All Sectors, All Citizens Coming Together to Make Progress on Our Nation’s Challenges

On December 14, 2010 President Obama signed an executive order to create the White House Council for Community Solutions. This new Presidential Council brings together leaders from a variety of sectors— businesses, non-profit and philanthropic organizations, universities, and community groups— to encourage the growth and maximize the impact of innovative, community-developed solutions. The Council is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The Council will serve three key functions:

1. Enlist the Sectors—Engage leaders in the non-profit, philanthropic and private sectors to make progress on key national policy goals.
2. Identify What Works—Provide strategic input and recommendations to help the federal government promote greater innovation and cross-sector collaboration to realize solutions to our nation’s toughest challenges.
3. Highlight the Changemakers—Honor and highlight those making a significant impact in their own communities.

The Council will focus on developing ways to enlist more Americans and leaders from across sectors to help catalyze change in communities and have an impact in addressing our nation’s important goals in education, youth development and employment.

Here at the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, we are excited about the creation of the Council. The President has said it from the beginning—the best ideas do not come from Washington, they come from parents, teachers, small business owners and others across the country who are working to build and sustain strong communities. Government shouldn’t be supplanting these ideas; it should be supporting and highlighting these local-grown efforts. President Obama tasked this Council to find the creative, results-oriented ideas and highlight those ideas that work. We are energized by the commitment of the members and look forward to working with the Council.

To learn more about the Council and its members, visit serve.gov/communitysolutions.

Sonal Shah is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation