Applications are now available for the “Love Your Block” grant award program. The grant will give volunteer-led groups up to $750 to purchase the supplies and equipment necessary to implement a neighborhood improvement project.
“Love Your Block” is Dubuque’s first service-based initiative launched as part of the new, innovative service blueprint, Take Action Dubuque. Take Action Dubuque was made possible through the partnerships between the City of Dubuque and the Cities of Service – AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative. AARP generously supported Take Action Dubuque by providing a $5,000 Recognition Award to support the Volunteer Chief Service Officer’s effort to develop and implement Take Action Dubuque.
“Love Your Block” is the first high-impact service initiative coordinated by Take Action Dubuque. “Love Your Block” empowers volunteers to beautify neighborhoods and strengthen community cohesiveness. It also allows community organizations, informal and formal, the financial boost they need to roll up their sleeves and make Dubuque an even more viable, livable and equitable community.
Application Requirements
Applications due March 2, 2012 and project implementation will take place in Spring 2012. Applicants and the impacted area must be within City limits and will be notified of their grant status by March 12, 2012.
About Cities of Service
Founded in New York City of September 10, 2009 by 17 mayors from cities around the nation, Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition of mayors who have committed to work together to engage citizens in a multi-year effort to address pressing city needs through impact volunteerism. The coalition includes more than 100 mayors, representing nearly 50 million Americans across the nation.
Cities of Service supports mayors to leverage citizen service strategies, addressing local needs and making government more effective. All Cities of Service efforts are characterized by a concept called “impact volunteering”- volunteer strategies that target community needs, use best practices, and set clear outcomes and measures to gauge progress.
About AARP
AARP was founded on the principle of service. Since its establishment in 1958, AARP has been dedicated to delivering value to its members through service. Now, with the heightened interest in civic engagement and a new vitality around service, including the passage of the Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009, AARP is well positioned to tap into the strength of its millions of members to help solve pressing problems at the community level through the Cities of Service-AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative.
About the Cities of Service-AARP Volunteer Chief Service Officer Initiative
Through a collaboration between Cities of Service and AARP, Cities of Service coalition members with less than 125,000 residents have been given the opportunity to appoint highly-skilled volunteer to serve as Chief Service Officers for one year, many of whom come from AARP’s membership. Chief Service Officers are senior members of the mayors’ leadership teams and are responsible for the development and implementation of a high-impact service plan that leverages citizen service to address the city’s most pressing challenges. In addition to appointing a volunteer Chief Service Officer, participating cities receive a $5,000 Recognition Award from AARP and technical assistance from Cities of Service to develop and implement their high-impact service plans.
For additional information, please contact City of Dubuque volunteer services coordinator, Mary Bridget Corken at mcorken@cityofdubuque.org or 563-690-6048.