April 4th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

Maryland’s newly created Department of Service and Civic Innovation now has a Secretary as announced by Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday.

Paul Monteiro served as the Director of the United States Department of Justice Community Relations Service and was previously vice president of external affairs at Howard University. He also served under President Barack Obama as the national director of Ameri Corps.

The mission of the new state office is to consolidate and elevate the agencies of state government that support service opportunities in Maryland. This department will be the home of Maryland's Service Year Option, through which high school graduates will have the opportunity to serve their communities and their state, be paid for their work, and learn skills that will serve them in their futures.