WhiteHouse.gov Blog Feed: Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Why Taking Tax Rates Off the Table Threatens Non-Profits and Charitable Giving

Aviva Aron-Dine and Jonathan Greenblatt — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:23:38 +0000

Right now, America faces a series of critical fiscal choices that will affect the economy for years to come. One of the most critical steps we can take is to reduce the deficit in a balanced way in order to lay the foundation for long-term middle-class job growth. But we need to do that in a way that’s consistent with our values.

As part of his balanced approach to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion, President Obama proposes to raise $1.6 trillion in new revenue over 10 years for deficit reduction, including $1 trillion from the expiration of the Bush high-income and estate tax cuts. The President’s plan asks the wealthy to pay their fair share by raising tax rates for the wealthiest 2% to the level they were at under President Clinton—39.6%—which was a time when we created 23 million new jobs. It also prevents an income tax increase for 98% of Americans and 97% of small businesses.

Some have suggested that, rather than raising tax rates for the most fortunate, policymakers should make up the revenue by cutting high-income tax benefits – in particular, by imposing a dollar cap on itemized deductions, including charitable contributions.

But what is clear is that proposals that take tax rates off the table would threaten donations to universities, non-profit hospitals, social services providers, arts and cultural institutions and other nonprofit organizations. This is because – to make the math work – these proposals rely on hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue that would result from drastically cutting or eliminating the charitable deduction as we now know it.

Currently, the tax code encourages gifts to charity by allowing taxpayers to claim itemized deductions for charitable giving. But – as a new report by the National Economic Council (NEC) shows, the most prominent dollar cap proposals would effectively eliminate the charitable deduction for up to 13 million households and for as much as 60 percent of currently deductible giving.

Using Congressional Budget Office assumptions, the NEC estimates that a $50,000 cap would reduce charitable giving by about $150 billion over 10 years, while a $25,000 cap would reduce giving by about $200 billion. Even a $25,000 cap that applied only to high-income households would reduce giving by at least $10 billion per year. As the report discusses, a cap could impact nonprofit organizations in every sector and in every state.

The reality of the math means that taking tax rate increases, for the most fortunate, off the table forces a choice between virtually eliminating the charitable deduction for high-income households; raising taxes on middle-class families; or raising too little revenue for deficit reduction and forcing deep cuts to investments in research, education, and infrastructure or to other federal programs important to middle-class or struggling families.

This wholly unnecessary trade-off can be avoided by taking the President’s balanced approach. The President would raise $1 trillion by letting the Bush high-income and estate tax cuts expire. He would then raise additional revenue by limiting all high-income tax benefits to 28 percent.

Under the President’s proposal, every family that currently benefits from the charitable deduction would continue to receive a significant tax incentive for charitable giving. High-income households would receive the same incentive as households with incomes in the range of $200,000, the same incentive they received under President’s Reagan’s tax reform, and a larger incentive than they would get under Republican proposals to reduce the top tax rate to 25 percent.

Solving the Nation’s deficit and debt challenges will require that the highest-income households pay more. But under a more balanced approach that includes an increase in tax rates, this can be achieved without imposing major collateral damage on charitable giving and jeopardizing the vital work of those nonprofit organizations that serve the needs of millions of Americans.

Aviva Aron-Dine is a Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. Jonathan Greenblatt is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Serving to Honor the Memory of 9/11

Jonathan Greenblatt — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 22:23:50 +0000

America always rises to the challenges of the times. We have a remarkable capacity for unity in the response to tragedy. This was truly evident in the aftermath of September 11^th, 2001.

As President Obama said in his weekly radio address this weekend:

“Instead of turning inward with grief, we’ve honored the memory of those we lost by giving back to our communities, serving those in need, and reaffirming the values at the heart of who we are as a people. That’s why we mark September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Because we are one American family. And we look out for each other – not just on the difficult days, but every day.”

Yesterday, President Obama spent time visiting wounded warriors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He and First Lady Michelle Obama addressed9/11 Families and survivors at a session at the Pentagon. Vice President Biden and Interior Secretary Salazar visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, where 40 passengers and crew heroically resisted a team of hijackers, losing their lives but averting an even greater calamity in the process. And Secretary Napolitano traveled to New York City to attend a memorial service at the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.

In addition, in coordination with the Corporation for National and Community Service and The Mission Continues, Administration officials participated in a service activity in the Washington DC area, working alongside veterans, active-duty service members and military families.

9/11 is seared into our national consciousness. Yet, when we give our talent and time to help others, we honor the memories of those that were lost and preserve the spirit of solidarity that flourished in the aftermath of the attack. Through service, we can maintain this flame and ensure that their legacy lives on indefinitely.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Mobilizing Capital in Places that Need it Most

Anthony Reyes — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:18:23 +0000

Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from Treasury Notes.

Access to capital is the lifeblood of a vibrant community. In economically distressed areas, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play a vital role in bringing much-needed capital to local businesses. CDFI investments create jobs and spur economic development by connecting investors with opportunities.

CDFIs are a diverse and growing industry. They come in many forms, including regulated banks and credit unions, venture capital firms, and microenterprise funds. Some are nonprofit organizations, while others operate as conventional businesses. Regardless of their form, CDFIs all share a common mission: to improve the lives of low-income people and communities by providing better access to capital. Recently, the Treasury Department announced $186 million in new CDFI investments to 210 organizations. This represents the largest single announcement of award dollars and award recipients in the history of the CDFI Fund. These historic awards include $152 million through the CDFI Program and $23 million under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative(HFFI), a new Obama Administration initiative that increases access to low-cost healthy food in urban and rural neighborhoods that lack grocery stores, co-ops, or other affordable food options. Under HFFI, the CDFI Fund has provided $48 million through 25 awards since its inauguration two years ago.

(by U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Certified and emerging Native CDFIs also received $11 million under the Native American CDFI Assistance Program. These funds will be used to provide loans, investments, financial services and technical assistance to underserved populations and communities across the nation. These funds scale companies and change lives. For example, the Lakota Fund, a Native CDFI operating on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, used a CDFI award to provided growth capital to Murdock Electric, a Native American-owned company with 100 percent Native American employees. This fast growing, family-owned business originally was launched in the back of its founder’s truck. As a result of the loan from Lakota Fund, Murdock today is a thriving enterprise with a modern facility, 20 employees and 11 apprentices. It is an important element of the economic health and social well-being of the Pine Ridge community.

This Administration has emphasized the need to use evidence and evaluation to improve government programs and processes. As we seek to scale what works, CDFIs offer a promising example of success. Through their investments, CDFIs spur economic growth, support scalable models of social change, and cultivate community solutions that bring together the public interest and private sector. That’s why President Obama increased the CDFI budget by more than 135 percent over 2008 levels; and proposed an expansion to $221 million to continue funding CDFIs in his FY 2013 budget.

Since President Obama took office, CDFI Program awardees created or maintained more than 50,000 full-time jobs. In 2011 alone, CDFI Program awardees originated over 16,000 loans or investments, including more than 5,000 small business and microenterprise loans that created or maintained more than 25,000 full-time jobs, and used their grant funding to leverage $1.5 billion in private investment. These CDFIs also financed almost 1,800 affordable housing units and 16,000 affordable rental units, and provided financial literacy and other training to more than 177,000 individuals in the communities they serve.

CDFIs not only deliver social and financial returns to private investors, they are also a sound public investment, leveraging more than $8 of private investment for every $1 of public funding. Most maintain default rates that are as good, or better, than traditional banks. They prove every day that when given an opportunity, people living in distressed communities can build robust businesses that deliver value for their investors and generate impact in their communities.

Congratulations to those CDFIs awarded funding in this year’s competition. Your work demonstrates what can be accomplished when public dollars are used to catalyze underserved markets and elevate community solutions.

The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund was established by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory

San Diego Center Gives Hope, Aid to Refugees

Jonathan Greenblatt — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:52:04 +0000

This story highlights the work of the Social Innovation Fund, established by the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009 and administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Arriving in the United States is just the start of the journey for refugees like Alaa, an engineer from Iraq. Unable to find a job, his first few months in America were a struggle, as he tried to cover his most basic needs. Alaa was eager for a job – any job – to become self-sufficient while he studied to resume work as an engineer in a new country.

Generations of immigrants have faced similar challenges, but luckily Alaa found a public-private partnership that helps people like him gain financial stability: the San Diego International Rescue Committee (IRC) Financial Opportunity Center. The San Diego IRC received a $135,000 Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grant through the Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC), which developed the innovative “Financial Opportunity Center” model. This model combines financial services across three areas: employment placement and career improvement, financial education and coaching, and public benefits access. The IRC applies this model to integrate traditional refugee services with financial management support.

Alaa, above, received financial management support from the San Diego International Rescue Committee (IRC).

The Right Kind of Help

The IRC Financial Opportunity Center provided Alaa with regular one-on-one job search assistance, helped get his University of Baghdad transcripts evaluated for equivalency in the United States, and assisted in his enrollment in community college courses on Microsoft Office and AutoCAD, an engineering software program. The organization also supplied him with a $100 loan to help him build his credit. A financial counselor even accompanied him to the bank to open his first account.

Alaa had his first taste of success in October 2011, eight months after his arrival in the U.S., when he secured a job as a sales associate at The Home Depot. He still needs more money to take additional classes in his field, but the IRC is committed to standing by Alaa both as an advocate and collaborator until he reaches his goal of financial independence.

Spreading Services that Work

The IRC has been able to help nearly 200 refugees like Alaa thrive in their new homes, and it is just one of many organizations supported by LISC. Over two years, LISC has received $8.4 million from the SIF and commitments of another $8.4 million from philanthropic partners to set up Financial Opportunity Centers with 46 other community-based organizations.

LISC has been able to expand its work to six new cities and, in the first year of operation, reach over 15,000 individuals and families. As LISC and its partners continue to spread this model across the country, thousands more Americans will gain new jobs and higher credit scores—not only making ends meet, but also establishing the foundation for stronger economic futures.

Alaa’s story is part of our ongoing effort to highlight how social innovators are strengthening our communities and addressing social needs across the country. We hope stories like this inspire you to think creatively and take action in your own community.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

The Social Innovation Fund Adds Four New Intermediaries to its Portfolio

Jonathan Greenblatt — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:13:22 +0000

President Obama’s Administration is dedicated to elevating and scaling the most promising innovations that can tackle the toughest challenges. We know that the most effective models for creating lasting change can be found not in Washington DC, but in communities across the country where entrepreneurs and innovators try new approaches, then evaluate and improve them based on outcomes.

The President understands that if we hope to create an economy built to last, we need to invest in what works and spread best practices wherever we can find them. For this reason, he signed into law the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in April 2009. After its completion, the President directed the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to launch a cornerstone initiative of the new law, the Social Innovation Fund (SIF).

The SIF is elevating proven community solutions, helping build scale through philanthropic leverage and evaluation of results to fund programs that work. The first two funding rounds of the SIF leveraged a $95 million federal investment to catalyze additional private and nonfederal funding commitments totaling $250 million. This investment impacts communities across the country through 16 philanthropic intermediaries and nearly 200 remarkable nonprofit organizations.

For example, the SIF grant-making intermediary Venture Philanthropy Partners is reaching thousands of disconnected teens in the lowest income neighborhoods of Washington, DC, with strategies that are resulting in success in high school, college admission, and success in college. Another SIF intermediary, AIDS United, is using mobile engagement teams and telemedicine technology to reach the most chronically ill with specialized interventions that improve quality of life.

Today, the White House is happy to report that four new intermediaries have been awarded funding in the third round of the Social Innovation Fund.

The four new grantees are listed below:

GreenLight Fund will work to close the achievement and opportunity gaps for more youth in Boston, Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Twin Cities Strive in partnership with the Greater Twin Cities United Waywill grow youth development programs for children in kindergarten through college in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
John A. Hartford Foundation will expand an evidence-based program for treating depression into rural communities in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
Capital Area United Way will address early childhood development, reaching young people in the Greater Baton Rouge Area.

These organizations were selected through a rigorous competition from a pool of 31 applicants. Each of the four awardees will receive $2 million over two years that will enable them to scale community-based solutions with strong evidence that their programs work.

I congratulate these four organizations on their awards. Their work to support communities is already making a significant difference. I look forward to seeing them expand their impact by growing dynamic nonprofits in the years ahead.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Fighting HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC

Jonathan Greenblatt — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:02:15 +0000

Washington, DC is host to the 19^th International AIDS Conference this week. As leaders from around the world gather to address this global crisis, we reflect on the role of the Social Innovation Fund and our partners in the fight here at home.The Social Innovation Fund was established by the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009 and is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Sarah* had been living with HIV for 10 years when she discontinued her treatment. After witnessing a murder in her neighborhood, she was afraid to leave her house for care. She was isolated, suffering from post-traumatic stress, and had to cope without HIV treatment for more than three years.

A Positive Pathways Community Health Worker discovered Sarah’s situation in July 2011 and reached out to her, calling her more than 10 times before she finally responded. With the support of the Health Worker and a medical case manager, Sarah began addressing her post-traumatic stress, secured safe and regular transportation to a treatment site, re-engaged in HIV care, and even received assistance with her housing needs.

Support from Within the Community

A group of Community Health Workers with the Washington AIDS Partnership's Positive Pathways Program.

In Washington, DC, Community Health Workers are frontline support for hard-to-reach women suffering from untreated HIV and AIDS. Washington AIDS Partnership’s innovative Positive Pathways program recruits Health Workers from the city’s high-risk communities and trains them to help their neighbors overcome barriers to treatment.

Through the Community Health Worker network, Positive Pathways identifies out-of-care women, builds peer-based trust, teaches them about living with HIV, provides personalized assistance to help them navigate service systems, and supports them throughout the early part of their medical care until they become independently engaged.

Expanding Care to More People

Because of this innovative model for connecting with hard-to-reach women, the Washington AIDS Partnership received a $320,000 Social Innovation Fund grant through AIDS United in 2011. During the first eight months of implementation, the Washington AIDS Partnership contacted 2,367 individuals and enrolled 268 people who had been out of care. With additional funding from the Social Innovation Fund, the program aims to enroll 500 more people.

Nearly 14,500 people live with HIV or AIDS in Washington, DC. For almost half of these people—around 42 percent—there is no evidence that they are in care. Community Health Workers are making critical strides to enhance their health, quality and length of life, while also strengthening our collective efforts toward prevention.

Sarah’s story is part of our ongoing effort to highlight how social innovators are strengthening our communities and addressing social needs across the country. We hope stories like this inspire you to think creatively and take action in your own community.

*Sarah’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Matching Jobseekers to Careers

Jonathan Greenblatt — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:46:59 +0000

Travis is a single father of two from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since 2008, Travis had bounced between part-time and temporary jobs. His wages had peaked at around $10 per hour, though he needed at least $12-$14 an hour to support his family. With limited interviewing and workforce experience, he didn’t think he would ever find full-time work – let alone have a career.

Travis found a solution when he was referred to Madison Strategies Group’s (MSG) WorkAdvance program in August 2011.

Why Does WorkAdvance Work?

Through WorkAdvance, Travis received career counseling, gained interviewing skills, and was referred to full-time jobs with room for advancement. In less than three months, Travis was working for Southwest United Industries as a shipping and receiving clerk making $12 an hour. With the continued support of WorkAdvance, Travis earned a raise in less than one year on the job. He’s now earning $14.50 an hour in a stable, full-time position.

The success of the MSG’s WorkAdvance program lies in its focus on the needs of employers as well as the needs of jobseekers. When WorkAdvance first opened its doors in Tulsa, it identified transportation as a growth industry with significant labor market and skills gaps. MSG worked with transportation companies to understand their needs. In the process, MSG identified high-quality, career-track job opportunities in the sector and developed programs to prepare adults like Travis to be hired and to excel.

The WorkAdvance model was developed by the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), and from research results from several national studies. The model builds on evidence showing that an industry-focused approach to workforce development can improve job placement rates and wages.

Bringing Working Solutions to More Communities

Based on WorkAdvance’s success, the Social Innovation Fund provided a grant to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and CEO to spread WorkAdvance programs to new communities in New York, Oklahoma and Ohio.

Since receiving SIF funding, more than 450 other adults have been served by WorkAdvance programs, and 110 have already found new jobs. This investment is making sure that Travis is just one of many WorkAdvance success stories, and that training programs like these can continue to help people across the country find promising new careers.

Travis’s story is part of our ongoing effort to highlight how social innovators are strengthening our communities and addressing social needs across the country. We hope stories like this inspire you to think creatively and take action in your own community.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Helping People with Mental Illnesses Thrive

Jonathan Greenblatt — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:30:27 +0000

Josh, 45, was one of the millions of Americans suffering from a mental illness, but he was not receiving treatment. He was unemployed and living in a halfway house, and he could hardly find the motivation to do the dishes or leave his room.

"I felt I wasn't going anywhere," he said. “I hadn’t had a job for a year, and I wasn’t a part of anything. I decided I needed to get out and be more active.”

That is when Josh turned to Buckelew Programs, a nonprofit organization that, for 40 years, has provided homes, jobs, and hope to people with mental illness.

Working Their Way Back Into Society

An estimated one in four adults in the United States experiences a mental health disorder [1], In addition to the immense personal struggles individuals face, the economic cost of mental illness to the nation is also substantial, including the costs associated with lost productivity

That’s why in addition to providing traditional clinical services, Buckelew helps people with mental illnesses build the personal and professional skills they need to succeed and keep steady jobs. Buckelew also hires people like Josh to work for their social enterprises. Josh gained experience as a cleaning professional through Buckelew’s Blue Skies Cleaning Service, which specializes in environmentally-friendly office cleaning. This experience positioned him to find a job at Northgate Mall in Marin County, California, and eventually enabled him to move out of the halfway house and into a permanent home.

“I’ve learned responsibility and how to work with others,” Josh reflects. “It’s a good work environment, and I like the effort it takes.…I feel useful—a part of something—and that makes me feel good.”

Expanding Buckelew’s Reach

Buckelew received a Social Innovation Fund grant of $550,000 over two years through REDF, a venture philanthropy organization that invests in nonprofits that create jobs, change lives and reduce public costs. Building on its successes, Buckelew is now launching a new social enterprise, People's Harvest, which will provide fresh-cut produce to school districts and hospitals in Marin County while continuing to employ individuals living with mental illness.

Buckelew is one of more than 200 high-impact nonprofit organizations that have received a Social Innovation Fund grant. These other nonprofits, like Buckelew, are expanding and creating jobs, and strengthening communities across the U.S.

Josh’s story is part of our ongoing effort to highlight how social innovators are strengthening our communities and addressing social needs across the country. We hope stories like this inspire you to think creatively and take action in your own community.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

[1] NIMH: “The numbers count—Mental disorders in America.” National Institute of Health. Available at www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm.

The Promise of Crowdfunding for Social Enterprise

Doug Rand — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:15:15 +0000

Earlier this month, the White House hosted a briefing for the American Sustainable Business Council, a national network serving social enterprises from early-stage startups to established success stories, like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s. Senior White House staff took time to meet with chief executives and thought leaders, such as Seventh Generation founder Jeffrey Hollender and Stonyfield Farms pioneer Gary Hirshberg, to discuss many aspects of the President’s agenda to support overall economic growth, including the Impact Economy.

As part of the conversation, the discussion focused on the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act is a bipartisan bill signed by the President into law in April that will allow small businesses and startups to raise capital from investors more efficiently, leading to faster growth and hiring.

One of the key features of the JOBS Act is to enable “crowdfunding” – letting companies raise up to $1 million in small increments from many investors. As the President said, this is “a potential game changer”:

Right now, you can only turn to a limited group of investors -- including banks and wealthy individuals -- to get funding. Laws that are nearly eight decades old make it impossible for others to invest. But a lot has changed in 80 years, and it’s time our laws did as well. Because of this bill, start-ups and small business will now have access to a big, new pool of potential investors -- namely, the American people. For the first time, ordinary Americans will be able to go online and invest in entrepreneurs that they believe in.

In many ways, nonprofits and social enterprises are already adept at raising money through crowdfunding – think of donation-based tools like Network for Good or zero-interest microfinance platforms like Kiva. What the JOBS Act will do is allow micro-investors to purchase a stake in the venture.

Many social enterprises already have benefited from donation-based crowdfunding platforms, and they are looking forward this new opportunity to attract impact-minded investors. Two such companies guest-posted on the White House blog, and their founders attended the JOBS Act signing ceremony: Stockbox Grocers builds tiny grocery stores in urban “food deserts,” while LuminAID Lab manufactures solar-powered lights for disaster relief. Both companies stress the power of crowdfunding to connect social enterprises with their communities and customers.

At a time when nonprofits are struggling for revenue, as charitable donations have slowed and government budgets are tight, the social sector needs to find new strategies to attract resources. The Obama Administration has taken some important steps toward this end, developing policies and programs to unlock capital and to increase investment. For example, the Administration launched the Social Innovation Fund to provide growth capital to high impact nonprofits. In two years, it has catalyzed nearly $400 million toward communities’ solutions. The Treasury Department recently updated the example Program Related Investments, providing guidance that should facilitate the flow of impact investing from foundations and philanthropists to support businesses and nonprofits pursuing charitable purposes.

Building on this momentum, crowdfunding offers tremendous promise. Some believe that it has the potential to revitalize underserved communities by improving access to capital for small businesses. As the leader of a major group representing Main Street microenterprises recently wrote, “Given the tremendous demand for credit among microbusinesses and entrepreneurs, crowdfunding offers real promise for underserved business entrepreneurs and may allow the organizations that serve them the ability to reach even deeper into the entrepreneurial community.”

To be clear, investment-based crowdfunding is not legal just yet. Congress required the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to write new rules of the road for crowdfunding, which will be finalized in 2013. Some open questions include the following:

Any company raising money through crowdfunding must use an SEC-regulated intermediary. How should these intermediaries be required to educate investors, safeguard investor privacy, reduce the risk of fraud, and ensure other investor protections?
In any given year, investors are limited in the total amount they can invest across all crowdfunding investments (5% of annual income or net worth if less than $100,000, or 10% of annual income or net worth if greater than $100,000). How should intermediaries be required to verify that investors stay within these limits?
What disclosures should be required of the companies raising money through crowdfunding, above and beyond those spelled out by Congress?

The SEC has invited members of the public to submit comments to inform their rulemaking. These comments could include considerations unique to social enterprises, along with those investors willing to trade some financial return for greater social or environmental benefits.

To provide comments on crowdfunding, read the JOBS Act and visit the SEC comment page.

Doug Rand is a Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Shifting the Odds for At-Risk Youth

Jonathan Greenblatt — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:26 +0000

Alison’s* daily struggles while raising two young children made her dream of a college degree seem unobtainable. But things began to turn around when the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) in Washington, DC connected her with a Promotor.

The Promotores (Spanish for “advocates”) program was developed by LAYC to help meet the needs of young people like Alison. The program links at-risk youth to non-traditional counselors, Promotores, so that they can provide hands-on guidance on local issues like poverty, high unemployment, and lack of affordable housing. Promotores work to help young adults finish high school and go on to higher education, secure and retain employment with long-term career potential, and overcome difficulties with housing, life skills, and more. They connect youth to programs and services and establish long-term relationships with them, often lasting for four to six years.

Promoting a Path to Success

For Alison, her Promotor helped her apply for financial aid and scholarships, and she was accepted to Trinity University in Washington, DC. Alison’s Promotor then helped her apply for the necessary benefits to provide for her children, so that Alison could focus on her education. Alison also enrolled in a volunteer work program, where she was placed at a DC-area hospital and later was able to secure a paid position. And with her Promotor’s help, she applied for and received a placement in an apartment for her family through a transitional housing program.

Alison is now in her third year as a full-time college student, works part-time at the hospital, and cares for her children.

Lessons Learned and Duplicated

The Latin American Youth Center received a Social Innovation Fund grant through Venture Philanthropy Partners for almost $1 million over a two-year period. With this funding, LAYC is expanding its work to reach hundreds more individuals in the National Capital Region.

Launched in 2010 and managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the Social Innovation Fund invests money in nonprofits and foundations, so they can accelerate the work of high-impact organizations and replicate their approaches in new localities and markets.

The work of organizations like the Latin American Youth Center can help increase our understanding of what works to tackle our most pressing social needs. They provide a glimpse into what can enable more young adults to get on and stay on the path to success – and, hopefully, turn the odds in their favor.

*Alison’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.

Alison’s story highlights how social innovators are strengthening our communities and addressing social needs across the country. We hope stories like this inspire you to think creatively and take action in your own community.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Social Innovation: A Strategy for Expanding Opportunity

Jonathan Greenblatt — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:45:40 +0000

This week, I had the pleasure of attending the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Chicago, IL. This annual gathering of the nonprofit sector brings together activists and organizers, government officials and nonprofit leaders from around the country. These individuals shared best practices, swapped ideas and shined a spotlight on stories of service and innovation in our communities.

This year, many conference attendees were talking about how to use financial capital to spread successful solutions from one community to others all across the country. One of the most important developments in this area is the Social Innovation Fund (SIF). Launched in 2010 and managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), SIF invests money in nonprofits and foundations, so they can accelerate the work of high-impact organizations and replicate their approaches in new localities and markets.

SIF recently announced grants to 49 nonprofit groups and local public agencies. Every dollar the SIF spends is matched with private money, three to one. With these new grants, SIF is now supporting nearly 200 innovative organizations in 34 states and the District of Columbia. It is financing the expansion of initiatives focused on youth development, economic opportunity, and healthy futures while touching the lives of thousands of families and improving the prospects of tens of thousands of Americans.

Changing One Life at a Time

Jonathan began to lose interest in school at 14 when his mother, the only parent in his life, died. He soon left school with his GED and entered the workforce. By the time he turned 20, he suffered from back problems that interfered with his job moving furniture. Soon he was out of work, out of school and without any prospects.

That’s when Jonathan turned to Year Up, where he not only gained career skills, but also life skills and a new self-confidence that inspired him to excel. Year Up helped Jonathan secure an internship, which eventually led to a full-time job in a field with opportunities for advancement.

Jonathan says that Year Up saved his life.

Year Up was supported through a SIF grant awarded to New Profit, Inc. Because of SIF, Year Up now expects to help an additional 1,288 young adults get on the path to success through its intensive education, career readiness, and life skills program.

Jonathan’s story highlights how social innovators are strengthening our communities and addressing social needs across the country. We hope stories like Jonathan’s inspire you to think creatively and take action in your own community.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Opening the Door for Program Related Investments

Jonathan Greenblatt — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:02:03 +0000

Recently, the Obama Administration took a simple but important step that has the potential to do a lot of good in communities across the country – anything from improving education, creating opportunity in low-income communities, or keeping our water and air safe.

Traditionally, foundations have tackled our most vexing problems primarily by making grants to organizations. Foundations are required to make annual charitable contributions of at least five percent of their total assets. These overwhelmingly are done via grants and most stay very close to the five percent minimum. The remaining 95 percent of assets are maintained in an endowment and typically invested in a diversified portfolio in order to preserve or increase value to enable continued giving in the future. The proposed rule issued by the Treasury Department and IRS would make it easier for philanthropies to make what are called Program Related Investments (PRIs).

PRIs allow foundations to put more of their resources to work to advance their charitable mission through means other than grant-making – like equity investments, loans, loan guarantees, or other investments. Despite their flexibility, PRIs historically have not been used with much frequency because of confusion as to how they work and the high costs associated with them. For example, many foundations find it necessary to proactively seek legal counsel to confirm that an investment would qualify under the definition of charitable purpose even before using a PRI.

To address these concerns, the Treasury Department and the IRS proposed a rule that includes updated examples of how private foundations may use PRIs to fund charitable activities, which will help foundations make these investments more easily and at a lower cost. The guidelines illustrate that organizations can use PRIs to support groups working on a diverse set of issues from preserving the environment, to furthering education and scientific research, to relieving the poor and distressed.

This important update is the first in 40 years since PRIs were implemented in 1972.

The proposed rule also clarifies how foundations can use different methods such as credit enhancement arrangements to strengthen the capacity of organizations. This approach can leverage the balance sheets of foundations, enabling “capital activation” and potentially adding significantly to their capacity to drive social impact. Such methods can serve as an indicator to other institutional investors about the possibilities of deploying capital in creative ways to generate value and strengthen communities.

A PRI is an investment made by a foundation, which, although it may generate income, is made primarily to accomplish charitable purposes. PRIs are novel for several reasons. First, they provide foundations with the flexibility to fund activities serving charitable purposes in a variety of ways beyond conventional grants. Second, such investments can be made to tax-exempt charities but also to social enterprises and conventional businesses. And third, unlike conventional grants, PRIs can take various forms, including equity investments and low-interest loans.

These guidelines do not cover all the potential scenarios, and public comments on the proposed rule have been requested by July 18. We hope that the proposed rule will spark a dialogue over the next two months with the philanthropic community. Through feedback on the guidelines and an exchange of ideas, we hope to update the regulations in a manner that serves the public interest. This additional guidance is expected to facilitate the ability of foundations to determine whether investment qualifies as a PRI, reducing the transaction costs, conserving a foundation’s resources for additional charitable activity, and increasing capital flows for charities and social enterprises that can create jobs and generate impact.

To comment on the proposed rule for PRIs, please visit the Federal Register.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Service Members Help Meet the Needs of Young Children

Jonathan Greenblatt — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:47:55 +0000

Jumpstart children and Corps member read Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey during a classroom session.

Ed. note: To recognize the impact service members have on young children, the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation introduces readers to Naila Bolus, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jumpstart, one of the largest part-time AmeriCorps programs.

When asked how service members expand educational opportunities for preschool children in low-income communities, Naila writes:

In North Philadelphia, 50 Temple University students – all Jumpstart Corps members – have spent the past two semesters immersed in preschool classrooms in one of this city’s most under-resourced communities. Twice each week they trod past garbage-strewn abandoned lots, broken sidewalks and shuttered buildings into classrooms infested with cockroaches. But they can see what many people cannot – the wealth of opportunity in the community and the tremendous potential in the young children they serve. As I sat with a group of eight Jumpstart Corps members this week, they were reflecting on their year of service and the incredible progress made by their “partner” children – e.g. a reticent child now one of the most outspoken; a child who couldn’t recognize the letters in her name now able to write them clearly. As these Jumpstart Corps members prepare to take their final exams, they do so with the pride of knowing that they have helped dozens of children master the language and literacy skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

For too many young children, the neighborhood in which they live remains the greatest predictor for their future success. Indeed, children in low-income neighborhoods start kindergarten 60% behind their wealthier peers[1], and in the absence of high-quality programs – like Jumpstart – this gap only continues to widen as children advance through school and life. Conversely, research tells us that investing in high-quality early education is the best way to increase lifetime productivity and graduation rates while decreasing crime and other societal ills. In fact, as Nobel Laureate and University of Chicago professor James Heckman has shown, every dollar invested in early education produces a return on investment of at least 7% and in some studies as high as 15%.

Investing in early education is investing in the future. This Administration has demonstrated its commitment by calling for increased funding for and improvements to Head Start, establishing the Office for Early Learning in the U.S. Department of Education, and creating the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge.

This week marks the Week of the Young Child™, sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, an annual celebration to raise awareness and advocacy for the importance of early childhood education. As Jumpstart’s program year comes to an end, the Week of the Young Child is perfectly timed. It presents us with the opportunity to reflect on the great service that communities, organizations and individuals across the country are providing to expand educational opportunities for all young children.

Jumpstart is one of the largest part-time AmeriCorps programs training close to 4,000 college students and community volunteers to serve in 500 preschool classrooms in low-income communities. This year alone, Jumpstart Corps members are serving more than one million hours to 10,000 young children. Not just in North Philadelphia, but across the nation, Jumpstart Corps members are singularly focused on unleashing the potential of the young children they serve year-round, and working toward the day all children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.

To learn more about Jumpstart’s involvement in the Week of the Young Child, visit jstart.org/weekoftheyoungchild or follow me on Twitter @NailaBolus

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation.

[1] Before even entering kindergarten, the average cognitive scores of children in the lowest socio-economic status (SES) group are 60% behind the scores of the highest SES group. Lee, V. E., & Burkham, D. T. (2002). Inequality at the Starting Gate: Social Background Differences in Achievement as Children Begin School. Washington, D.C.: Economic Policy Institute.

Volunteers to the Rescue

Jonathan Greenblatt — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:30:55 +0000

Two volunteers in Salisbury, NC help rebuild an abandoned home on Make A Difference Day 2011.

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is celebrating National Volunteer Week on April 15^th– 21^stto recognize individuals who serve their communities. This blog post introduces readers to Paul Woodson, Mayor of Salisbury, NC. The City of Salisbury transformed two neglected blocks of South Shaver Street and is an honoree for the Make A Difference Day city awards. When asked about the impact volunteering has had on communities, Mayor Woodson writes:

Like many Piedmont North Carolina communities, Salisbury was hit hard by closures of textile mills in the ‘90s followed by two deep recessions. The resulting decline in private-sector revenues dug a deep hole in public and non-profit budgets, causing the city government to struggle to provide the same services without a tax increase.

Founded in 1753, Salisbury is an older city with an aging housing stock. To compound the challenge, the housing crisis of 2008 left many homeowners stranded, either battling foreclosure or without disposable income to make needed repairs to their homes. This left a ripple of deterioration throughout many city neighborhoods.

The Salisbury Community Appearance Commission (CAC), a City Council advisory board, spearheaded a partnership with the Council to develop a cohesive concept that would help foster accountability among residents and communities for cleaner, safer neighborhoods -- one block at a time. With Council support, the CAC implemented a unique initiative called BlockWork.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Make a Difference Day 2011 provided the opportunity for a pilot project. The annual day of service is sponsored by USA WEEKEND and supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service.

Before the big day, two adjacent blocks were selected from the applications. City staff and neighborhood leaders met with property owners to design work plans. On the event day, volunteer work crews were designated for each of the 14 sites. Property owners participated on work crews and contributed to the cost of materials as able.

The BlockWork event attracted 85 volunteers representing multiple neighborhoods and crossing all lines of age, income, and ethnicity. Throughout the day, these volunteers filtered into two neighboring blocks of South Shaver Street where they installed brick walkways, front steps, hand rails, and picket fences. They planted trees and shrubs and painted buildings.

It was a day of neighbors helping neighbors, working together to make a difference, that was fitting for the annual day of service. The effect of the one-day work event was breathtaking, but theresults of BlockWork far exceed the work accomplished in one day.

With careful planning prior to the event, one abandoned house underwent extensive repairs and is once again a lovely historic home. Another house, previously boarded up for 10 years, now has a buyer and plan for renovation. A long-time vacant house unsuited for renovation is slated for demolition. And now, a once-fractured group of neighbors has reassembled on several occasions to discuss problems and solutions related to local drug activity and neighborhood traffic issues.

A New Community Model

We are thrilled that Salisbury, N.C. was chosen as a recipient of the Make A Difference Day City Awards, but are even more pleased to see the excitement about BlockWork is spreading to other communities. One neighborhood’s residents, whose application for the BlockWork program was not selected, independently held their own neighborhood improvement day and revitalized a dilapidated house.

Another neighborhood came together to plant 80 street trees. And many neighborhood leaders will attend a meeting in early May to prepare for submitting their applications for BlockWork 2012 – scheduled for October 27, Make a Difference Day.

BlockWork is a new community model for what can be accomplished when citizens come together to work for a common cause, and it is showing every sign of becoming infectious.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation.

The BIG DIG Inspires Community Pride

Jonathan Greenblatt — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:09 +0000

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is celebrating National Volunteer Week on April 15^th – 21^st to recognize individuals who serve their communities. This blog post introduces readers to Jerramiah T. Healy, Mayor of Jersey City, NJ. In 2011, over 600 volunteers beautified 80 sites in one day and due to their efforts, Jersey City is an honoree for the Make A Difference Day city awards. When asked about the impact volunteering has had on communities, Mayor Healy writes:

As the second largest city in the state, Jersey City is known as Wall Street West for the hundreds of financial services corporations that are located here. Our city of 250,000 people is one of the most diverse in the nation and we pride ourselves on celebrating both our diversity and our civic pride.

For the past three years, Jersey City has demonstrated this civic pride by participating in Make A Difference Day, the annual volunteer effort sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine and supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service.

Youth volunteers help plant tulip and daffodil bulbs on Make A Difference Day 2011 as part of Jersey City’s ‘The Big Dig’ project.

For Make a Difference Day 2011, The Jersey City Parks Coalition, conceptualized a citywide planting project named the ‘BIG DIG’. Volunteers would plant hearty tulip and daffodil bulbs in parks and patches of grass throughout the city. Come spring, the fruits of our mutual labor would be reaped.

To cover the cost of supplies, the Parks Coalition volunteers raised nearly $15,000 from the city’s corporate community. The City then identified and prepared the sites. More than 600 volunteers participated in the day, including members of non-profit organizations, school teachers and students, scouts, members of civic organizations and representatives from the corporate community. This winning collaboration illustrates how public-private partnerships and volunteerism are valuable resources for governments.

While tangible results include a more beautiful city, the benefits for those involved go far beyond what’s visible. The city not only established a greater sense of community, but those who participated developed a greater sense of pride in their city while also building skills.

Here in Jersey City, we value our volunteers and are proud of all our non-profit organizations. We continue to foster strong relationships with all sectors as we advance our City and the quality of life for our residents.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation.

Expanding Opportunity through Active Volunteering

Jonathan Greenblatt — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:45:40 +0000

While the economy continues to show signs of improvement, there are still many workers who are facing challenges in connecting to new careers. The Department of Labor has encouraged dislocated workers to pursue education and training to improve their skills and better position them to compete for employment opportunities. Many workers have taken advantage of these opportunities, but it is also important to lay a path forward for those workers who have not enrolled in training and seek other options to build their skills and increase their chances to find employment.

Today, the Department has issued guidance—in the form of an Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL)—recognizing that active volunteering can help expand opportunity for unemployed individuals by enabling them to develop and maintain skills, expand their professional networks, and enhance their resumes while helping in their community. Activities such as coordinating an after-school program, volunteering at a homeless shelter, or assisting individuals in filing Earned Income Tax Credit claims all create immediate benefit for individuals in need and underserved communities. Such activities also help the participants to sharpen the soft skills that many employers demand.

We also know that, as more businesses stress the importance of corporate citizenship and shared value, many more are encouraging their workers to volunteer. In many ways, this is not a new development. A wide range of companies such as AT&T and IBM have long standing programs that encourage employees to volunteer. As this trend continues to spread, knowing that a job seeker is already committed to the community may be another positive attribute from the employer’s perspective when assessing potential candidates.

Research also indicates that there might be a correlation between civic health and reducing unemployment. Civic Health and Unemployment, a report issued last year by the National Conference on Citizenship and others found that states and localities with higher indices of civic engagement in 2006 saw less growth in unemployment between 2006 and 2010. While there could be alternative explanations for this correlation, volunteering was a foundational element of the civic engagement in these communities.

Volunteering is not a substitute for paid employment. The first priority for every displaced worker is to return to gainful employment – actively searching for work is critical and Unemployment Insurance (UI) recipients will still be required continue their job search. However, volunteering may actually expose job seekers to new available jobs.

Many workers report that they have exhausted their connections even while they continue to send resumes without getting interviews. Volunteering for a non-profit organization—in addition to actively searching for work—can add a new dimension to job seekers’ resumes by demonstrating commitment and community engagement.

We encourage States to promote volunteering by individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits and to review their current “able and available” and “work search” requirements. We also would encourage states to implement policies that allow individuals to volunteer consistent with the requirements of Federal law without making them ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. In addition, we are optimistic that this will ignite collaboration between workforce boards and jobs clubs and their counterparts in State volunteer commissions and nonprofit organizations that support volunteering. Here in Washington, we will work with our colleagues at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to share this message with their constituents and partners across the country.

Active volunteering can expand opportunity, strengthen communities and connect job seekers to their next employer. As a human capital strategy, volunteering offers a pathway to opportunity that can benefit millions of Americans.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the Domestic Policy Council Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Helping Youth at Home and Abroad

Jonathan Greenblatt — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:36:01 +0000

Neha Gupta and members of Empowering Orphans volunteer on Make A Difference Day 2011.

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is celebrating National Volunteer Week on April 15^th – 21^st to recognize individuals who serve their communities. This blog post introduces readers to Neha Gupta, a 15-year-old from Pennsylvania who built a library for underprivileged youth. Neha is a national honoree for the Make A Difference Day awards. When asked about the impact of volunteering, Neha writes:

It’s a tradition in my family to celebrate birthdays by taking food and gifts to orphaned children in my family’s hometown in India. I have participated in this custom since I was young.

When I visited India in 2005, I was marked by the harsh conditions that orphans endure. Without a quality education and support system, orphans have little means with which to change their circumstances. Instead of just feeling empathy towards them, I decided to help break this cycle. I was nine years old when I started Empower Orphans, and these last seven years have taught me much about myself and the world. Together with fellow teen volunteers, we have raised more than $485,000 to purchase necessary items and services for orphans and underprivileged children.

Over time, I have learned that volunteering and service have exponential impact. Not only have I provided orphaned children the opportunity to help themselves, but I have led thousands of others to do the same. I have met countless people who share my interest in making a difference and together we have built an ever-growing community that empowers orphans. Through volunteering, my peers have changed their own lives, too. Volunteering has prepared me, not just for college, but for the life I hope to live afterwards.

In addition to impacting orphans in Asia, Empower Orphans and its volunteers have helped underprivileged children in the United States. Last year, during Make A Difference Day, I led a team in Pennsylvania to meet the needs of children just a few miles from my home. We launched a project for a struggling school in Philadelphia at Feltonville Intermediate, whose library had shelves, but no books. The volunteer team conducted a book drive in July that gathered 3,000 titles. With generous grant funding, we bought colorful furnishings and, on October 22, my friends and I cleaned the library, sorted and shelved books, and gave the room a comfortable and inviting feel.

Drawing momentum from the success of the library, I have started an Empower Orphans club at my high school. Today, Empower Orphans has built five libraries, three computer labs, one sewing center and a science lab to help bridge the gap between underprivileged children and a future filled with opportunity.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation.

The Benefits of Civic Engagement for Tomorrow's Leaders

Jonathan Greenblatt — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:45:41 +0000

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is celebrating National Volunteer Week April 15^th – 21^st to recognize individuals who serve their communities. Christopher Gergen, the Chief Executive Officer of Forward Ventures and a fellow with Fuqua’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University, expresses the benefits of civic engagement for tomorrow’s leaders in a guest blog post below.

What do tomorrow’s leaders need to help serve our communities? It might be helpful to parse this into two questions. First, what leadership traits do we look for? Second, how can we actively engage tomorrow’s leaders as problem solvers in our community?

According to the Center for Creative Leadership, tomorrow’s leaders will need to have: strong self-awareness; an ability to collaborate across sectors with deep empathy for the communities they serve; critical thinking skills to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges; and the courage to take action even in the face of stark adversity, including the crushing pressure of the status quo. This “growth mindset” requires rolling up one’s sleeves, swallowing a dose of humility, and getting immersed in reality – and I’m not talking about TV.

So how do we best equip emerging leaders to understand and face today’s tough challenges ranging from persistent economic inequities to environmental degradation to significant educational achievement gaps? One critical strategy: volunteerism.

Research bears out that young people who volunteer in their communities are more likely to vote, stay actively involved in service, and feel empowered as citizens. A study discussed in Promoting Student Engagement found that volunteers become emotionally connected to the communities they serve and sustain community involvement after volunteering – a strong positive indicator for future economic growth.

Volunteering also helps people develop skills and confidence. A recent report by the National Conference on Citizenship found that “participation in civil society (such as volunteerism) can develop habits that make individuals employable and strengthen the networks that help them find jobs.”

For the betterment of our world, we need engaged leaders who understand our complex world. The question is not whether volunteerism is a good thing, but rather: how can we provide as many opportunities as possible for our next generation of leaders to serve?

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation.

Celebrating America's Greatest Asset: Our Volunteers

Wendy Spencer — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:54:34 +0000

Volunteers help build homes on the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. (Photo from the Corporation for National and Community Service)

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is celebrating National Volunteer Week on April 15th – 21st to recognize individuals who serve their communities. This blog post introduces readers to Wendy Spencer, the new Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

It’s an old saying and a profound truth that it is better to give than to receive. During National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, we celebrate the millions of Americans who volunteer and recognize the extraordinary benefits of service to individuals, communities, and our nation.

America always has had a strong spirit of neighbor helping neighbor. Since our earliest days, citizens have given generously of themselves to improve the lives of others. Today, over 64 million volunteers serve annually, strengthening the nation’s safety net and providing hundreds of billions of dollars in vital services to our communities. They are doing hard but necessary work: tutoring and mentoring youth, assisting seniors who live independently, supporting veterans and military families, helping communities recover from disasters, and so much more.

As a lifelong volunteer – and a dedicated volunteer coordinator - I know the power of citizens in action. In 2004 and 2005, after a series of storms hit my home state of Florida, we saw an extraordinary outpouring of compassion: more than 250,000 volunteers came to assist in the recovery effort.

Though volunteers aren’t looking for recognition or reward, they learn the timeless lesson of service: when you help others, you also help yourself. Volunteering is a way to gain experience, sharpen skills and build valuable social and professional networks. It’s a pathway to jobs, education, and other career-building opportunities.

Today, service is helping veterans transition back to civilian life, giving persons with disabilities a chance to reach their full potential, and empowering people from low-income backgrounds to improve their lives. Volunteering is helping people from all backgrounds demonstrate the dedication, accountability, and character that every business and organization looks for in a future employee.

Volunteering also creates the types of active, engaged citizens that our democracy needs. Research shows that people who volunteer are more likely to get involved in groups, stay current on news, participate in elections, and work with their neighbors to solve problems.

It’s amazing that a single act can go such a long way, but that is why volunteering is so fundamental to our nation’s well-being and who we are as Americans. Throughout the week, the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation will use this blog to highlight how volunteering expands opportunity for volunteers and the people and communities they serve.

During National Volunteer Week, as we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of volunteers, let us also redouble our efforts to engage Americans in serving their communities. A great place to start is Serve.gov, where you can find a local volunteer opportunity that fits your interests.

As President Obama stated in his Presidential Proclamation on National Volunteer Week 2012, “With every hour and every act, our lives are made richer, our communities are drawn closer, and our country is forged stronger by the dedication and generous spirit of volunteers. I encourage every American to stand up and play their part – to put their shoulder up against the wheel and help change history's course.”

Wendy Spencer is the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

PG&E Partners with Fresno Community to Create Summer Jobs for Youth

Marta Urquilla — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:00:39 +0000

Employers nationwide are working with their communities to answer President Obama’s Summer Jobs+ call-to-action to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth ages 16 – 24 this summer and beyond.

In support of Summer Jobs+, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) will partner with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fresno County to provide summer employment opportunities for underserved youth from Central Fresno. With a $200,000 investment from PG&E, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County will provide career exploration and job skills training to more than 150 young people ages 15-18. Fifty youth from the program will be invited to compete for summer jobs with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County, local nonprofit organizations and local businesses.

“A summer job can not only help ease the burden of back to school costs, it can help provide self-esteem, discipline, self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment that can last a lifetime,” said Diane Carbray, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County.

This partnership comes at an unprecedented time for youth unemployment: the 2011 unemployment rate for young people ages 16-24 set a record low, and only 21 out of every 100 teens from low-income families had a job last summer.

President Obama proposed $1.5 billion for high-impact summer jobs and year-round employment for low-income youth ages 16-24 as a part of the American Jobs Act, but Congress failed to act. That’s why the President launched Summer Jobs+ in January to challenge the public and private sectors to create youth employment opportunities beginning in summer 2012.

“PG&E is proud to help Fresno’s young people find jobs in this challenging economic environment,” said Greg Pruett, a Fresno native and senior vice president who serves as chairman of the PG&E Corporation Foundation. “Assisting them will provide a valuable boost for the businesses that take part, benefiting the entire Fresno community. It’s just one more way PG&E is giving back to the communities we’ve been a part of for more than one hundred years.”

By investing in the success of youth in the communities it serves, PG&E is building its pipeline for the next energy and utility workers. In this “all hands on deck” moment, partnerships like these are essential for connecting young people to successful careers and addressing our economic challenges.

Marta Urquilla is a Senior Policy Advisor in the Domestic Policy Council Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Gulf War Veteran Serves Again Through AmeriCorps

Todd Schnittke — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:04:52 +0000

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is commemorating AmeriCorps Week to celebrate the remarkable individuals who have served and their contributions to our country. This blog post introduces readers to Todd Schnittke, a veteran who served from 1989-1993 and continues to serve through AmeriCorps. When asked about his AmeriCorps experience, Todd writes:

After serving our country for four years during the Gulf War as a Multiple Launch Rocket System Technician, I decided to resume my education and get a college degree. I learned about AmeriCorps after entering North Central State College in Mansfield, OH, and I was immediately drawn to the program. Working as an AmeriCorps member at AMVETS Career Center Post #26 in Mansfield offered me the unique opportunity to serve others in my community—especially active duty personnel and veterans—while earning the money I needed to attend college.

I am now in my second year as an AmeriCorps employment specialist at AMVETS. The rate of unemployment for veterans in the State of Ohio is around 16 percent—higher than the national average. The AMVETS Career Center where I work is one of 61 locations that help veterans secure employment through free job training, resume workshops, mock interviews, and access to employment opportunities.

Coming Home is Not Always Easy

The transition from the military to a civilian lifestyle can be very challenging, and I strongly believe that all men and women who risk their lives for our country should have every opportunity for success at home.

Many veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and turn to drugs, alcohol or violent behavior; some end up in the judicial system. Programs like AMVETS give veterans the opportunity to transition from active duty to civilian life in a constructive and enriching way.

I am a member of the treatment team for the Mansfield court, and serving my clients can be a challenge. Yet, my experience in the military helps me identify with their challenges.

A Vet Helping Vets

The AmeriCorps training I received gave me the tools to help veterans through career preparation and secure employment. Because I approach my clients as a fellow veteran, I can quickly establish rapport. I know what they’ve experienced.

As you can imagine, I’ve heard many stories during my service, but one in particular stands out for me. A National Guardsman – single father of two boys -- came to our center in need of assistance. He was in danger of losing his home and could not find work.

Through my network of employers, I was able to help him get a job with a local furniture store. I also referred him to the Veterans Service Commission to get emergency assistance. Our combined efforts were enough to help him keep his home, feed his family, provide fuel to get to his job, and improve his situation from desperate to hopeful.

Serving in AmeriCorps has allowed me to be a valuable asset to my community. I have helped more than 80 veterans in Mansfield and the surrounding areas secure jobs. In 2010, I made my Career Center number one in Ohio, and I was named Coach of the Year. AmeriCorps has helped me transition back to civilian life. I can use my experience and knowledge to solve problems here. That makes it all worthwhile.

Todd Schnittke served for four years during the Gulf War as a Multiple Launch Rocket System Technician

Taking the Path from Prison to Service with AmeriCorps

Ely Flores — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:53:29 +0000

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is commemorating AmeriCorps Week to celebrate the remarkable individuals who have served and their contributions to our country. This blog post introduces readers to Ely Flores, a former prison inmate who has transformed his own life through service, and in turn, has transformed the lives of others. When asked about his AmeriCorps experience, Ely writes:

My story is common for a child raised in a single-parent household in an underresourced and disenfranchised community. My father abandoned my family when I was young and, in my neighborhood, young offenders were more often sent to prison than to rehabilitation programs. I grew up in south Hollywood and South Central Los Angeles. Lacking a steady home life, I took to the streets and found violence as the only way to face my daily problems. My gang lifestyle eventually led to incarceration. I was in and out of prison for four years, until I realized that staying out of the penal system for good meant making profound changes in my life.

It is deeply important for youth who are in the challenging situation I once faced – being out of school and out of work – to know that there are organizations and individuals in every community that care about providing support needed to lead a life of success and integrity. For me, this support came through two AmeriCorps programs: LA CAUSA YouthBuild and Public Allies.

LA CAUSA YouthBuild came into my life at age 17 when I was still in prison and about to become a father. The people at YouthBuild introduced me to self-accountability as I struggled to experience a positive transformation. They didn’t define me according to past crimes, but rather, embraced me with acceptance and trust.

My development was by no means a quick process. I needed a safe space in which to grow and make mistakes. I needed time to develop confidence and self-awareness. Without the support of a role model and mentor, I could not have taken the steps necessary to improve my life. My YouthBuild program director, Alejandro Covarrubias, spoke to us on our level—he knew how to gain our trust and respect. Alejandro became a friend and a mentor to all of the young people in my cohort. He was never the “director” or the decision-maker – he was just another human being connecting with us.

Finding My Voice

My time with Public Allies allowed me to see others who looked like me and were taking on the challenge of getting an education and developing leadership skills. They inspired me to do the same. AmeriCorps members helped me to understand that I had a voice that could be used to engage public leaders and pursue change. It was the positive influence of my peers that helped me turn my ideas into transformative social action including providing affordable housing for homeless and low-income people in my community.

Today, I am an activist. I have a passion for community organizing and providing youth with leadership development opportunities. I believe in solution-based social justice. One of my contributions has been founding Leadership through Empowerment, Action and Dialogue (LEAD) in Los Angeles, California, which has trained more than 200 underresourced youth in legal education, social justice, and community activism.

There are many people who tell youth, “You are the future.” While I believe in empowering youth, I don’t believe this is the right message. I believe that we are the now—not just the future. We need only one person to believe in us and show us the way. There are others like me who want to be a part of the community and contribute to it in positive ways.

I once heard that “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are – precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way.” I live my life encouraging others to learn from their mistakes and to approach situations with the solution-oriented spirit that helped me get off the track of violence and crime, and into a life of public service.

My path is a testament to the notion that it’s possible to turn your life around if you’re given the chance. I live to make sure that others have the same opportunity.

Ely Flores is President of Leadership Through Empowerment Action And Dialogue Inc. in Commerce, CA.

Read more:

Commemorating AmeriCorps Week: Expanding Opportunity Through Service, by Jonathan Greenblatt
AmeriCorps Alum Focuses on Helping Parents, by Rhonda Ulmer
AmeriCorps: Developing the Next Generation of Public Servants, by Bizunesh Scott

AmeriCorps: Developing the Next Generation of Public Servants

Bizunesh Scott — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:17:16 +0000

My journey to this moment began almost twenty years ago. I saw a flier in the Black Student Center at Milwaukee Area Technical College promising to make me one of tomorrow’s leaders through an AmeriCorps program, Public Allies. Me? I was a teenage mother stringing together welfare, food stamps, student loans, work-study, and a child-care subsidy. If I failed, I knew, at least, I had tried. Despite these overwhelming challenges, here I am today: an AmeriCorps alumna and Special Assistant to the President of the United States.

The AmeriCorps program offered me hope in a time of economic and personal struggle. It promised to prepare me for leadership through a full-time nonprofit apprenticeship and rigorous leadership training. The program also provided life support, including much needed medical insurance, child care assistance, a tuition stipend, and a livable wage. Most importantly, the program accepted me based on my future potential, not on my life situation at that time. I had not graduated from college. I was not top of my class in high school. I had not played sports, volunteered, or done any “resume-building” extracurricular activities. All I had, and all I needed, was an inclination and a desire to lead through service.

During my time in AmeriCorps, I worked at the Youth Leadership Academy, a support program for African-American boys in grades three through eight. These boys were also not model students. They often had disciplinary problems at home and school. But, they were accepted to the Academy based on their potential to lead. Using a systematic approach, the program would develop their discipline, teamwork, and academic achievement to build self-esteem and lead to more constructive behavior, better grades, and long-term success. These were my first mentees. It was through this experience that I learned to appreciate potential, despite a person’s present circumstance.

Being in the fully supportive environment of AmeriCorps for over ten months transformed my life. I charted a new path towards graduate school, applying and getting accepted to the college program affiliated with my AmeriCorps work site. I was able to continue working at the Youth Leadership Academy to support my family through my undergraduate studies. Then, I went on to law school. The rest is a much different history than what would have been had I never seen that flyer, received the encouragement of Public Allies CEO Paul Schmitz, or obtained the support of AmeriCorps. Twenty years later, I can say with certainty that AmeriCorps fundamentally shifted my path in life. That path has led me to mentor other young leaders and create life-shifting moments for them, as well.

Today, I wrote an AmeriCorps recommendation for one of my mentees. He is a recent graduate of the University of California-Berkeley and an aspiring law student. Yet, he faces homelessness in two months, when the stipend he uses to support himself as an unpaid White House intern runs out. I am confident that he, like me, can become a game-changer with the support of AmeriCorps and the encouragement of a mentor.

Bizunesh (Biz) Scott is Special Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel.

Read more:

Commemorating AmeriCorps Week: Expanding Opportunity Through Service, by Jonathan Greenblatt
AmeriCorps Alum Focuses on Helping Parents, by Rhonda Ulmer
Taking the Path from Prison to Service with AmeriCorps, by Ely Flores

AmeriCorps Alum Focuses on Helping Parents

Rhonda Ulmer — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:02:08 +0000

Ed. note: The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation is commemorating AmeriCorps Week to celebrate the remarkable individuals who have served and their contributions to our country. This blog post introduces readers to Rhonda Ulmer, who works to educate parents so they can better help their students.

Rhonda Ulmer, left, discusses University for Parents during the “No Textbook Answer” documentary on Maryland Public Television with parent Brian Tucker Sr. and Meade High School Senior Charnele Thomas.

I began my AmeriCorps journey when I was recruited into the program by the Community Action Agency in Annapolis, MD. My first job was to create a mentoring system for families of Head Start students. The next year, I continued serving in the program by training others in mentoring as a regional coordinator, and I returned for a third year with AmeriCorps to lead the program as a state coordinator with Volunteer Maryland.

After my term ended, I began working at Johns Hopkins Health Care LLC, first as a Community Relations Coordinator and later as a Community Health Educator. But soon I would receive a call that would put me on another path. My children’s school, Van Bokkelen Elementary in Severn, MD, was in danger of a State takeover due to poor test performance and high student population turnover.

A Parent Helping Parents

Upon hearing about the school’s difficulties, I went to Rose Tasker, the Principal, and asked what I could do to help. She told me that challenges with parental involvement at the school were a major part of the problem. I found that not only were many of the children struggling, but that the parents were too. Many had a hard time supplying daily needs such as food, health care, and clothing for their families.

When I learned this, I took a bigger role with the school’s PTA and began developing a strategy to improve the involvement of other parents. In doing so, I took everything I learned from AmeriCorps: first you get a plan, and then you find the key players involved. Throughout the project, I drew from the experiences of my first year of AmeriCorps service.

Soon, I found myself leading the school’s PTA. In this role, I created the Van Bokkelen Family Network, a program that promotes parental involvement and focuses on meeting family needs so parents can help children with their academic needs. I joined with other school leaders to form partnerships with the local Boys and Girls Club, Southwest Airlines, Anne Arundel Community College, the YWCA, Maryland Food Bank, Community Action Partnership, and other organizations to create a community hub that provides support and resources to the school’s families.

After three years, the school emerged from the threat of the State takeover. Today, everyone in my community can take pride in the fact that the school has registered improvements for the last five consecutive years. Our efforts led to a national PTA award for the Van Bokkelen Family Network, and the model has been used to assist other troubled schools.

The Next Phase

After working on the Van Bokkelen project, I realized that I could help other families facing the same difficulties. In 2008, I applied for and received the AmeriCorps Alum Eli J. Segal Entrepreneurship Award, which helped me create University for Parents, an effort to expand the Van Bokkelen Family Network to other schools and provide parents with the family education and mentoring needed to improve student success.

I believe that when you educate the entire family, everyone becomes accountable for the information they receive, and that’s what we’re accomplishing with University for Parents.

Although I have received numerous honors for University for Parents’ innovative approach, I am most proud of the example I have set for my children. My children serve with me and they serve on their own. The greatest reward is having the opportunity to involve my children in my daily work.

After starting University for Parents, I had plans to continue my education. These plans were put on hold when I was diagnosed with a retroperitoneal sarcoma, a type of cancer, in December 2009. My doctors removed a 13-pound tumor the size of a football during the surgery, and, after I recovered, I continued my work with University for Parents.

Last year, University for Parents participated in the “American Graduate” public broadcasting initiative that addressed the dropout crisis in U.S. schools. We led a six-week University for Parents curriculum for students and their families at two Maryland schools near a military base to provide resources to break the cycle that leads to high school dropouts in that community.

Just before Thanksgiving 2011, I was diagnosed with cancer again. I just had a second surgery in January and I remain determined to continue my work when I finish my recovery.

Why? Because I believe that no matter what your situation or your challenge is, you can always give back.

Rhonda Ulmer is the Founder of University for Parents.

Read more:

Commemorating AmeriCorps Week: Expanding Opportunity Through Service, by Jonathan Greenblat
AmeriCorps: Developing the Next Generation of Public Servants, by Bizunesh Scott
Taking the Path from Prison to Service with AmeriCorps, by Ely Flores

Commemorating AmeriCorps Week: Expanding Opportunity Through Service

Jonathan Greenblatt — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:02:41 +0000

National service is one of America’s most hallowed traditions. As Alexis De Tocqueville noted in 1835, we are a nation of joiners. Ours is a country where people take collective action for the good of all.

Since the early 1900s, government has created conditions that make it easier for people to join and give back. For example, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s that put people to work and contributed to “future national wealth.” President Kennedy called on young people to serve, domestically through VISTA and internationally through the Peace Corps. In 1994, President Clinton created AmeriCorps to bring together disparate national service opportunities and to scale our ability to strengthen communities through civic participation. Today, AmeriCorps is our nation’s most expansive service program.

Since its founding, more than 706,000 men and women have joined AmeriCorps and pledged to “get things done for America.” Across the nation, AmeriCorps service members have demonstrated commitment to strengthening our communities by joining programs such as Teach for America, City Year, Habitat for Humanity, Public Allies, and Youth Build. All of these are AmeriCorps initiatives. The selfless and caring citizens that join AmeriCorps confirm the adage that tomorrow can be better than today if we each extend a helping hand to our neighbors.

As we continue the ongoing process of economic recovery and workforce renewal, AmeriCorps can be seen as a critical element of a holistic human capital strategy for the country. It is a means by which we can leverage our latent talent and channel it into something kinetic that realizes public good. Last year, AmeriCorps received a record of more than 580,000 applications for just 80,000 positions. More than half a million people applied to join the program, not for financial gain, but because they were driven to make real community impact.

The AmeriCorps program has enabled communities to receive long-term support for needs in education, public safety, and health while some of its impact has been far more immediate. Over the past few weeks, a series of devastating tornadoes swept across the Midwest. AmeriCorps NCCC volunteers immediately were deployed to assist with the cleanup and distribution of essential items such as blankets, bottled water, and food. As it has done during some of our nation’s worst natural disasters – the tornados in Joplin in 2011; the Gulf oil spill in 2010; Hurricane Katrina in 2005 – AmeriCorps quickened the recovery and facilitated the rebuilding of affected communities. Whether reconstructing homes in disaster-stricken areas or helping at-risk youth stay on track for high school graduation, these every-day heroes change millions of lives across the nation, expanding opportunity and enriching prosperity to the benefit of all.

Service initiatives like AmeriCorps do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for young people entering the workforce. Thanks to programs like AmeriCorps, thousands of young adults are placed into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop an appreciation for citizenship.

This week, we commemorate AmeriCorps Week to celebrate the remarkable individuals and their contributions to ourcountry. The Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation will dedicate our blog all week to showcase stories of people who transformed the lives of others through their service and, in turn, experienced personal and professional transformations of their own.

The late Senator Robert Kennedy said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history, itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” AmeriCorps members represent some of the important authors of our unfolding history – and it is our honor to lift up their voices and elevate their examples to inspire us all.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation at the Domestic Policy Council

Read more:

AmeriCorps Alum Focuses on Helping Parents, by Rhonda Ulmer
AmeriCorps: Developing the Next Generation of Public Servants, by Bizunesh Scott

The President’s Budget and Charitable Contributions: Driving Revenue and Demonstrating Fairness to Benefit America

Jonathan Greenblatt — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:40:11 +0000

Earlier this week, President Obama sent to Congress his budget proposal for the 2013 fiscal year. It is a bold proposal that demonstrates the President’s commitment to create an American economy that is built to last, one where job creation flourishes as a result of strategic investments to support entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and innovation–and one in which we restore fiscal responsibility and put the Budget on a sustainable path. As we move forward to boost the economy and to strengthen our communities, nonprofit organizations have a vital role to play.

Reflecting the Importance of Charitable Giving Through Fundamental Tax Reform

The President has called for fundamental reforms that would cut rates and tax complexity, cut unnecessary tax expenditures, cut the deficit, and observe the Buffett rule—that no one making more than $1 million should pay less as a share of their income in taxes than middle class families.

This will require tough choices. But as we make those tough choices, the Administration recognizes the importance of tax incentives for charity.

That’s why we chose to make clear that the Buffett Rule should not disadvantage individuals who make large contributions to charity, while exempting charitable deductions from the list of tax breaks that should be eliminated for millionaires. In doing so, the charitable deduction is the only major tax benefit exempted from both of these two proposals we put forward as part of tax reform.

Targeted Reduction in the Value of Deductions and Exclusions as Part of a Balanced Framework of Deficit Reduction

Even as the President has put forward principles for comprehensive tax reform, his Budget also includes a set of specific proposals as part of a down payment towards a balanced deficit reduction plan. One of the ideas we’ve put forward as part of that down payment is limiting itemized deductions for the highest-income earners.

For the top 2 percent of income earners, this would cap the value of itemized deductions and certain exclusions at 28 percent.

Here’s the logic behind that proposal: Right now, if a middle-class family donates a dollar to their favorite charity, they get a 15-cent tax deduction, but the wealthiest individuals make the same donation and they get a deduction that is more than twice that.

This proposal walks that back some of the way – to the same rates as we had at the end of the Reagan Administration. So the middle-class family would still get the entire 15-cent tax deduction; it is only the very wealthiest who would find their reduction reduced, and even then, they would still get a 28 percent tax break for every dollar they donate.

However, most Americans don't get any subsidy at all for their donations because they don't itemize. As a result, taxpayers end up subsidizing multi-million dollar gifts to already well-endowed institutions such as universities while they avoid subsidizing smaller gifts to food pantries, community arts groups, homeless shelters and advocacy organizations.

Most Charitable Giving Would Not Be Impacted

These changes are unlikely to have a substantial impact on donations. The last time the tax rate changed for high-income individuals was from 2002 to 2003, when the Bush tax cuts reduced the top income tax deduction from 38.6 percent to 35 percent. At that time, the level of individual charitable giving rose, suggesting that other factors are much more important to the process.

Moreover, 80 percent of overall contributions wouldn’t be affected at all, either because they come from individuals who are not found in the top two brackets, or because they come from corporations or foundations not subject to the individual income tax.

The proposal to cap itemized deductions will affect only a tiny fraction of taxpayers - those with household incomes above $250,000.

Finally, we believe the best way to boost charitable giving is to jumpstart the economy – which is why the 2013 Budget reflects a commitment to creating an America that is Built to Last based on creating jobs, supporting critical sectors such as energy and manufacturing, and ensuring all Americans have the skills to compete in a 21^st century.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation

A Look Back at Joplin: United We Succeed

Cecilia Muñoz — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:05:09 +0000

Eight months ago, one of the deadliest tornados in U.S. history touched down in Joplin, Missouri, and took the lives of more than 160 residents and destroyed thousands of homes. The federal response began immediately. Within hours, Federal Emergency Management Agency teams were on the ground to work hand in hand with state and local officials to assist in response and recovery. AmeriCorps members also raced to the scene as well. Members from AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team and the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) arrived in Joplin, and immediately began working with local authorities to assist in search and rescue.

Yesterday, the Missouri House of Representative passed a bipartisan resolution honoring the more than 300 AmeriCorps members from across the country who have played an indispensable role in helping the cities of Joplin and Duquesne recover. They provided homeowner assistance and casework, helped clear debris, and provided support to the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Joplin Police Department with missing person inquiries.

But these AmeriCorps members were certainly not alone. More than 60,000 volunteers ranging from average citizens who wanted to help to active duty military to faith-based groups from across the country have been an indispensable source of support for the people of Joplin. Managed and supported by AmeriCorps members, these volunteers have provided more than 579,000 hours of service and contributed to $17.7 million of donated resources to more than 2,000 households.

AmeriCorps members continue to provide services to the people of Joplin and Duquesne. This Administration remains deeply committed to supporting the town’s long-term recovery. This week, the Corporation for National and Community Service announced that it is committing more than 30 additional AmeriCorps members to serve in Joplin over the coming year to help rebuild the community.

Since President Obama took office, he has said that this is an “All Hands on Deck” moment, a time for people to come together regardless of their differences to strengthen our country. In Joplin, we can see how service can unite Americans from all walks of life and serve as a pathway for opportunity, offering a case study of what can be accomplish through the power of community.

Cecilia Muñoz is the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through Service

Cecilia Muñoz — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:40:22 +0000

Monuments are built to those who change the course of history. It is right and fitting that a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. now stands in the heart of our nation’s Capital. Even as we renew our understanding of Dr. King’s legacy by visiting this beautiful monument; we can honor the legacy of Dr. King by following his example, by serving and volunteering in our communities.

Dr. King called service the “new definition of greatness.” He believed that the work we undertake on behalf of others is the most important work of all. He devoted his life to this notion – advancing equality, social justice and economic opportunity for all Americans. Dr. King challenged all of us to do our part to build a more perfect union.

That is why, for nearly two decades, the nation has marked the life of Dr. King with a national Day of Service. Today, Americans from every state will deliver meals, refurbish schools and community centers, collect food and clothing, sign up mentors, support veterans and military families, and more. Thousands of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members will lend a hand to community-based projects. Individuals and groups, of all ages and backgrounds, will come together – as Dr. King would have wanted – in service.

Today, President Obama and the First Lady took part in this nationwide effort, participating in a service project at a local elementary school in Washington DC. Alongside volunteers from YouthBuild, the Latin American Youth Center, Mission Serves, and the Mission Continues, they lent a hand at a local Big Brothers Big Sisters project, helping to improve the school library. Together with a large group of volunteers, they cleaned, painted and organized books generously donated to the school by First Book and demonstrated the power of an individual to make an impact.

One of the most inspiring responses to some of our most pressing problems is for individual citizens to take a look around them, identify a need, and roll up their sleeves to help. The President believes that the answers do not come from government alone. He has called on all Americans to participate in our nation’s recovery by volunteering in their communities, by working alongside their neighbors, by making an impact in the lives of others.

We need not be policy experts to make a difference. It does not take comprehensive legislation to provide a decent meal, a place to sleep or tutoring to someone in need. As Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”

America’s story is the story of volunteers. Since the early days of our nation, volunteers have helped us meet our greatest challenges: patriots who fought for our founding ideals, women who reached for the ballot, civil rights foot soldiers who risked their lives for equality, first responders who rushed into burning towers, and ordinary citizens who came to the aid of a hurricane-stricken coast.

As we mark Dr. King’s life, we can visit his memorial, read his prolific writings, and listen again to his stirring words. But the best way to honor Dr. King – the best way to live up to his definition of greatness – is by serving.

Visit www.serve.gov to find an opportunity near you.

Cecilia Muñoz is the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Champions of Change: Making a Difference through Service and Innovation

Marta Urquilla — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:01:36 +0000

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

Last week, we gathered fourteen inspirational citizens to hear about their tireless efforts to renew and strengthen their communities through service and innovation. We met in New Orleans, the host city for the 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, an annual convening of over 4,000 people working to make a difference in the lives of others. President Barack Obama has called New Orleans a “symbol of resilience and community”—and what better place to highlight these Champions of Change than the Crescent City and the living laboratory for social innovation and civic participation that it has become.

Each of this week’s Champions exemplifies our Administration’s firm belief that the best ideas really do come from outside of Washington—from local communities across the country where, everyday, individuals are taking on our most pressing social challenges and developing solutions that work. From a twelve-year old environmental activist to established and highly regarded non-profit leaders, these Champions are making an extraordinary impact in communities, in schools, and in the workplace. They are building homes, creating opportunities for young people, veterans, and immigrants, and helping disaster victims rebuild their lives. Through their actions, they demonstrate that citizen leadership is critical to “winning the future.” They are redefining civic participation in the 21st century.

Our Administration is investing in these community solutions. Many of the Champions of Change are recipients of Social Innovation Fund grants—YouthBuild USA, the Delta Workforce Funding Collaborative, and iMentor—and we are so excited by the work that they are doing on the ground. Others are partnering with national service programs like VISTA and AmeriCorps, and delivering critical services to help communities recover and rebuild from disasters and to support the reintegration of veterans in our society—Equal Justice Works, Alabama State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and the Washington Commission for National and Community Service.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the St. Bernard Project. This New Orleans non-profit has drawn volunteers from across the country to rebuild hundreds of homes throughout St. Bernard Parish and the Lower Ninth Ward. It’s been quite an extraordinary example of “shared responsibility” and the possibilities that can come from citizens pulling together around a common goal. The President once noted that he saw in the St. Bernard Project “the symbol that this city has become.” And, indeed, the work of each of these Champions has such resonance.

Please visit the Champions of Change website to learn more about these individuals and their work. We hope these Champions and their causes will inspire and energize you to make a difference in your own communities, and, by doing so, to win the future.

Marta Urquilla is the Senior Policy Advisor to the White House Domestic Policy Council’s Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

Volunteers Prove Essential to Disaster Response

Wed, 04 May 2011 18:32:25 +0000

Volunteers help gut homes, aiding in recovery efforts from recent storms. May 4, 2011. (by Corporation for National and Community Service)

Over the past few weeks, a series of devastating tornadoes swept across the country. From Mississippi to Virginia, communities are suffering great losses. The Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) Disaster Services Unit rapidly mobilized thousands of volunteers to assist local recovery efforts.

Working closely with the State Service Commissions and FEMA, CNCS has built partnerships across public and private sectors to provide critical services to communities in need. In Kentucky, AmeriCorps members support local Red Cross shelters. In St. Louis, AmeriCorps Safety Service Corps deployed members to remove trees from roofs and tarp houses to keep out the rain. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) volunteers are providing services such as checking on the welfare of affected residents, clearing debris, delivering clean water, assisting residents with relocation, distributing donations, organizing sandbag efforts to prevent flooding, transporting elderly residents to medical facilities, and providing case management support.

For Kelly DeGraff, the Senior Advisor for Disaster Services at CNCS, the agency's response to the tornadoes in Mississippi was particularly poignant. In less than 24 hours after the tornado struck Jackson, MS, CNCS volunteers were on the ground serving affected residents. A team of six NCCC members from the Southern Region campus in Vicksburg, MS helped to feed residents and distribute supplies. For nearly a week, team Leader Moses Moua, 23, of Orlando, FL and Corps Member Michael Brown, 20, of Indianapolis, IN provided day and night staffing at the American Red Cross shelter in Clinton, MS.

While working in the shelter, Moua and Brown spent time with Frelicia May and her family of sixteen. May, her husband, sister, children and grandchildren were painfully familiar with being in a shelter following a storm. After losing everything during Hurricane Katrina, they had drifted to several places in Louisiana and Texas before settling near her family in Jackson, MS. On April 15, when the tornado struck May’s new home, she gathered the few things she could salvage and headed to her sister’s two-bedroom apartment. They quickly realized that the cramped apartment would not provide the large family sufficient space or resources to get back on their feet.

The May family took refuge in the American Red Cross shelter where Moua and Brown welcomed them. After a few days at the shelter, May spoke affectionately of the NCCC members – “We love them. They laugh and talk to us and treat us like family. Michael is really good with the kids.” In addition to providing the families with basic needs, Brown has been playing tic-tac-toe, basketball, coloring, and reading to the 13 children.

“I can do a lot of things that I couldn’t do before, like build things. I knew exactly what to do when I got to this shelter because we had training on it,” said Brown. He said that being an NCCC volunteer has taught him a lot of skills and given him training that he didn’t know he would utilize. It has also taught him the power of giving back.

Throughout the year, CNCS engages more than 1.5 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service. Senior Corps, AmeriCorps State and National, and the AmeriCorps NCCC volunteers have been particularly active in responding to the recent disasters. These programs play an essential role assisting communities responding to a disaster. CNCS volunteer programs provide a great deal of value both to the communities in which they serve and the volunteers themselves.

For more information, contact the CNCS Disaster Services Unit at DSU@cns.gov.

Divya Kumaraiah is the Policy Assistant to the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation