Priorities

SERVE Philadelphia has three important goals:

• Create or elevate volunteer opportunities that impact educational outcomes and contribute to community vitality
   
• Make it easier for citizens of every age to volunteer
   
• Support both public and private sector efforts to engage more volunteers in ways that have the greatest impact

To meet these goals,SERVE Philadelphia includes five impact initiatives designed to strengthen communities and engage citizens in supporting educational achievement.  Additionally, it includes five cross cutting initiatives designed to increase the City’s overall capacity to engage more volunteers in ways that have the greatest impact. 

SERVE Philadelphia’s five impact initiatives include:

Graduation Coach Campaign- The Graduation Coach Campaign calls on adults to pledge to help the young people in their lives earn a high school diploma and succeed in college and careers.  

College Access Writing Clinics- The College Access Writing Clinics initiative will engage college student volunteers in tutoring high school students at monthly citywide writing clinics as well as regularly scheduled clinics in the School District of Philadelphia’s Student Success Centers.

Public Service Areas- The Public Service Areas initiative will strengthen the capacity of local community groups to revitalize their neighborhoods by teaming City agencies with non-profit and for-profit entities who will work with local residents to develop partnerships, leverage resources, and manage volunteers.

Volunteer Afterschool- Volunteers will be recruited and prepared to provide engaging afterschool activities in libraries and recreation centers with a limited volunteer base.

Green Philly, Grow Philly- Volunteers will be recruited to support Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s ambitious plan to achieve the Greenworks goal of planting 300,000 trees across the city by 2015.

SERVE Philadelphia’s five cross cutting initiatives include:

Strategic Volunteer Impact Advisory Group- An Advisory Group will be convened to align volunteer impact strategies and foster increased collaboration across organizations that engage volunteers.  During year one, the Advisory Group will focus on the two major issue areas outlined in SERVE Philadelphia: Education and Community Vitality.

Greater Philadelphia Corporate Volunteer Council- A Corporate Volunteer Council will be established to increase the private sector’s ability to engage with the city and region’s non-profit community in ways that effectively impact Greater Philadelphia’s most pressing challenges.

Citywide Volunteer Impact Challenge- Mayor Nutter will issue a Volunteer Impact Challenge in 2011.  This call to serve will engage individuals, faith communities and community based organizations in mobilizing residents to address both local and citywide challenges.

Volunteer Recognition Program- Mayor Nutter will establish a program to recognize individuals who volunteer their time, energy and expertise in order to have a positive impact on the city.

www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com - The Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service will develop and manage a one-stop-shop for Philadelphians interested in connecting with one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities.