By Ed Somers
September 14, 2009

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the formation of a new coalition dedicated to community service in cities, during a meeting held at Gracie Mansion on September 10.

The coalition is being formed to support the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that was signed into law April 21, 2009 by President Obama, ushering in a new era of volunteerism and service for our nation. Should the bill be fully funded, it would represent the largest expansion of federal support for service in history, bringing critical new resources to national service programs, volunteer management efforts, and social innovation.

The kickoff event for the coalition was especially timely as the Serve America Act designated the following day, September 11, as a new day of national service. Bloomberg said that the coalition will be a major resource to support mayors around the country – to develop best practices and support the development of local strategies. He also believes it will be a critical new tool to help the White House meet the Serve America Act’s call to action. The coalition is being supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

During the morning discussions, the mayors heard from a panel of experts on strategies for community engagement, including Caroline Kennedy and Actor Ashton Kutcher, who focused on social networking. One constant theme of the discussion was how mayors align available resources and city assets with individuals and organizations seeking service opportunities, and build a sustainable volunteer infrastructure.

The mayors who attended the New York City event were: Shirley Franklin of Atlanta (GA), Sheila Dixon of Baltimore (MD), Richard M. Daley of Chicago (IL), Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher of Dublin (OH), John Peyton of Jacksonville (FL), Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles (CA), Karl Dean of Nashville (TN), Corey Booker of Newark (NJ), Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City (NY), Phil Gordon of Phoenix (AZ), Luke Ravenstahl of Pittsburgh (PA), David N. Cicilline of Providence (RI), Kevin Johnson of Sacramento (CA), Douglas H. Palmer of Trenton (NJ), Paul E. Winfield of Vicksburg (MS), Adrian Fenty of Washington (DC), and Lois J. Frankel of West Palm Beach (FL). Also attending was Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran.