Sen. Hettleman & Del. Rosenberg: Time to Make Md. a National Leader in Service
By Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman and Del. Samuel I. “Sandy” Rosenberg
Hettleman represents Baltimore County’s District 11 in the Maryland Senate. Rosenberg represents Baltimore City’s District 41 in the House of Delegates. Both are Democrats.
Maryland has a rich history of service to our neighbors and our communities. We saw this selfless spirit during the past two years, as Marylanders from all walks of life stepped up to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.
Service brings us together, creates a sense of connection to people and place, and shows our love for one another. It is also a powerful vehicle to create meaningful and long-lasting change.
We believe that Maryland can and should be a national leader in service. But in a society that too often glorifies profit and individualism over working for the collective good, we must ensure that service careers are accessible, sustainable and rewarding for everyone who wants them.
By providing more ways for Marylanders to engage in service, we will develop the next-generation workforce we need and help our state move forward in arenas from education to infrastructure to environmental conservation.
We are committed to removing barriers and creating opportunities for every Marylander who wants to follow a path of service, and we have pursued this goal throughout our time in the Maryland General Assembly.
Del. Rosenberg sponsored the Walter Sondheim Internship Program, which offers paid internships with nonprofits to students attending Maryland universities, and the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program, which provides repayment of academic loans to Maryland residents working in government or nonprofit agencies serving low-income or underrepresented populations.
In 2016, Sen. Hettleman and Senate President Bill Ferguson sponsored Maryland Corps, a program to create paid service experiences for young people across the state. However, our efforts to encourage service do not and cannot stop there.
Unfortunately, the Maryland Corps program was never implemented, but it is needed now more than ever. Across the state, young people continue to have difficulty finding service-focused jobs that can lead to stable, fulfilling careers.
Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D-Baltimore County), left, and Del. Samuel I. “Sandy” Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City).
With the future of Maryland’s youth in mind, we are proud to sponsor Senate Bill 228 and House Bill 443, which will expand and fund the Maryland Corps program. Through Maryland Corps, hundreds of participants from every region of the state will have a paid year-long opportunity to work alongside nonprofits, government agencies and grass-roots organizations to serve the needs of their communities.
To make service accessible for all, the program will provide not just jobs, but all the supporting pieces needed to turn a job into a career. This includes competitive stipends; wraparound services such as support with child care, transportation and housing needs; higher education funding; workforce development training; and ongoing mentorship. Maryland Corps participants will build lasting relationships with employers so that they have the chance to transition to full-time positions after completing the program.
Maryland Corps will establish our state as a national leader in service, offering invaluable service opportunities that cannot be found elsewhere. The program can also act as a talent magnet and a bridge builder; it has the potential to attract individuals from across the country to work, learn and live here. Maryland Corps will grow and develop our workforce, create connections among young people from different backgrounds and deepen our state’s culture of service.
The role of the legislative branch is to listen and understand the concerns of our constituents and work decisively to create solutions.
Maryland Corps will help us develop the next generation of public service professionals and job-ready young people to tackle the wide range of challenges our state is facing, from economic development to COVID-19 recovery to climate change. By creating more paths for people to participate in service, we can build a talented, diverse workforce that will better serve the needs of all Maryland communities.
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