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Hundreds of Mayors Line Up to Recognize AmeriCorps and Senior Corps Programs

Washington, D.C. – On April 9, more than 680 mayors, who collectively represent nearly 100 million Americans in all 50 states, will join together to recognize the impact of national service participants in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs who are making a difference in their communities.

The first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service is being led by Cities of Service, the National League of Cities, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS is the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.

“It is a testament to the effectiveness of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs that nearly one-third of Americans will have their mayor participating in this first-ever Day of Recognition,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “We’re proud to stand with this bipartisan group of mayors. These leaders are shining a bright light on the many ways AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are improving neighborhoods and transforming lives across the country.”

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 is a vital resource for America's cities,” Mayor Nutter said. “By unleashing the power of citizens, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs have a positive and lasting impact – making our cities better places to live.”

Participating mayors will do site visits, roundtables, proclamations, and celebrations. All events are designed to highlight how national service works for cities and focuses on three groups that benefit from the program: the recipients of service, the people who serve, and the larger community and nation.

The initiative has already gained support from a diverse range of mayors. A full list can be found here.

Highlights of the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service from across the country include events from mayors who hold national leadership positions:

  • Avondale, Ariz.: Mayor Marie Lopez-Rogers, president of the National League of Cities, will sign a proclamation recognizing national service.

  • Mesa, Ariz.: Mayor Scott Smith, who is the vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors, will hold a news conference at a community resource center started by an AmeriCorps VISTA team that served with the United Way.

  • St. Paul, Minn.: Mayor Chris Coleman, vice president of the National League of Cities, will join local leaders as he visits AmeriCorps and Senior Corps project sites in his city, culminating with a celebration at a local business.

  • Philadelphia: Mayor Nutter, who serves as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors, will host a celebration honoring the winners and outstanding nominees for the City of Philadelphia ~ Mayor’s Award for Distinguished National Service.

In addition to these cities, mayors in other communities are commemorating national service in a number of ways:

  • Albuquerque: Mayor Richard Berry will hold a public recognition ceremony at Civic Plaza by City Hall that will be followed by a volunteer information fair.

  • Fairbanks, Alaska: Mayor Luke Hopkins will issue a proclamation. He will also hold a recognition ceremony followed by a luncheon for AmeriCorps VISTA members.

  • Flint, Mich.: Mayor Dayne Walling will issue a proclamation, participate in a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders, host a recognition luncheon for the city’s “champions of national service,” and visit two national service projects in his city.

  • Little Rock, Ark.: Mayor Mark Stodola will issue a mayoral proclamation and present each national service member or volunteer in attendance with a certificate of recognition.

  • Los Angeles: At a morning news conference, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will recognize six national service programs where members and volunteers are making contributions in the area of education. Each program will receive a certificate from the mayor.

  • Nashville: Mayor Karl Dean will use the National Day of Recognition for National Service to launch a volunteering initiative. The event will include local leaders and representatives of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps projects.

  • Omaha: Mayor Jim Suttle will oversee performances, speeches, and the presentation of a proclamation recognizing AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs.

  • Phoenix: Local leaders will join Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton at a city council meeting where representatives of local AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs will be recognized for their contributions to the city.

  • San Antonio: Mayor Julian Castro will hold a news conference during which he will recognize national service programs.

  • Washington, D.C.: Mayor Vincent Gray will visit schools where national service participants are making a difference and then end the day at a Washington Nationals game where AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs will be recognized.

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