Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism
Purpose of the Commission
As one of 52 State Service Commissions, the Maryland State Service Commission includes the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism and the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism. The commission was created and appointed by the Governor in 1994 to review and approve all AmeriCorps State funding in Maryland and to serve as a body of ambassadors for service and volunteerism in local communities. With the Governor’s approval, the Commission may apply to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that manages AmeriCorps, and other public and private sources for additional funding. Under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, Governor-appointed service commissions are required to oversee each state’s AmeriCorps activities and resources. The Act also requires each state to develop, update, and implement a three-year strategic plan for service which sets funding and program priorities for allocation of AmeriCorps funds and promotes volunteerism and community service broadly. Learn about the Commission’s 2020-2022 State Service Plan–outlining strategies and priorities created through a public input process.
Upcoming Meetings
| MEETING DATE | LOCATION | TIME | MEETING MINS/RECORDING |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 8, 2022 | Towson University (hybrid meeting) | 10:00 AM |  |
| March 9, 2023 | Equity Now/ Legends Charter School (hybrid meeting) | 9:30 AM |  |
| May 11, 2023 | Chesapeake College (hybrid meeting) | 9:30 AM | |
| October 12, 2023 | Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (hybrid meeting) | 9:30 AM | |
| December 7, 2023 | Register for this meeting here | 9:30 AM |
*Please Note. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Commissioners
The Commission consists of Governor-appointed representatives and community members, with significant experience and knowledge of issues related to service and volunteerism, who serve three-year terms.
Executive Committee
John Palinski, Chair
Arundhati (Aru) Rao, Co-Chair
Brian Pham, Secretary
Joshua (Josh) Pedersen, Immediate Past Chair
Members
Mei Cobb
Henry Coppola
Siobhan Davenport
Candyce Harris
Molly Hilligoss
Christopher (Chris) Lidard
Kelly MacBride-Gill
Lauren McKinley
David (Dave) Slaughter
Carol Ann Smith
Jerome Tennille
Alison Vogrin
