Tag Archive for 'community service'

photo by brandejackson

From Obama’s volunteerism platform to California’s Governor creating a State Cabinet position dedicated to volunteerism, the notion of paying it forward seems to have reached critical mass in the United States.

With Obama including civil service requirements among his Presidential platforms, he shows young Americans how charity work could become an integral element in career preparation.  In regards to melding education and service, Obama aims to:

• Require 100 Hours of Service in College: Obama will establish a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
• Promote College Serve-Study: Obama will ensure that at least 25 percent of College Work-Study funds are used to support public service opportunities instead of jobs in dining halls and libraries.

This requirement of community work would be a win-win scenario.  A public service requirement would allow undergrads to apply their classroom learning in real life settings, providing resume builders for college students.  Sociology majors would not only learn about the socioeconomic disparities in urban areas, but could turn around and apply that understanding to work with an area non-profit seeking to help the impoverished or underserved.  Marketing majors could help non-profits raise its public and digital profile, build membership, and raise funds.

Since non-profits rely on volunteers to keep the mission alive,  these students would have real world, quantifiable experiences. Imagine helping raise $1 million to fight cancer or doubling membership numbers for an organization before the age of 21.  Accordingly,  it might give college graduates a chance to bypass the entry level grunt work that yields corporate churn and help allay Boomer concerns about inexperienced twenty somethings looking for a fast track to management.

The obvious benefit to non-profits would be the surge in human hours nationwide. Boutique and mainstream charities could expand their work given the increased availability of volunteers.  Already, California is trying to tap into the service spirit of its state residents.

In February, Gov. Schwarzenegger added a Secretary of Service and Volunteering to his State Cabinet, a position meant to better coordinate volunteer efforts related to government initiatives. Given the financial impact of volunteerism, streamlining efficiency and maximizing the output of volunteers will be a boon to a state suffering from severe budgetary cuts.

In 2006, volunteers contributed approximately 858 million hours of service to the California economy—a value of more than $17.4 billion. A one percent increase in the number of Californians who volunteer would equal approximately 365,000 new volunteers contributing 48 million hours—equal to nearly $1 billion in service to the state.

Additionally, if undergraduates are more active in their college towns, these communities may see a decline in the brain drain that occurs when graduates leave the region and often the state. By becoming more invested in the outcomes, students might see their stay in a town or city as more than a passing experience. Pittsburg or Madison or Atlanta could become home, given the inevitable communities ties formed by regular interaction with residents and other volunteers.

Indeed, this increased focus on service brings the best possible outcomes to young adults and the organizations and communities they offer their skills sets to.