It seems we’ve been at the service crossroads many times over. Whether it’s a national tragedy like September 11, a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or the less defined but widespread devastation the economy is currently having on our nation – as a country, we find a way to rally.
And, yesterday we heard a new rallying cry. Thousands convened in San Francisco for the kickoff of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, and Mrs. Obama called on all Americans to find a role to play in our nation’s recovery efforts by volunteering as part of United We Serve. At its core, this new White House initiative is an effort to expand the size and impact of volunteer efforts in addressing tough challenges in four major areas: education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal.
As someone who believes very much in the power of volunteer service – I also know that we must move beyond the idea of service for service sake. And, that seems to be a common theme among those gathered for the national service conference. In order to look back and count this as a success, the renewed focus and energy around United We Serve must truly recognize service as a solution for addressing some of our nation’s most critical problems.
When Mrs. Obama said that everyone has a role to play – she meant everyone. And, it’s been interesting to watch as commitments from across all sectors are coming. Here are just a few of the announcements that have been made as an answer to United We Serve, but if I’ve left yours off the list – please add below in the comments. And, if you If you're not sure how to find an exciting and unique opportunity in your community, consider volunteering your professional talents to a non-profit.
All for Good
The site, which is currently managed by Google — was made possible by a group of programmers largely from Google, Craigslist and other Sillicon Valley companies. It is the backend system powering Serve.gov and gathers in one place a wide spectrum of information about volunteer positions and events nationwide, using open-source technology so that groups can package the data in different ways.
YouTube's Video Volunteers
Powered by All for Good, the YouTube Video Volunteers platform will help individuals connect with nonprofit organizations that need help creating videos to promote their cause. You can sift through video opportunities and connect directly with nonprofits for whom you'd like to make a video. Learn more about the platform from the Vlogbrothers, who've used their audience and talents to champion causes they care about.
Mozilla Service Week
During the week of September 14-21, Mozilla (the network of developers who brought you firefox) is asking individuals to step up and make a difference by using the Web to better their community. Mozilla is looking for people who want to share, give, engage, create, and collaborate by offering their time and talent to local organizations and people who need their help. Harnessing the power of the Web and the passion of the Mozilla community to see how big a difference we can be made in one week.
Entertainment Industry Foundation
Jon Bon Jovi and Matthew McConaughey made a special appearance at the Conference to announce the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s new campaign for service. Beginning in October, the major television broadcast networks, together with the EIF, will use their programs and stars to advocate for service. EIF will also be working with AARP, ServiceNation and the Points of Light Institute to start building a grassroots movement to raise awareness of the importance of service to communities and the nation. Read the full press release to get all the details on what EIF and other Hollywood stars will be doing to support service.
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MDS11: The Importance of the Next Generation with Jean Case
