Education for Change Public Schools’ Post

The public library system is an incredible resource for everyone, at every age, in every stage of life . . . it's not just reading and books -- a source of adventure, learning, comfort, and growth all on their own! It's also about a quiet place to sit and just be, it's about heat in the winter and AC in the summer, it's about games, it's about homework help and job support, it's about community building, it's about self-improvement and self-care . . . it's so very many things and I am over-the-moon grateful to have been introduced to the magic and power of libraries at an early age by my mom, to have always lived near wonderful and extensive library systems, to have made it a point to find the nearest library, and to have eventually grown to enrolling in digital library memberships. If you do anything this week -- patron, support, and thank your local library! #publiclibraries #publicgoods #communityspaces #safespaces #lifelonglearning

The people that our local community kitchens support are not just "homeless people". Community kitchens and food banks are the back bones of our community that support all those in need of support. Many of our nations veterans and elders, children and hardworking single parents use the kitchen to fill the gaps. Not only fill the gaps, but for some the weekly food boxes and nightly meals are all they have to survive. With rising costs of living with everything from the gas we use to go to work, to the boots we pull ourselves up with food kitchens are in demand. The demand is something that is hard to keep up with on fixed budgets and limited donations. In the coming weeks that demand will increase as youth will be home more as school lets out. The meals once provided in the school system now fall on the already stretched budgets of the average American household. Lets do what we can to empower and have compassion to gain awareness about who uses the food kitchens and what we can do to help. Even if it's just slinging a few boxes of tomatoes to help out during a deliver. It is a step. #giveback #volunteer #communitywork #foodpantry #careergrowth #personalgrowth #investment #leadership #communityleadership #leadershipdevelopment

Volunteering your time can make a significant impact in the lives of homeless individuals. By offering your skills and compassion, you can contribute in various meaningful ways: 🤝Volunteer: Spend time at local shelters helping with meal preparation, serving food, or organizing donations. 🙋♂️Offer Your Expertise: If you have specialized skills, such as in healthcare, legal assistance, or education, consider offering free workshops or one-on-one sessions to help those in need gain valuable knowledge and services. 👚Organize Donation Drives: Coordinate efforts to collect essential items like slightly worn clothing and new toiletries. This not only provides much-needed supplies, but also raises awareness within your community. 🌒Participate in Outreach Programs: Join local outreach initiatives like the annual PIT Count where you will count sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. 📕Advocate and Educate: Use your voice to raise awareness about homelessness and advocate for policies that support affordable housing and social services. Educating others can lead to broader community involvement and solutions. Learn more 👉www.gatewayctr.org

Featuring a DPP member! For 96 years, Southside Mission has served Peoria, Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with compassion and opportunity. Rich Draeger, the nonprofit’s development manager, shares insights into their enduring impact and future endeavors. 1️⃣ Embracing Change: Southside Mission is evolving to better serve its neighborhood, exploring new opportunities and embracing diversity at all levels of operation. 2️⃣ Community Support: Draeger emphasizes the importance of community support, encouraging donations, volunteering, and prayer to uplift those in need. Financial gifts, volunteerism, and mentorship all contribute to their transformative work. 3️⃣ Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Fundraisers like Draeger see challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth. By adopting an optimistic outlook and seeking innovative solutions, Southside Mission continues to make a profound impact. Key to Success: Listen attentively to donors' passions and interests, and effectively connect them with the mission's work. By prioritizing donor engagement and embracing diversity, nonprofits can foster lasting community impact. Southside Mission's century-long dedication to its community is a testament to the power of compassion and resilience. Their story inspires us to listen, adapt, and continue striving for positive change #CommunityImpact #NonprofitSuccess #EmpoweringVulnerability

Today, I am honored to share a body of research, The Generosity Commission Report, a vital piece of research that explores the evolving landscape of giving and volunteering in America. The report highlights a concerning trend: while total donations and hours volunteered have risen, fewer people are participating in giving and volunteering. This matters deeply. Generosity is not just about money or time—it's about #connection. It binds us together. It bridges gaps, fosters civic engagement, and builds a sense of community in an increasingly isolated world. This report is not just a reflection on decline—it is a call to action. It encourages us to expand our understanding of philanthropy beyond traditional forms of giving and to embrace the diverse ways people contribute today, whether through mutual aid, giving circles, or digital platforms. The spirit of generosity is evolving, and we must evolve with it. I invite you to download the Generosity Commission Report today. It includes recommendations on research, culture, practices and policies centered around engaging the everyday donor and increasing volunteering. Let’s use it as a blueprint to broaden our approach to generosity and spark new ways to engage. Together, we can build a future where everyone feels empowered to give and make a difference. https://lnkd.in/gb6u4HJc #GenerosityMatters #CivicEngagement #TheGenerosityCommission #ExpandPhilanthropy

Now's a good time to ask ourselves a big question. Have you been feeling sort of disconnected? Like you're not sure how you fit in. Or why. A great start to fixing that? Volunteer. Rates of volunteering have been down in the US every year for the past 14 years. 😳 We don't all have to join Peace Corps (but if you'd like to than I think that's fantastic). Connecting to our communities in small, regular ways is vital to our well-being. And just makes the world a better place. There are so many organizations that can make good use of your time. A quick list of places if you want to keep your efforts local: -Public library -Pet shelter -Food bank -Parks and Rec -Schools You could ask about helping just at special events, or about regular help with the day-to-day things that keep these organizations functioning. And of course there are national and global organizations galore if that's more in line with your desired impact. Could you volunteer once a month? Once every other month? What if you started to really look forward to it each time? Imagine that. Search for [volunteer opportunities] or [volunteer near me] or visit https://lnkd.in/g7Zhmzuk to find an opportunity that speaks to you. As a society we're not volunteering as much as we used to, and I think we're all feeling that.

Curious what #worklifebalance looks like at Clark Outsourcing? Check out what we do at one of the many clubs you can join once you become part of the #COolestWorkplace!

This Giving Tuesday feels different than most, and as I lie awake at 3AM, I know why: because the whole past month has felt different. Because today, as millions of Americans give back to nonprofits they care about, there is more at stake than the typical year. I can’t sleep for worrying about the countless people whose lives and livelihoods are under threat by the forthcoming presidential administration. And I can’t sleep for my own internal struggles about where to best channel my energy (and my support) in the coming months and years, given the overwhelmingness of it all. One thing I know for sure is that the people most vulnerable are those for whom the laws are already (unjustly) set up against. This includes our unhoused brothers and sisters, whose very humanity was denied earlier this year when the Supreme Court argued in City of Grants Pass vs. Johnson that it doesn’t constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” to imprison people for sleeping outside even when a city has literally run out of shelter beds to offer (and indeed, affordable apartments they can rent), and people have no other options. Now, Trump is preparing to double down on this with his Agenda47, by promising to “end the scourge of homelessness”; “BAN urban camping wherever possible”; and “open up large parcels of inexpensive land…and create tent cities where the homeless can be relocated and their problems identified.” If this does not sound like the recipe for the creation of nationwide ghettos, I don’t know what does. Among the many deserving causes I hope you’ll contribute to this Giving Tuesday, it’s for this reason that I’d ask you to consider contributing to homeless-serving nonprofits like Hope Atlanta - an organization that I’m proud to have joined the Board of earlier this year, and that I fully believe is prepared to meet the moment in serving our unhoused neighbors. From providing housing assistance and emergency shelter to case management and job support, Hope Atlanta is the longest-serving homelessness nonprofit in Atlanta and has the most “boots on the ground” in conducting street outreach. If that sounds like something you’re interested in supporting, please consider making a donation not only today, but every month for the foreseeable future - because rest assured, the fight is only just beginning.

In our last post, we highlighted Thrive SC, but we realize there are many people just trying to survive, let alone thrive. According to Feeding America, more than 44 million people in the US face hunger today. Fortunately, there is something we can do to help! One of the ways we can support, is by supporting a local nonprofit that feeds those in need. Meals on Wheels prepares over 1,200 meals and hand delivers them daily to local residents. Wow, what a mission! How can we help? Meals on Wheels can always use volunteers! There is always a need for kitchen prep and delivery of the meals. If those aren't an option for you, donations- no matter the amount, will directly impact another human being in the form of nourishment. We love seeing people and businesses thrive, but let's jump in and help others survive! #volunteer #greenvillevolunteer #mealsonwheels