Moore's Commitment to Public Service Promises a Bright Future for MD

Although new to office, Governor Moore has already made great strides to continue Maryland’s deep sense of volunteerism. Within his first week, Governor Moore signed an executive order creating the Department of Service and Civic Innovation. This week, Governor Moore announced the appointment of Paul Monteiro as its first secretary. The department, which is already home to Moore’s new program “Maryland Service Year Option”, hopes to channel more service opportunities for Marylanders.

A lifelong Marylander, new secretary Monteiro has a rich background in service. He most recently served as the Director of the United States Department of Justice Community Relations Service. But his impressive career spans from Maryland’s local classrooms as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, to a White House staffer during President Obama’s administration. “Paul is a lifelong public servant who understands the meaning of service. He also has the expertise and the vision to put the principle of service into practice,” Lieutenant Governor Miller said of the appointment. “Paul’s leadership over this historic agency will help foster a culture throughout Maryland where every individual feels inspired to serve their community.”

Like Monteiro, Governor Moore also shares a rich history of public service. His philanthropic spirit led to the creation of BridgeEdU, a business dedicated to helping underserved student populations. Moore later served as the CEO of the Robin Hood foundation, the largest poverty-fighting organization in New York City. Under Moore’s leadership, the company distributed over $600 million towards families in poverty. In fact, when Governor Moore released his popular book, “The Other Wes Moore,” in 2010 he dedicated a portion of the proceeds to public service organizations, including City Year and Dream Academy.

Maryland has always been a state that prides itself on its volunteerism. As reported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, 1.7 million Marylanders volunteer each year, providing 181.9 million hours of service. This has resulted in an economic value of $4.2 billion across the state of Maryland. Hogan’s administration introduced several programs that encouraged service and volunteerism, such as Day to Serve and Read Across Maryland. With these initiatives, it’s no wonder Maryland ranked among the top five most charitable states by WalletHub.

Governor Moore’s early initiatives have made clear his commitment to Maryland public service. It promises a bright future for the state of Maryland, and a continuation of the Hogan administration’s mission to change Maryland for the better. As Governor Moore summed up in his inauguration speech: “I want every young Marylander, of every background, in every community, to have the opportunity to serve our state.” Although it has only been a few months, Governor Moore is off to a promising start.