Delaware puts the focus on volunteerism and serving communities in need

The CEO of Public Allies visits Delaware Tuesday as part of a week devoted to highlighting civic involvement.

“AmeriCorps Works” is the theme of the weeklong effort to celebrate the contributions of such organizations as Public Allies. 

“We find young people who have a passion to make a difference, and we help them turn that into a career working in community and public service,” Public Allies CEO Paul Schmitz said.  

Participants have the opportunity to serve paid one-year internships at nonprofit organizations.  Public Allies has more than 330 alumni in Delaware and nearly 30 people are participating in the internship program currently.  The organization operates in 21 cities, including Wilmington. 

Schmitz said as cities and nonprofits face growing needs and dwindling finances, the efforts of such groups as Public Allies are more important than ever.  “We’ve got all these young people who want to make a difference, we’ve got all these organizations who are trying to meet needs with fewer resources.  We can solve that problem by plugging these young people into these opportunities to serve,”  Schmitz said. 

Schmitz will appear Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon at the University of Delaware’s Trabant Center, then from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Delaware Technical and Community College conference center at the Wilmington campus.  He will sign copies of his book, “Everyone Leads:  Building leadership from the Community Up.”

First featured a story about Public Allies last November. You can watch the story below.