Transcript Document
Virtual Volunteering and National Service October 15, 2010 Jewel Redrose (Jewel Bazilio-Bellegarde) Chad Mikado (Chad Gobert) Discussion 1. Introduction to CNCS and NSIP 2. Path to Virtual Volunteering 3. Virtual Volunteering in Action The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) • CNCS discharges its mission to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering by providing opportunities for all Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage. • Since its inception, with the 1993 National Community Service Act, CNCS has been committed to the active participation of Americans with disabilities in all of its programs and initiatives. • Thousands of people with disabilities serve in CNCS’s three major programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Senior Corps • Each year Senor Crops taps the skills, talents, and experience of nearly 500,000 Americans age 55 and older to meet a wide range of community challenges. AmeriCorps • AmeriCorps provides opportunities for more than 85,000 Americans each year to give intensive service to their communities and country through three programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). Learn and Serve America • Learn and Serve America provides an “on-ramp” to a life-time of civic engagement for approximately 1.5 million students each year. The 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act • On March 31, 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to reauthorize the CNCS and its programs through 2014 • On April 21, 2009. President Obama signed the bill into law. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act… • Even more explicitly emphasizes a commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities as active participants in national service… www.serviceandinclusion.org Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY) What is Virtual Volunteering? • Completed online, phone • May be done at home or work • Expands benefits of volunteer programs – New communities of people ready and willing to serve – New ways to volunteer Volunteer Experience Poll Quick feedback: 1. How many present have volunteered before? 2. How many present have virtual volunteered before? Why Involve Virtual Volunteers? • Larger pool of interested people, greater than searching offline • Setting out expectations online allows prospective volunteers to self-screen interests • Allows participation of people who might find on-site volunteering difficult or impossible • Environmentally friendly- no car exhaust, less paper waste, etc. • Saves time- commuting, travel Becoming a Virtual Volunteer 1. Discover your interests – – – – – – Online research Consulting expertise Writing proposals/grants Captioning/translation Marketing and advocacy Web development – Creating curriculum/training – Design, editing, copywriting, proofreading – Accessibility evaluations – Service recipient contact Becoming a Virtual Volunteer 1. Discover your interests 2. Assess your own skills – Education or degree – Experience – Professional connections Becoming a Virtual Volunteer 1. Discover your interests 2. Assess your own skills 3. Find your cause • Volunteer Blog Posting on SL: http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/vol unteers Volunteer Sites • Corporation for National and Community Service – www.CNCS.gov • Idealist – www.Idealist.org • United Nations Volunteers Online Volunteering Service – www.onlinevolunteering.org • Volunteer Match – www.volunteermatch.org • Community Networks by state, country – http://ofcn.org/networks/By_State.txt.html Volunteer Sites (Cont.) For volunteering examples by a specific cause: • Sidelines (National Volunteer High Risk Pregnancy Support Network- email or phone peer support) – http://www.sidelines.org • Pearls of Africa (helps orphans with HIV and AIDS) – http://www.pearlsofafrica.org/ • Family-to-Family- helping to feed, clothe a family – http://www.family-to-family.org/adopt_family.htm • Proofreading for Project Gutenberg – http://www.pgdp.net/c/ Pursuing Virtual Volunteering Opportunities • Existing opportunities in environments (virtual, online, or offline) • Serving with groups that offer virtual volunteering positions • Create your own opportunity! http://www.serve.gov/toolkits/food-bank/four.asp Virtual Volunteering in Action Open Discussion & Questions Thank You Jewel Bazilio-Bellegarde (Jewel Redrose) [email protected] Chad Gobert (Chad Mikado) [email protected]