Cities of Service
In 2009, Michael Bloomberg and 16 mayors from around the country founded Cities of Service, a coalition of nearly 200 cities dedicated to finding new ways to engage their residents in crucial volunteer work. Cities of Service allows citizens to have agency in the municipal process, creating a mechanism for problem solving by helping to ensure that volunteer efforts target problems.
Cities of Service focuses its efforts on volunteer strategies that target community needs, use best practices, and set clear outcomes and measures to gauge progress. It provides technical assistance, programmatic support, planning resources, funding opportunities, and a platform for coalition cities to share best practices and lessons learned.
Learn more about the program at citiesofservice.jhu.edu.
For Local Government Innovators
Visit the Bloomberg Cities Network, created in partnership with Johns Hopkins for city leaders and innovators full of resources, learning opportunities, and connections to peers around the world. Join the network to receive exclusive resources, including access to world-class training and events, peer networking opportunities, powerful city solutions, and more.
Top photo: Mayor Byron W. Brown joins citizen volunteers for a Love Your Block neighborhood revitalization project. Photo credit: City of Buffalo, New York