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Kansas Volunteer Commission named finalist for 2023 Commission Innovation Awards

The Kansas Volunteer Commission has been selected as a finalist for the 2023 Commission Innovation Awards sponsored by America’s Service Commissions (ASC).

The Kansas Volunteer Commission, which is a program of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), is one of three finalists in the Innovation in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism category, according to the ASC website.

ASC selects three finalists in each of five award categories. Other award categories are:

  • Innovation in Grantmaking
  • Innovation in AmeriCorps Programming
  • Innovation in Policymaking
  • Innovation in Partnerships


The three finalists in each category were announced this week, and the winning commission in each category will be announced during a special celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in Washington, D.C.

“Volunteerism and civic engagement are a vital part of the commission role and remain a significant pathway to bridge building in our country,” ASC said in a news release. “Commissions continue to be the heartbeat of service, pushing it to new directions to make our communities stronger.”

The other two finalists in the Innovation in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism award category are Massachusetts Service Alliance and Michigan Community Service Commission, said Dr. Jessica Dorsey, executive director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission and assistant director for the Kansas State Department of Education’s Career, Standards and Assessment Services (CSAS) team.

The Kansas Volunteer Commission’s mission is to empower all Kansans to meet community needs through service, and its primary role is to provide resources and leadership to support local initiatives that tackle community needs. As the Kansas service commission, it promotes AmeriCorps national service, volunteer engagement, youth mentoring and civic engagement.

ASC has been representing and promoting 52 governor-appointed state service commissions across the United States and territories, including the Kansas Volunteer Commission, for 25 years. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association with a mission to lead and elevate the state service network.

Each year, ASC has an annual reception for its association members, supporters and partners to celebrate and present winners of the ASC Innovation and Leadership Awards. However, this is ASC’s 25th anniversary, and a special celebration where award winners will be announced has been planned for Nov. 29. Humble Endeavors: 25 Years United in Service will be held at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

The event is a culmination of ASC’s yearlong anniversary celebration. It will be hosted by Mike Ellison, a musician, actor and accomplished spoken word artist who utilizes entertainment as a vehicle to address and support issues.

Dorsey will attend the 25th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C., where hopefully the Kansas Volunteer Commission will be announced as the recipient of the Innovation in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism award, she said.

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Posted: Nov 9, 2023,
Comments: 0,
Author: Ann Bush

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