I’ve been a writer and editor covering the public sector for more than 30 years, and I’ve never ceased to be amazed by the spirit of public service that prevails at every level of government, from one administration to the next.
I’ve met so many people who could command bigger salaries and better perks in the private sector. But they stay in this community because they care about their work.
They care about ensuring that our communities are safe. They want people who need a little help buying food for their families to get prompt and accurate payments. They love finding new ways to make our visits to the Department of Motor Vehicles a little less stressful. Whatever their particular interest, they pursue it with passion.
Here at GovLoop, we see that mindset every year when we interview the winners of our annual NextGen Public Service Awards. We conclude each interview by asking the winner to complete this sentence: “I am in public service because…” The answers are always inspiring.
If you know someone who exemplifies the best in public service, please nominate them. The nomination deadline for this year’s awards is July 26. The winners will be honored at the NextGen Government Training Virtual Summit on October 23.
You can find more information about the awards, including the criteria and submission form, on the awards homepage.
Meanwhile, here are some of the thoughts shared by last year’s winners, explaining why they work in government.
“I wholeheartedly prescribe to the biblical tenet that to whom much is given, much will be required… I take very seriously my role as a manager and … a leader, where I celebrate, appreciate, and advocate for those who I have been entrusted to lead.”
“It’s the best opportunity to leave a lasting impression in my community and also to help pave a positive path for my kids when they’re old. When I’m working with a person or working with a business, I’m always thinking, ‘Eventually, that person or business might supervise my kids. They might hire my kids.’”
“Government is a necessary institution that does serve the public… So I’m doing my part to make sure my agency is providing the right service to all of the people.”
“I feel a certain sense of pride in serving my community — whether that be a very specific community like transgender folks within the LGBTQ+ community, or very broad, as in the United States. Working at the federal level in public health allows me to be a public servant working towards health equity for all people in the United States.”
“The work surrounding DEIA is about people, and it’s about human lives. I am in public service because I feel the urgency and am committed to prioritizing humanity, the healing of what’s been broken and community-building.”
“In many native cultures, including my own, we aim to make decisions based on the seventh-generation principle: The decisions that we make today impact the seventh generation in the future.… So, in that same spirit here at Treasury, you take in that circle of knowledge and collaboration … to learn about the experiences of people and to use that knowledge to help shape policy decisions, and then form guidance for the people.”
“I want to make a difference … without asking the community for anything in return — just improving their health and well-being, making people’s lives better. Because that’s what government should do.”
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