WHEREAS America has a proud tradition of service and volunteerism that dates back to the colonial era and today can be found in communities across the fifty states;

WHEREAS the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 21, 2009 builds on this tradition, encouraging all Americans to serve their communities in new ways;

WHEREAS cities, home to many of the nation’s most persistent challenges, are positioned to bring new leadership, facilitation, and innovation to the service movement;

WHEREAS the current need for public-spirited residents to help address increased hardship resulting from the global financial and housing crises is clear;

WHEREAS service enriches the lives of Americans of all ages, and each new generation of young Americans must be engaged to tackle emerging challenges;

NOW, THEREFORE, we resolve to develop a coalition of mayors from cities large and small to work together to harness and focus the energies of our citizens. Cities of Service coalition members will support efforts to increase service opportunities in our cities by:

Developing a comprehensive service plan and a coordinated strategy focused on matching volunteers and established community partners to the areas of greatest local need;

Working with other mayors and elected officials to advance strategies and best practices that accelerate the service movement and produce measurable results;

Encouraging other mayors to join this national effort to engage our citizens; and

Ensuring that the voice of cities is heard in federal legislative, policy, and program discussions related to service, which will help the country achieve the ambitious goals of the Serve America Act.