Vicksburg Mayor Paul E. Winfield was one of 18 mayors in the country to participate in the Cities of Service Inaugural Summit last week in an effort to engage citizens in community service initiatives and to provide a platform to address community challenges.
Winfield attended the summit, hosted by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sept. 10 in New York City. The summit was held in conjunction with the Cities of Service Coalition—a bipartisan group of mayors working to factor city voices into federal policy and funding programs.
Winfield said the summit gave him new ideas for implementing service opportunities in Vicksburg.
“There will be coordination between existing community service programs, we will be putting people in places of need,” Winfield told the Jackson Free Press. “We are asking our citizens to dedicate 12 hours a year to community service. We are calling on seniors and youth to give back in tough economic times and areas of need.”
The Cities of Service Coalition was formed through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed by President Barack Obama April 21, providing an increase in federal support for local service initiatives. The Vicksburg Mayor said the summit was an opportunity to shed positive light on the state.
“I was able to meet and step on an international stage where I talked about Vicksburg and the surrounding areas,” Winfield said. “If you have a good community or product no matter how small—the world will make a path to your door.”
The city of Vicksburg elected Winfield, 36, in June 2009, and he is one of the youngest mayors in the state. Prior to serving as mayor, Winfield was the first African American board attorney for Warren county from 2005-2008. He has also served on the National Association of Bond Counsel. Winfield is married to Jackson attorney Melissa Winfield, and the couple has one son, Paul Evans.
Previous Comments
Winfield’s a good man. I’m sure he will make an excellent mayor. And he’s certainly a welcome breath of fresh air compared to his predecessor.
#151895 | Author: Jeff Lucas | Date: Sep 14 2009
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.