On my first full day in office, I want to tell you how excited and honored I am to be serving as the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

As someone who came to this country as a teenager, and worked long hours to create a better life for myself and my family, it is a high honor to be able to serve my country in this capacity. I am grateful to President Obama for nominating me, and to the Senate for confirming me.

This is a historic moment for service. With the leadership of the President, the bipartisan support of Congress, historic funding for our programs, and a growing consensus that service is a solution, we stand at the dawn of a new era of service in America.

We’ve come this far largely because of you. For decades you have been on the frontlines – bringing hope and help to our most vulnerable citizens. Millions of Americans are better off because of what you and your volunteers do everyday. You are part of a service and volunteer movement that is making a profound difference in America.

I have spent most of my career doing community work, and I understand what it means to toil in a nonprofit with diminished resources but amplified hope. I also understand the need to target resources, embrace innovation, and build capacity, and will make these a priority as we move ahead. My goal is not only to expand service, but to make it more effective at tackling our most pressing national challenges. As social needs continue to grow, and with so many Americans ready to help, our times demand nothing less.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to being able to get to know more of you and to hearing your ideas. In the meantime, I want to share a short video with you, and thank you for your dedication and service to our nation. Click here for the video in English or in Spanish.