Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Latest Blog Posts

June 16, 2011 at 2:01 PM EDT

Champions of Change: Making a Difference through Service and Innovation

Marta Urquilla, Senior Policy Advisor to the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, reflects on this week's Champions of Change and the extraordinary impact they are having in communities, in schools, and in the workplace.
May 4, 2011 at 2:32 PM EDT

Volunteers Prove Essential to Disaster Response

Divya Kumaraiah, Policy Assistant to the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, shares inspiring stories from CNCS' disaster recovery efforts in Mississippi.
April 26, 2011 at 8:28 PM EDT

Spotlight on Community Colleges Vying for Prize

Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Arne Duncan congratulated 120 community colleges that – due to exceptional student outcomes – were selected by the Aspen Institute to compete for the inaugural $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is focused on doing business differently by:

promoting service as a solution and a way to develop community leadership;
increasing investment in innovative community solutions that demonstrate results; and
developing new models of partnership.

These three mission areas together comprise the community solutions agenda.

December 14, 2010
President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Council for Community Solutions.

January 21, 2010
On Martin Luther King Day, the President and First Lady dedicated the morning to serving the community in DC.

October 16, 2009
President Obama delivered remarks commemorating the 20th anniversary of President George HW Bush’s Points of Light.

November 11, 2009
The First Lady launched an innovative veterans and military families service partnership on Veterans Day 2009.