ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore this week attended the inaugural Service Year Option and Maryland Corps member commencement. Together with member participants, Governor Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and members of the Moore-Miller Administration, City of Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, members of the Maryland General Assembly, and host site partner representatives from across the state gathered to celebrate the milestone achievement.

“I am here because I believe you – our graduates – must take a leading role in the healing we need,” said Gov. Moore. “Your service will save us. And so that is my call to you: Know that you are prepared, know that you are where you need to be, and know that you need to make this moment count. And if you do that, I know that together, we are going to build a very bright future for our entire state.”

The programs are part of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation’s efforts to expand service and volunteerism statewide, in support of the state’s goal of building a more robust and inclusive workforce that can meet the needs of a changing economy.

The Service Year Option program is designed to provide Maryland high school graduates with the skills and opportunities needed to make a positive impact on their communities and the environment while also earning a minimum of $15 dollars an hour.

The Maryland Corps program is open to people of all ages, and provides opportunities for individuals to work with local nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other organizations to develop and implement projects that benefit the community. Participants in the program receive a completion award of $6,000 upon completion of their service year.

“Reflecting on my year of service, I am most proud of the statewide impact and reach that was created through this program. We proved that youth fresh out of high school can learn to lead and make impactful differences in their communities if given the chance,” said Service Year Option member Chris Keane. “Through my role with Horizon Goodwill, I was able to help find housing for youth and young adults who were unhoused and unsheltered and connect youth with healthcare, social resources, and employment to help reshape their futures.”

The next deadline for applications to be part of Service Year Option is July 22. Interested candidates can learn more and apply at serve.maryland.gov.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via the Maryland Governor’s Office