Youth and Older Adults Answer President and First Lady Obama’s Call to Service

On Monday, July 22, New York’s First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson hosted the New York kick-off of the United We Serve national service initiative at the Executive Mansion. United We Serve, the Obama Administration’s nationwide service program that calls on all Americans to volunteer in their communities, will continue throughout the summer, culminating with the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2009. The First Lady was joined by Governor Paterson as well as Derek R. B. Douglas, Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs and former Director of the Washington Office of the Governor. The New York United We Serve launch event invited New Yorkers of all ages to participate in service workshops on community service and sustainability and urged participants to continue volunteering in their own neighborhoods.

“I am continually impressed with New Yorkers’ willingness to help others and today’s volunteers were no exception. We connected with our neighbors, young and old, to learn more about the variety of service activities we can all partake in, like gardening, healthy eating and cooking,” First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson said. “It is my hope that today’s participants will spread their knowledge to others in their neighborhoods, schools and workplaces. This initiative may run for only 81 days, but I am certain that New Yorkers will continue with the efforts to improve our communities, to protect our environment and to build a better future for our fellow citizens well beyond next September.”

The service workshops featured at the Executive Mansion focused on literacy, health and sustainability. The morning began with a reading session as older adults from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the Albany Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, and Kindred Spirits United read children’s books on healthy eating and lifestyles to preschoolers.

Middle school students also participated, attending different service stations that highlighted the benefits of gardening and other environmental and health friendly-activities. The workshops included “Growing It, Not Buying It” with Executive Mansion Gardener Frank Willey; “Tossing Your Own Raw Kale Salad” with Executive Mansion Chef Noah Sheetz; “Thirst-Quenching Mint Tea” with Executive Mansion Chef Tom Alicandro; and “Making Dirt” with Tim Stanley of the Fresh Air Fund. Each activity highlighted how participants could take the lessons learned at the Mansion to organize their own volunteer opportunities to sustain the service initiative beyond this summer.

As Honorary Chair of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, the First Lady is committed to making community and volunteer work a part of her office, particularly in the fields of health and the environment.

Governor Paterson has also made community service and volunteerism a priority in his Administration. In September, the Governor elevated Susan Stern, Chair of the State Commission on National and Community Service, to his cabinet. New York is the second state to emphasize the importance of service and civic engagement with a cabinet-level position. In addition, the Governor and First Lady launched the 2009 National AmeriCorps Week in New York City, where they celebrated a week of activities under the theme “Getting Green Done,” and announced the appointment of First Daughter Ashley Dennis to serve as Chair of the State Youth Service Committee to continue to engage a younger generation of volunteers and public servants.

Chair of the State Commission on National and Community Service Susan Stern said: “We hope that all citizens of New York will participate in the United We Serve project over the summer and ultimately make volunteerism and community service part of their daily lives. Together we can help to meet our neighbors’ critical needs and make New York a State of Service.”

More information on New York State’s community service related efforts and the New Yorkers Volunteer campaign is available at www.newyorkersvolunteer.ny.gov. The website also provides a comprehensive link to match those looking to volunteer with opportunities across the State.