On MLK Day of Service, Gov. Newsom Highlights Investments in Service and Volunteering
Photo by Gage Skidmore
SACRAMENTO – On Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a national day of service, Gov. Gavin Newsom encouraged all Californians to honor the civil rights leader by taking part in a volunteer opportunity to improve their community.
As part of the California Blueprint, Gov. Newsom has proposed additional investments in California’s service and volunteer programs. The Blueprint includes:
Expanding Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Volunteering Programs
Engage more older adults in volunteer service that benefits schools, families and communities across the state.
Support the goals established by California’s 10-year Master Plan for Aging, and establish national models that demonstrate the power, value and success of older adult volunteerism.
The Foster Grandparent Program will pair older adult volunteers with children of all ages for intergenerational mentoring, tutoring and connections.
The Senior Companion Program will connect older adults to address social isolation, and create peer-to-peer support systems in independent living.
Building Neighbor-to-Neighbor Networks in California
Expand the state’s existing volunteer infrastructure and bolster the statewide Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative to recruit, train, equip and organize neighbors to address community needs.
Harness the community mobilization and connections resulting from the pandemic to build upon this organic service model to respond to crises like floods, fires and other rapid-response disasters and community needs.
Increased Ongoing Funding for the California Climate Action Corps
Permanently fund the country’s first statewide Climate Action Corps Program at its existing funding level of $4.7 million to help empower Californians to take meaningful action against the harshest impacts of climate change.
Support the mission of empowering youth to engage in service that advances climate actions in their communities, cultivates change and leaves a lasting impact.
This nation-leading program will continue to enable Californians throughout the state to engage in climate action, be it through service positions, volunteer opportunities or individual action.