Volunteer Mississippi’s mission is to engage and support Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities. Established in 1994 as the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, Volunteer Mississippi works to encourage a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility to America. As a state service commission, we administer funds through AmeriCorps State and Volunteer Generation Fund to address critical community needs in Mississippi and engage citizens in service. In partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Center for Nonprofits, and faith-based and community organizations statewide, Volunteer Mississippi fosters community engagement and strives to build volunteer capacity throughout the state. The bulk of our AmeriCorps programs support and enhance Pre-K and K-12 education initiatives throughout the state, teaching students vital skills they will carry with them throughout their lives. National service opportunities like AmeriCorps contribute heavily to Mississippi workforce development, offering participants practical experience and on-the-job training.