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#IServeBecause: Stories that inspire

Recently, the Partnership launched Five Stories of Public Service, a newsletter that shares inspiring examples of all our government does to make our lives better. Each edition features an #IServeBecause section, which highlights everyday federal employees explaining why they work in public service.

Below are three public servants who have been showcased.

Making a difference

A common refrain of these public servants is that working in government provides unparalleled opportunities to directly impact people’s lives.   

Nancy Encarnado, section chief of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Insurance Claims Division and a 35-year public servant, talked about her motivation to help veterans receive the benefits they deserve.

“Behind every task, letter, application or claim is a veteran or family member who needs my help,” she said. “Even if I just make a difference in one veteran’s life on any given day, my day was successful.”

Melissa Bay, the assistant director of the Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices at the VA and a graduate of our Excellence in Government Fellows Program, expressed a similar sentiment.

“Public service can provide opportunities to … feel a sense of accomplishment that comes from knowing you made a measurable difference in the lives of others,” she said.

Other federal employees said they feel empowered to affect larger issues in addition to individuals.

Ronald Moore, who leads outreach and engagement as a health insurance specialist at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that he chose to work in public service “to find solutions to our national challenges,” including working to reduce health disparities for underserved communities.  

“I am proud of my outreach and engagement in the African American and LGBTQ+ communities here in our region,” he said. “Both communities … have been instrumental to my personal and professional growth.”

Here at the Partnership for Public Service, we are dedicated to uplifting the stories of federal employees—and our #IServeBecause series is just the latest example of how we are following through on that promise.

If you would like to read more inspiring stories of public servants, subscribe to our Five Stories of Public Service newsletter here.

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