A member may represent none, one, or more than one category, and each of the following categories must be represented:
- A representative of a community-based agency or organization in the state;
- The head of the state education agency or his or her designee;
- A representative of local government in the state;
- A representative of local labor organizations in the state;
- A representative of business;
- An individual between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who is a participant or supervisor of a service program for school-age youth, or of a campus-based or national service program;
- A representative of a national service program;
- An individual with expertise in the educational, training, and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth;
- An individual with experience in promoting the involvement of older adults (age 55 and older) in service and volunteerism; and
- A representative of the volunteer sector.
Please contact Serve New Mexico Executive Director Kristin Hsueh with any questions.
Email: kristin.hsueh@dws.nm.gov