The Michigan Community Service Commission, the state’s lead agency on volunteerism, will host the inaugural 2021 Michigan Conference on Service and Volunteerism virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 30 and December 1, to help organizations reimagine the possibilities service and volunteerism can offer as Michigan recovers from the pandemic and moves to developing resilience.
The conference theme, “Volunteering – Truth, Youth, and the Future,” is intended to help explore avenues that support Michigan’s path forward. Conference workshops will include all aspects of volunteering and service, with special components to recognize the importance of involving youth voices and the need to expand quality mentoring. Workshops will include a variety of topics including mentoring in the modern age, community disaster response, engaging youth in volunteerism and more.
“The past year brought many challenges, but it also highlighted critical new opportunities for us to engage volunteers and AmeriCorps members to make a greater impact,” said Michigan Community Service Commission Executive Director Ginna Holmes. “As we look to the future, it is essential that we collectively examine ways to help communities develop resiliency and I am excited for this first-of-its kind conference that will help us explore our roles and the opportunities to collaborate and form solutions.”
Speakers will include a wide variety of service leaders from across the country, including artist Mike Ellison, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Deputy Director for Prosperity Kim Trent, and MENTOR CEO David Shapiro. The conference is an opportunity for sharing timely resources and ideas related to national service, volunteer engagement and relevant research and practices in volunteerism and service.
There is no cost to attend. Interested participants can register for the event at https://www.accelevents.com/e/mcsc-annual-conference.
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) utilizes service as a strategy to address the state's most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. The MCSC is leveraging more than $21 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. For additional information, visit www.michigan.gov/volunteer.
