The Millenials Are Coming. Sweet!

The Case Foundation recently released a study, "Social Citizens", which examines the Millenial generation and their manifestation as social citizens. As a proud Millenial, I was very pleased to read about all that my fellow generation members are doing to change the world. 

Who are these Millenials, you ask? Millenials are defined as people born between 1978 and 1993. They are the largest living generation, outnumbering Baby Boomers 77.6 million to 74.1 million. 

As, Sean Stannard-Stockton, put it in a recent blog post, "Millennials have been derided as having “helicopter parents” being “boomerang kids,” having an excessive snese of self-worth and generally being a pain in the butt in the corporate world." 

Last fall, Thomas Friedman further developed this negative sentiment in The New York Times, by describing young people as being members of Generation Q. He meant “Q” for quiet, inactive, on the important social questions of the day. 

I am happy to report that, in light of the "Social Citizens" study, the previously held stereotypes of Millenials have been proven wrong. In a nutshell, my generation rules.

Here's how:

• According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, teenage volunteerism more than doubled between 1989 and 2005 (from 13.4 percent to 28.4 percent).
  
• "Millenials are set apart from other generations by their cause lifestyle-a youth that is infused with giving and volunteering, eventually complemented by careers dedicated to causes. They are a generation defined by the fervent belief they can change the world one donation, one voluntary activity, or one purchase at a time. They are less interested in and adept at interacting with government agencies and more interested in hands-on ways of improving the lives of people domestically and internationally." ("Social Citizens," The Case Foundation, 2008)
  
• Social Citizens are “individuals who are energetic and passionate about social causes; brimming with new approaches and ideas for problem-solving; disposed toward sharing of responsibilities and rewards of affecting change in the world; and equipped with the digital tools and people power to make it happen." (“Social Citizens,” The Case Foundation, 2008)
  

Now that we know that Millenials are seeking out ways to create to positive community change, the question becomes, how do we best engage them in volunteer service? Is it taking better advantage of web 2.o? Offering cause-based volunteer activities?

-Al

President Bush Celebrates National Volunteer Week

On Tuesday, April 29, President Bush honored "America's Armies of Compassion." The president hosted Peace Corps volunteers, USA Freedom Corps Director Henry Lozano, and members of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. This reception was developed to recognize the millions of Americans who volunteer to create positive change in their communities and around the globe. 

This year's National Volunteer Week theme is "Volunteer to Change the World" and the information presented in the White House's 2008 National Volunteer Week Fact Sheet shows how volunteers have, and will continue to, change the world:

• Peace Corps has mobilized more than 190,000 volunteers since its creation.
• AmeriCorps has deployed more than 540,000 members since 1994. Members serve in various capacities, such as mentoring and tutoring youth, responding to disasters, building homes, preserving the environment, and mobilizing other volunteers.
• Last year, more than 60 million volunteers from across the United States provided critical social services in communities at home and abroad. 

Click here to watch President Bush's speech on National Volunteer Week. 

On behalf of Metro Volunteers, I would also like to recognize the critical work that volunteers do everyday to change the world - thank you for volunteering!

-Al

Community Service Prevents Student Disengagement

This morning, I came across the article, “A Different Way to Fight Student Disengagement” by Donald Harward, and was struck by the argument that community service results in increased student engagement and academic achievement. 

What is student disengagement? Student disengagement is an increasingly apparent problem in higher education. Patterns of disengagement include avoidance of rigorous study, defining education by degree attainment only, and bouts of depression that adversely affect academic achievement. One of the most alarming indicators of student disengagement is the increase of binge drinking among current students. “Over 35 percent of current students engage in binging with alcohol or other drugs with the intent of passing out — emotionally and physically disengaging.” (Source: Harward). 

So, how do we combat this epidemic of student disengagement? Harward posits that: “signature practices that reverse student patterns of disengagement include service learning, residence-based learning communities, joint student and faculty research, and institutional initiatives that model and value active and reciprocal engagement with the community — near and beyond.” 

This argument is affirmed by the findings in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). This study looks at different forms of student engagement resulting from the implementation of community-based learning pedagogies at many colleges and universities. In 2007, the key findings, from a volunteerism lens, were:

• More than half (54%) of all seniors never participated in a community-based project as part of their regular coursework. (Source: 2007 NSSE Study)
• It can be life changing to participate in service learning. Such an undergraduate experience deepens learning and brings one’s values and beliefs into awareness; it helps students develop the ability to take the measure of events and actions and put them in perspective. As a result, students better understand themselves in relation to others and the larger world, and acquire the intellectual tools and ethical grounding to act with confidence for the betterment of the human condition. (Source: 2007 NSSE Study) 

I feel that nonprofits need to consider their place in this recent trend of engaging students in the community as a way to decrease student disengagement. As more educational institutions move towards the inclusion of community engagement activities, we (the nonprofit community) need to be prepared to engage students in meaningful service-learning experiences. And, in doing so, we will be able to not only prevent a further increase in student disengagement, but more effectively meet the needs of our organizations. What do you think?

-Al 

CBeyond Service Day

On April 1st,  over 50 CBeyond employees volunteered at Manual High School. 

Volunteers painted Manual High Logo murals.

 

They also painted walls!

Call For Stories of Change!!!

Send us your personal change story! Points of Light & Hands On Network is looking for the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their world. Your stories may be highlighted and celebrated during National Volunteer Week, at the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering, for national recognition programs and with media.

Tell us your story and include the following:
- Inspiration: What motivated you to get involved?
- Action: What did you do?
- Results: What's different now?

Stories can be submitted in one of two ways: video or narratives with photos.
1. Video:
Please upload a video (two minute maximum) that illustrates the change that occurred. Finished, edited video with opening and closing titles and music (Do not use copyrighted music, including samples).
Mail raw footage (beta), not to exceed three minutes, with accompanying paragraph describing: Inspiration: What motivated you to get involved? Action: What did you do? Results: What's different now?

2. Narrative and photos:
Upload a 500 words or less description that answers the three questions above. Narratives must be submitted with hi-res photos (300 dpi) that illustrate the change that occurred (no headshots please).

Important Note: All individuals featured in photos or video must sign release forms. You can find release forms at the Call for Stories page located at www.nvwstories.org.

Entries will be judged based on the following:
a. Social change impact (metrics of success)
b. Innovativeness of solution to community problems
c. Originality and creativity of storytelling approach
d. Emotional impact

When you submit your stories online at www.nvwstories.org, you will be asked to include the following:
- Name, organization (if applicable) personal or organization's address, e-mail, phone number and signed releases (attached pdf). If you are unable to submit your story online, please mail directly to Jennifer Geckler at Points of Light & Hands On Network, 600 Means Street, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30318.

Deadlines:
Stories received by April 12, 2008 will be considered for use as features stories for National Volunteer Week.
Stories received by May 12, 2008 will be considered for use as features stories at our 2008 National Conference on Volunteering.
Any stories submitted after May 12, 2008 will be considered for use as feature stories in ongoing media, web site features and other marketing collateral.

If your story is selected as a feature, you will be contacted for further information.

State Farm and Manual Team Up!

The State Farm Catastrophe Team has been at it again -- out there changing the world!

On March 19, State Farm partnered with Metro Volunteers, Manual High School and Colorado Youth at Risk for some spring cleaning. More than 80 volunteers spent the afternoon on a variety of projects. Their energy was FABULOUS! In just a few hours they accomplished the following:

• Removed 500 square feet of wallpaper
• Painted 3000 square fee of wall space
• Created four murals with the Manual thunderbolt logo
• Painted three stories of stairwell railing
• Repaired badly damaged stage curtains
• Trimmed and mulched
• Donated over 250 hours of service!

Check out the murals!

A highlight of the afternoon was hearing Reggie White, an intern with Colorado Youth at Risk, share his story. Reggie reminded all of us that we are a community – and it is vital that we take care of each other.

State Farm agents distributed gifts to the volunteers to thank them for their efforts. “Be the Change” is a collection of quotes and anecdotes from people who have found meaning and transformed their lives by helping others.

Winston Churchill said “We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” The State Farm Catastrophe Team is a shining example!

Say "YES" to the gift of life!

Did you know that eighteen people die each day waiting for a life-saving organ?

Please, please consider registering as an organ donor.

• One organ and tissue donor can save eight people, and give up to fifty people an increased quality of life.
• Nine out of ten people support the concept of organ and tissue donation, yet organs are donated less than one-half of the time.
• Acceptable donors can range in age from newborn to senior citizens.

The top myths that keep people from registering as donors:

1. People think they are too old or sick or unhealthy to be eligible. The truth is, even people with serious diseases or a history of cancer can join the donor registry.
2. There is distrust of the medical system and of the donation process. In fact, the law prohibits donation from being considered until death has occurred. The first priority is ALWAYS to save lives. And the doctors and nurses involved in a person’s care before death are never involved in the recovery of organs, eyes or tissues.
3. The idea that donating will prevent one from having a regular funeral. In reality, donations do not usually delay or change funeral arrangements and an open viewing is still possible.
4. Many people believe that donation is forbidden by their religion. Actually, the vast majority of religions support donation and transplants. Most organized religions in the US consider donation and act of altruism and actively encourage it.

Many who don’t sign up as donors have just not thought about it – or intend to register but assume their relatives know their wishes.

I lost my best friend waiting for a heart transplant. She was 36 and the mother of a three-year old daughter. Less than a year later, my godson was killed in a car accident. Fortunately, by the age of twelve he was educated about donation and was registered. His tissue and bone were able to help several others live a healthier life. More people than one may realize have connections to donation – either a donor or a recipient a hope-to-be recipient. It’s up to us to talk about donation and do all we can to increase awareness.

To learn more about organ and tissue donation:

• Check out www.donor-awareness.org, including the recently published 2007 State of Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation: Colorado and Wyoming report.
• You can also read the stories of transplant recipients: The Faces of Donation which bring to life the gift of donation.
• Join us for breakfast on May 6 to learn all about the Donor Awareness Council. Please let me know if you're interested, paulah@metrovolunteers.org.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for considering donation. And if you’re already registered, thank you for the promise of the gift of life.

Paula