Browse Exhibits (29 total)

"I was having a better time at my job than were those of my peers who had opted for private practice. Life as a public servant was more interesting. The work was more challenging. The encouragement and guidance from good mentors was more genuine. And the opportunities to take initiative and to see real results were more frequent." 
 
- Sandra Day O'Connor, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
 
The United States’ civil justice and investigative services give people a fair chance to receive justice through legal processes. Th­e U.S. is renowned for ha­ving one of the most sophisticated criminal justice and investigative systems in the world and it is remarkable how this system operates successfully across a country as large and diverse as the U.S.. One of the keys to this success is a balanced and carefully ordered hierarchy: several different federal courts control issues relating to federal law and each state has its own set of courts that can adapt to the needs of its people for criminal justice and investigative services. Because of the civil justice system, our cars are safer, the environment is cleaner, and foods and medicines are safer.
 
The U.S. criminal justice system comprises courts, corrections, defense attorneys, prosecution and law enforcement. The courts are supervised by judges who are responsible for ensuring that the law of the land is correctly interpreted and applied. Corrections oversee convicted offenders.  Defense attorneys represent the accused against prosecutors, who represent the state or federal government. Prosecutors are lawyers whose task it is to review evidence brought to then by law-enforcement, they then present that evidence to the court concerning a particular trial. It is the role of the law-enforcement officers to take reports of crimes that occur in their precincts, gather and protect evidence, arrest offenders and give testimony in court during trials.
 
(Source: National Center for Victims of crime: The Criminal Justice System http://www.victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims/get-help-bulletins-...)

"We all have an obligation as citizens of this earth to leave the world a healthier, cleaner, and better place for our children and future generations."

-Blythe Danner, American Actress
 
Public health focuses on protecting and improving the human condition, and prolonging life.  It necessitates public investment in education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention, among others. Public health agencies at both state and local levels are central to effective public health and health care systems. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such systems involve “all public, private, and voluntary entities that contribute to the delivery of essential public health services within a jurisdiction.”

Elected officials and law enforcement officers play an important role in the development and regulation of public health and healthcare policy. A number of public health professionals, strive every day delivering services to protect the health of our families and communities, whether working in hospitals, nursing homes, emergency management services, schools or mental health facilities. Volunteers from charitable and philanthropic organizations also contribute a lot to ensure that public health and health care goals are met in places where resource constraints might present impediments. CDC also places emphasis on the important role of youth development organizations, recreation and arts-related organizations in supporting public health.

CDC has formulated a set of 10 essential public health and health care services that provide the framework for determining how well a jurisdiction is doing at assessing the performance of its system. Broadly these fit under policy development, assurance, and assessment. They include monitoring the public’s health status, investigating and diagnosing health problems, public awareness, enforcing laws and regulations that support public health and health care efforts, assuring a competent workforce, and continuous research and innovation to keep abreast of health problems.

In the additional resources section to the right is a collection of related public service narratives "Ask me why I care, "under "Tell your story." They were curated by the University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Service in a Public Service Stories Project. Project Co-Directors are Dr. Mary Hamilton and Ms. Rita Paskowitz. The collection includes videos and Suggested Assignments for Students.

“[You] can succeed because of who you are, not despite it, and not because of what other people tell you you’re supposed to be. You can succeed because of who you are. And that goes for no matter what you look like, where you come from, how you worship or who you love. If you’re well-qualified for office, if you’ve got good ideas, bring them to the table, because this is your republic too; this is your representative democracy within a republic. You have every right to bring your ideas to the table and to champion them, not just sit in the back.”

-Danica Roem, first openly transgender state lawmaker, Virginia House of Delegates
 
Age, economic, educational, ethnic, gender and racial diversity are important components of identity that must be considered in shaping the civic sphere. However, many of these identity factors have historically been intentionally excluded from the policymaking process. Demographic shifts further necessitate appropriate diversification in the public service workforce in order to build a more egalitarian society.  Administrators in every public organization should aim for their agency to reflect the composition of the populations that they serve. Representation in the public workforce communicates to the public that their interests are important – not just those of the dominant groups.
 
Another important reason for diversity in public service is that varying perspectives on issues will lead to innovative approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution. Diversity in public service also fosters collaboration and cooperation across the different groups that comprise the population.

"I was having a better time at my job than were those of my peers who had opted for private practice. Life as a public servant was more interesting. The work was more challenging. The encouragement and guidance from good mentors was more genuine. And the opportunities to take initiative and to see real results were more frequent." 
 
- Sandra Day O'Connor
 
Motivation for public service is often referred to as a “calling” and those who hear it are determined to do meaningful work that will make a difference to their communities. Often those with the motivation for public service come from families with experience working in public service. They choose to pursue an education that will prepare them for working in administrative positions or in one of the many fields of public service, such as social welfare, law enforcement, and firefighting. Those who choose to work in nonprofit organizations also share the motivation for public service with concern for the wellbeing of others over and above their own gain.
 
Many who study motivation for public service do so to inform public sector recruitment processes. Person-to-organization fit is an important aspect of successful personnel recruitment. Studies have found that the motivation for public service differs from the motivation for careers in private businesses. Another indication of motivation for public service is an interest in public policy. Public policy development is fundamental to public service since public policies indicate the focus of public service delivery and the role and function of public agencies and their employees.
 
Socialization also influences individuals’ motivation for public service. A form of socialization, in addition to parental and educational, is professional socialization. Membership in professional public service organizations, participation in their conferences and other networking activities contributes a lot to building awareness of what is entailed in responding to the call to public service.
 

"And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us - no matter what our age or background or walk of life - each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation." 
 
- Michelle Obama
 
Women have been serving in public service roles since before the American Revolution, but they have always faced stiff challenges from gender discriminatory policies and practices. The women featured in this gallery are renowned because they succeeded regardless of such obstacles. Many of them are first timers, from as far back as the 18th Century, whose determination enabled them to emerge as leading and innovative women in the public service. Among them is Clara Burton, a woman in the public service whose face appears on a United States postage stamp. Clara Burton was the first female federal clerk to receive the same remuneration as the male clerks. She went on in her career in public service to be the founder of the American Red Cross. This important nongovernmental organization provides assistance to the public through disaster relief, supporting military families, providing health and safety training and education, and organizing the receipt of blood donations.
 
Other women celebrated here are Mary Katherine Goddard, the first female Postmaster (1775), Fanny Jackson Coppin, the first African American Principal (1869), Jeanette Rankin (1916) the first woman to be elected to the United States Congress, and Mercedes O. Cubria, the first Cuban born female to serve in the United States Army. Many other women in the public service are acknowledged here and demonstrate that women have always sought to work in the public service at all levels. They include elected and appointed officials as cabinet members, state governors, mayors, and Supreme Court justices.