Colorado Youth for a Change managed by Serve Colorado within the Office of Lt. Governor Primavera

WASHINGTON, DC - On September 5, 2024, Lt. Governor Primavera announced that Mary Zanotti, Executive Director of Colorado Youth for a Change, an AmeriCorps program managed by Serve Colorado within the Office of Lt. Governor Primavera, was awarded the 2024 Outstanding Service Program Staff Member Award at a reception hosted by America’s Service Commissions (ASC) on September 4 in Washington, D.C. The awards program is held each year to recognize the accomplishments of state and territorial service commission staff, commissioners, service programs, and champions of national service throughout the United States and its territories.

“Mary Zanotti’s dedication and innovation in service exemplify the best of what we strive to achieve when we speak of a Colorado for All,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Mary’s leadership at Colorado Youth for a Change is a testament to the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of so many, demonstrating the true spirit of service and commitment that benefits all Colorado communities. Congratulations to Mary for this well-deserved national recognition.”

The Outstanding Service Program Staff Member Award is reserved for an individual service program staff member who has demonstrated consistent leadership and dedication to get things done through service.

At Colorado Youth for a Change, Zanotti oversees four AmeriCorps programs designed to support students from preschool through high school with reading, math, and mental health. She has been an active partner with Serve Colorado, especially with the launch of the newly-formed Youth Mental Health Corps program. Serve Colorado, located within the Office of the Lt. Governor, manages AmeriCorps programs across the state of Colorado.

A member of Zanotti’s staff said, “Mary has always supported ways that we can get creative to support member growth and learning toward specific career paths. We have had multiple members complete the internship requirements through their service time in our Corps for a Change program while completing bachelors and masters [degrees] in social work. She also has created pathways for members to be hired into full time staff positions; we currently have over ten staff that previously served in our AmeriCorps programs. Mary creates a culture where her staff, members, and students feel extremely valued and a part of decision-making.”

This also marks the fourth year in a row that the Serve Colorado team has received a national award for its innovative approach to service and volunteerism. Serve Colorado won the 2023 ASC Innovation Award in the category Innovation in Partnerships. Executive Director John Kelly received the 2022 ASC Innovation and Leadership Award for Outstanding Commission Executive Director. In 2021, Serve Colorado’s program COVID Containment Response Corps won ASC’s Outstanding Service Program Award.

“Each of these awardees has answered the call to serve in an innovative way that is transforming the national service landscape,” said Kaira Esgate, CEO of America’s Service Commissions. “They have promoted diversity and equity in AmeriCorps, launched creative new projects and initiatives that expand AmeriCorps services and make it easier for more partner organizations to join in service, and introduced groundbreaking federal and state service legislation. We are grateful for their leadership in each of their respective states, and for their tireless work to continually advance AmeriCorps and national service at the local, state, and federal level.”

Learn more about the awards and awardees.