REGIONAL- Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday launched Minnesota’s new Office of Public Service, a statewide initiative designed to expand volunteer opportunities while creating new pathways into public service careers.
The office, housed within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, will work to coordinate and expand public service opportunities across the state by promoting volunteerism, civic engagement, national and community service programs, youth service initiatives, and emergency response efforts. State officials said the office also will help align public service opportunities with workforce development programs, allowing participants to earn industry-recognized credentials while gaining experience.
“We think there are countless opportunities that go unutilized simply because people don’t know how to make the right connections,” Walz said during the launch event in Maplewood. “This office is about our ability to connect people together. This is not about another additive bureaucracy.”
Walz said he hopes the office will make it easier for Minnesotans to find opportunities to serve while strengthening communities through volunteerism.
“I think if we all served side by side together, it binds us together,” he said, adding that public service helps strengthen communities while creating connections across different backgrounds.
Office of Public Service Director Sherene Judeh said the initiative is intended to bring together government, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners under a coordinated statewide approach.
“Our goal is to create a unified statewide strategy for public service, working together across the public service sector, in government, nonprofits, and the private sector to ensure Minnesotans have opportunities to serve and earn career credentials while they do it,” Judeh said.
The office announced its inaugural round of grants Tuesday, awarding $712,500 to eight organizations across the state. Judeh said the grants are expected to provide opportunities for more than 500 Minnesotans to earn industry-recognized career credentials through service programs in education, environmental stewardship, technology, health, and youth services.
“The Office of Public Service is also a place where job seekers can gain experience through service and find opportunities to earn credentials they can take into new careers,” Judeh said.