“It’s been said that our true calling in life is where our heart’s greatest gladness meets the world’s deepest need,” said First Lady Michelle Obama as she launched the White House’s initiative, United We Serve at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.
United We Serve aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. The administration has created an online service portal, www.Serve.gov, where volunteers can connect to organizations, post projects of their own designing, and share stories.
Corporation photo by M.T. Harmon, Office of Public Affairs
As the philanthropic community grapples with the question of how to support innovative and effective forms of democratic governance, PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) has released a guide that provides a detailed description of how local civic engagement has grown and developed over the past decade.
The guide describes some of the most influential models and processes, as well as the possibilities, and limitations, of various approaches to working with the public.
A March 2009 report, found that even as Americans struggle through the current recession, the nation’s nonprofit organizations are facing a triple whammy: the evaporation of wealth has decimated charitable donations; the state and local budget crunch is costing nonprofits their foremost paying clients; and the human need for nonprofit help is skyrocketing as nonprofit resources shrink.
Last week’s signing of the Serve America Act was a leap forward in overcoming the “Quiet Crisis,” but there is still work to be done. What suggestions would you offer for recovery in the nonprofit sector and in what ways do you think civic engagement and public participation can step up to meet our society’s most pressing needs in this challenging time?
It’s no secret that our economy is in deep trouble and that various options for its rescue and resuscitation have been a topic of strenuous debate for months. Banks and the auto industry have received billions, both having made the case, at least to government leaders, that they are too important to the American economy to fail.
In a recent New York Times article John Bridgeland points out the magnitude of non-profits on the nation’s economy. Should government invest in non-profits as part of TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program)?
Let us know what you think. Read more and leave a comment.
Points of Light Institute ensures that there are volunteer and community participation opportunities for people throughout the country and increasingly, around the world.
Building on the legacy of our founder, General Colin Powell, we are the leader in forging a strong and effective partnership alliance committed to seeing that children experience the fundamental resources they need to succeed – the Five Promises (caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others) – at home, in school and out in the community.
The Corporation for National and Community Service announced a $570,000 grant to CIRCLE at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Public Service at Tufts University. The grant will support CIRCLE in building an online community that college students throughout the greater Boston area will use to pool information, deliberate, and coordinate their service and activism.
NCoC has played a significant role in ServiceNation as a member of the organizing, policy, and communications committees. The ServiceNation Summit and Presidential Candidate Forum was held on September 11-12 in NYC.
New York Civic Health Index 2010 December 8, 2010
A new report released today by the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship shows that Florida’s civic culture is in failing health, indicates that tough economic times are making the illness worse, and highlights the need for immediate action to treat the malady,
The report found that the state has one of the worst civic cultures in the country, ranking 46th in the nation. It ranked Florida 34th in average voter turnout, 49th in percentage of citizens who volunteer, 48th in percentage of citizens attending a public meeting and 37th in percentage of citizens who worked with others to address a community issue.
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