First Lady Announces Summer of Service Program

Did you know the Obama Administration has launched a new online portal, www.serve.gov, where organizations can list service opportunities and individuals can find openings of interest or develop their own projects?

From the site:

"This website is a new portal for you and all Americans to find your own ways to serve in your own communities. Just choose your keyword - "education," "environment," or whatever interests you - and type in your zip code to see what opportunities our partner organizations have in your area. Americans are putting their own country back on the right track, be a part of it."

The service effort will focus on:

1) promoting clean energy, energy efficiency, and public land restoration;

2) supporting education and literacy for all Americans;

3) increasing health care access, public health awareness, and prevention; and

4) providing community renewal to areas hardest hit by the economic crisis.

Federal agencies are also working on developing tools to assist service activities and to help to track the community impact of these efforts.

First Lady Michelle Obama and the Corporation for National and Community Service announced this initiative to help put volunteers "on a path to sustained service." The initiative launches officiallyon June 22 at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service and culminate in a National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11.

Additional reading:

Press Release: First Lady Thanks Corporation for National and Community Service Employees

Remarks by the First Lady at a Corporation for National and Community Service Event