California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is helping expand pathways to encore careers by creating a high-level position devoted to community service.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger raised the profile of community service in California service, naming a Secretary of Service and Volunteering, the first such cabinet-level post in the country.

Schwarzenegger’s move is part of a growing movement to expand national and community service. Such opportunities can be valuable pathways to encore careers, enabling individuals to try out new ways to put their talent and experience to work before making long-term commitments.

“I want to move civic engagement to the highest levels of state government,” the governor said at a press conference at California State University at Northridge.

Schwarzenegger said he hoped to increase the number of Californians who volunteer and the impact of their service. The governor was joined at the podium by his wife, Maria Shriver, niece of President John Kennedy and daughter of Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps.

Schwarzenegger named Karen Baker, executive director of CaliforniaVolunteers, to the new cabinet position. That agency’s role will be expanded to include disaster preparedness and response efforts by building a strong volunteer network and coordinating efforts during disasters. Shriver is honorary chairwoman of CaliforniaVolunteers.

Schwarzenegger said nearly 6.5 million Californians over age 16 engaged in volunteer activities during 2006, contributing more than 850 million hours of service to the California economy at a value of more than $17.4 billion. Volunteers have played a key role in responding to California’s many natural disasters, he said.