Volunteer with the City of Albuquerque
Office of Civic Engagement
The Office of Civic Engagement engages community members and supports volunteer efforts across the City of Albuquerque. Our office was created by the Keller Administration to give every resident a pathway to exercise their power in the community to address our greatest collective challenges and make Albuquerque a safe, inclusive, and innovative city that works for all of our residents.
Albuquerque Community Safety
The Albuquerque Community Safety Department is the new, unarmed first responders unit created by the Keller Administration. This new office is often seeking skilled and passionate interns to support their work.
Albuquerque Police Department
The Albuquerque Police Department serves to build meaningful relationships through community policing. Volunteers can support the ballistics lab, the Real Time Crime Center, and help staff police substations, providing a resident point of contact for members of our community when they need to file police reports or request assistance and helps officers get out into the neighborhoods they serve. The APD Chaplains program is a volunteer opportunity for our local faith leaders to support individuals and families affected by violence.
Animal Welfare
The Animal Welfare Department runs the Eastside and Westside Shelters, providing safe housing and medical care for tens of thousands of pets each year while they await their forever homes. Volunteers can provide exercise and enrichment for the animals through the Shelter Volunteer Program. They can also bring pets that are too young to adopt or stressed or recovering animals into their homes to await adoption through the Foster Program.
Arts and Culture
The Arts and Culture Department operates the Albuquerque Museum, Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, Casa San Ysidro, KIMO Theater, BioPark, Zoo, and Botanic Gardens, and libraries in neighborhoods across Albuquerque. Volunteers with the Arts & Culture Department are ambassadors for some of the city’s most interesting and enriching spaces. Volunteer opportunities are available to support and operate the programs at each site.
Aviation
The Aviation Department runs operations with the Albuquerque Sunport. Volunteers, both people and animals, serve as ambassadors for our City. They greet, comfort, and provide local expertise or travel-weary visitors from all over the world.
City Clerk
The City Clerk’s Office manages the city’s records and supports requests under the Inspection of Public Records Act. Be on the lookout for future opportunities coming soon.
Volunteer Opportunities with City Clerk - Coming Soon
Economic Development
The Economic Development Department leads the city’s interaction with the local business community. Volunteers can assist with the processing and distribution of materials or funding to local business organizations as the need arises. Reach out to us if you are interested in pursuing an internship here as well!
Office of Emergency Management
The Office of Emergency Management stands ready to support our city through crisis. Volunteers with the Community Emergency Response Team are trained and prepared to respond to small and large scale emergencies and crises. OEM volunteers have also supported the distribution of PPE and vaccines during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Environmental Health
The Environmental Health Department tracks the data that informs public health and city planning. Volunteers assist with data collection a few times a year. Most notably, volunteers can assist with our annual heat mapping projects where we need many data collectors to produce datasets that inform our municipal development activities.
Office of Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) aims to inspire and equip city government to make Albuquerque a national role model of racial equity and social justice. Volunteers with OEI support community outreach and engagement programs in neighborhoods across the city and assist with the initiatives of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. Bilingual volunteers especially encouraged to apply! There are internship opportunities for residents interested in developing professional skills while supporting our most vulnerable neighbors.
Family and Community Services
The Department of Family and Community Services operates community centers, health and human services centers, early childhood centers, and emergency services sites across the city. Volunteers are starting to serve the community through these sites for the first time. If there are no opportunities listed for your neighborhood center, ask your site staff about ways to get involved!
Department of Finance and Administrative Services
The Department of Finance and Administrative Services reviews, manages, and allocates the city’s budgets in an equitable manner. Internship opportunities offered for volunteers who love digging into the details of data! Specialized volunteers and those seeking committed volunteer placements are encouraged to apply when new internships are posted!
Parks and Recreation
The Parks and Recreation Department (Parks, Forestry, Open Space, and Sports) serve to protect and preserve our beautiful natural spaces for the community to enjoy. Volunteers can adopt parks, trails, and support the operations of the Open Space division at their visitors center and with their trailwatch/hike programs. Volunteers can also help keep mutt mitt bags stocked, support our greenhouse, and help with neighborhood tree plantings!
Planning
The Planning Department manages the city’s permitting process and works to incorporate resident feedback on city’s strategic planning and development. Internship opportunities offered for residents interested in managing data from community input and collaborative planning area assessments. Keep an eye out for new internship opportunities here!
Senior Affairs
The Department of Senior Affairs serves in many capacities to improve the quality of life for seniors in our city. Opportunities are available for volunteers looking to serve seniors and for seniors looking to volunteer.
Solid Waste
The Solid Waste division focuses on neighborhood and community clean-ups year-round. Volunteers can join our larger community clean up projects or work with us to coordinate a cleanup project in your neighborhood.
Transit
ABQ Ride operates the public/alternative transit system for the city. Volunteers are needed to help keep the bus stops clean and enjoyable to use through the Adopt-a-Stop program.