United We Serve
On Monday, June 22, a new summer service initiative launched at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.  The initiative, called United We Serve, aims to put volunteers on a path to sustained service.  United We Serve runs all summer long and concludes in a National Day of Service and Rememberance on Friday, September 11.  Please  view a  video message from President Obama  announcing this effort.

The United We Serve effort will focus on four broad issues:
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
4. Providing community renewal to areas hit hardest by the economic crisis

As part of the United We Serve initiative, a new online portal, www.serve.gov , has been launched to help individuals, groups, and organizations find volunteer opportunities.  For a volunteer opportunity near you, please visit www.serve.gov today.

For more information on the United We Serve initiative, please read the  Frequently Asked Questions  or the  Informational Page .

In Michigan, individuals who participate in the initiative will be eligible to receive Presidential Service Awards.   Details are available about this exciting opportunity .

Looking for other volunteer opportunities in Michigan?

Volunteer Centers
Nearly every area of Michigan is served by a Volunteer Center that can connect you with volunteer opportunities in your community.  To find a volunteer center near you, please visit www.mivolunteers.org or call 1-800-VOLUNTEER.

Be a Mentor
There are more than 3,500 children in Michigan waiting to be matched with a caring adult.  If you want to make a difference in the life of a child, mentoring only takes about one hour a week.  Pass It On.  To find a place to mentor, click the "Mentor Michigan" button on the left toolbar.

National Service
AmeriCorps is often compared to a U.S.-based Peace Corps.  It engages more than 75,000 Americans each year in service to meet critical community needs.  You can serve on a part-time or full-time basis.  Participants, called members, must be 17 to apply and are of all ages, including retirees.  Members receive some monetary compensation while serving.  To learn more, click on the "Michigan's AmeriCorps" button on the left toolbar.

Senior Corps connects those age 55 and over with people and organizations that need them most.  They help you become a mentor, coach, or companion to a young person or adult.  You can use your job skills and expertise in nonprofit organizations that need you.  Senior Corps links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities each year and there are many ways to get involved.  Certain programs provide some monetary compensation.  To learn more, visit www.seniorcorps.gov . 

Michigan Community Service Commission
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) supports programs and activities to help individuals get involved in their local communities.  The MCSC also recognizes outstanding volunteers in your community through the Governor's Service Awards.  To learn more, click on the "Governor's Service Awards" button on the left toolbar.