Office of Public Service

Governor Walz and Commissioner Varilek celebrate the launch of the Office of Public Service

Governor Tim Walz and DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek celebrate the launch of the Office of Public Service, alongside Office Director Sherene Judeh, First Lady Gwen Walz and Open Cupboard Executive Director Jessica Francis.

The Governor also announced the first Service to Success program grantees – organizations working to create, strengthen and expand career pathways aligned to public service opportunities. Grantees include the City of Duluth Workforce Development, Conservation Corps of MN and IA, Ecolibrium3, Lead for America, MN Alliance with Youth, Reading and Math Inc, Riseup Partnership, and Urban Roots.
Read the press release

About Us

As a longtime public servant committed to making Minnesota the best place to raise a family, Governor Walz and his administration started the Office of Public Service to better align investments and opportunities in public service across the state. 

The purpose of the Office of Public Service is to create a unified statewide strategy for expanding access to public service opportunities so that Minnesotans have clear pathways into service and toward in-demand careers with family sustaining wages. 

The Office of Public Service seeks to:

• Identify, promote, and expand existing public service opportunities
• Create and strengthen career pathways aligned to public service opportunities
• Create strategic alignment between the state’s public service opportunities and the state’s workforce development goals and strategies
• Create and implement an overall strategy for state investments into public service programs 

Public Service activities include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteerism
• Civic engagement
• National and community service programs
• Service learning and youth service initiatives 
• Emergency response and disaster preparedness