ATLANTA – June 6, 2011 – The volunteer sector is evolving rapidly with dramatic changes in how people live, work and interface with technology and therefore how and why people engage. To keep up with these changes, HandsOn Network has launched a focused investment strategy called the Innovation Hub initiative. The goal of the initiative is to help HandsOn Network affiliates stay on the cutting edge of innovation, creating new ways to connect with individuals and create change.
“Innovation Hubs will be learning labs for community engagement,” said Amy Smith, president of HandsOn Network. “These HandsOn Action Centers will be supported to drive innovation, build strong leadership and be ready to advance the mission of HandsOn through newly acquired skills and knowledge.”
The first 10 Innovation Hubs are: Boston Cares, Chicago Cares, HandsOn Central Ohio, HandsOn Greater Portland, HandsOn Twin Cities, New York Cares, Seattle Works, Volunteer Center of Bergen County, Inc., Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County and Volunteer Marin/Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership.
The Innovation Hubs initiative will provide a total of 30 Innovation Hubs (10 per year for three years) with grant funding and executive leadership focused on innovation. This innovation framework was developed and informed by David La Piana’s “new social sector.” These trends include:
- Redefining participation due to demographic shifts
- Abounding technological advances
- Organizing of work in new ways through networks
- Rising interest in civic engagement and volunteerism
- Blurring of sector boundaries
“Innovation is key to addressing the challenges communities across the country are facing,” said Andy Nelson, executive director of HandsOn Greater Portland. “As an Innovation Hub, we will be able to conceive and develop new ideas and programs that we will be able to share with the entire HandsOn Network for the benefit of all Americans.”
At the end of three years, the practices and learning emerging from the Innovation Hubs Initiative will form the blueprint for evolving the model of engagement across our network to meet 21st century needs of both volunteers and the communities in which they engage.
About HandsOn Network
The volunteer-activation arm of Points of Light Institute, Hands on Network includes 250 community action centers that deliver 30 million hours of volunteer service each year and extend to 16 countries around the world. These centers focus on helping people plug into volunteer opportunities in their local communities, partnering with more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations to manage volunteer resources, and developing the leadership capacity of volunteers. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $626 million. For more information, please visit www.HandsOnNetwork.org.
We put people at the center of change.