What is Cities of Service?

Cities of Service is a national nonprofit that supports mayors to design and implement high-impact service strategies that can be replicated in cities worldwide. Cities of Service provides technical assistance, programmatic support, planning resources, and funding opportunities. Founded by Michael R. Bloomberg, Cities of Service supports a coalition of approximately 280 cities whose mayors are committed to engaging citizen volunteers to solve local pressing challenges, from increasing high school graduation rates to improving energy efficiency in buildings. Cities of Service helps coalition cities share solutions, best practices, and lessons learned, as well as spread awareness about their great work. Join us at https://citiesofservice.jhu.edu/ or on Twitter @citiesofservice.

Kettering's High Impact Service Plan

By accelerating the service movement at the most local level—connecting local needs to the supply of willing volunteers in innovative and impactful new ways—Cities of Service aspires to create a new chapter in America’s longstanding history of service while making local government more effective.

Like the founding mayors, each coalition member has made a commitment to work with other mayors around the country and advance service strategies in their own city by crafting a high-impact service plan.

Select this link to view the high-impact service plan

Kettering's City of Service Initiative

The City of Kettering's Cities of Service (COS) Initiative is a joint effort of all city departments coordinated by the Volunteer Office and the Planning & Development department. Each year the City chooses a neighborhood in Kettering to be part of the Cities of Service Initiative.

In June, the City celebrates the neighborhood by hosting a block party in a central location in the neighborhood. The block party features free hot dogs and chips as well as children's activities including a bouncy house; booths providing information on senior services, public safety, landscaping, home repair and energy conservation, to name a few.

In the fall, our COS team will work with neighbors to arrange a neighborhood garage sale, a bulk trash pickup and a neighborhood cleanup to be held on National Make A Difference Day.

By organizing and encouraging neighborhood groups, we hope to create a community spirit that will lead to an engaged community where neighbors help neighbors.

In order to continue this initiative, we rely heavily on grant funding and the support of area businesses. In addition, we are extremely grateful for the help provided by the many volunteers from service clubs, colleges, faith-based organizations and community volunteers that have generously given of their time and talent to make this initiative a success. As a result of this collaboration, we've been able to achieve measurable impact and strengthen our community at little cost.

Select this link to view our community partners

The City of Kettering encourages other cities to join in this national coalition to pair the power of volunteer service with your City's most pressing need.

To learn more about Cities of Service, visit https://citiesofservice.jhu.edu/

For further information about the City of Kettering’s Initiative, contact the Volunteer Office at 937-296-2433.