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