For Points of Light board member Brenda Robinson, service to others started early. Brenda says, “I was taught from an early age that there are many people who have needs that are greater than your own.”
“Our family runs a civil rights nonprofit that exists to provide a refuge for people – a place where anyone can lay their troubles at our door. Whether you’re in need of basic necessities like food and shelter, or larger healing related to social justice, the community that we serve understands that our doors are open, and that we’re here to provide those resources. From this work, I saw very early that a single individual can make a big difference for others.”
It was this exposure to a multitude of human experiences, that led Brenda to believe that telling those stories is not only important, but essential.
Today in her professional life, Brenda is committed to opening doors. She’s spent decades elevating unique voices and ensuring that important and powerful stories make their way to art and entertainment audiences. She’s an entertainment attorney whose law practice focuses on intellectual property and entertainment matters on behalf of clients in the music, film and television industries.
Throughout her career, she has provided legal counsel to recording artists, musicians and composers, actors and actresses, production companies, film financiers and investors, authors, arts organizations, athletes and entertainers. She has acted as production counsel and executive producer for numerous documentary and feature film projects as well as scripted and unscripted television programming. Brenda is also a partner in
, an equity fund that finances feature films and television series by women and diverse storytellers.
Brenda Robinson combines her work with her passion, elevating unique voices and ensuring important, powerful stories get told.
Brenda’s involvement with Points of Light came about almost by chance. At a State Department Dinner during the final Kennedy Center Honors weekend of the Obama Administration, she was seated next to a loyal Points of Light supporter and was moved after hearing about the work being done.
“The thing about the organization that most immediately stood out to me was that it is a decidedly non-partisan call to action. Points of Light sets an important example that service to one’s country and local community has no boundaries and applies to all of us as individuals equally capable of doing good for others,” Brenda said.
Perhaps stemming from her early exposure to civic justice, Brenda is particularly fond of the Points of Light Civic Circle concept. She says that what resonates with her is the idea of accountability; that corporations recognize the role that they play in engaging people to be more active and committed to their communities, and that good corporate citizenship actually matters.
Beyond Points of Light, Brenda is very active philanthropically. She says, “I believe in taking all of the resources that I have been blessed with and using them to create access for others. What drives me is the idea that I can somehow contribute to creating a pipeline of opportunity for those looking to have a seat at the table.”
Brenda joined the Points of Light staff and Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World to celebrate the 2019 Disney and Points of Light Volunteer Family of the Year!
Brenda believes it’s important to make opportunities for people in arts and entertainment, whether in film, music, theatre or other forms, so that those who create can continue to inspire us with their ideas. She continues, “I believe in using the arts as a means of advancing social justice issues as well as bringing people together in a way that eliminates the boundaries of race, class and politics.” We agree.
At Points of Light, Brenda helps to ensure we’re opening doors and telling powerful stories, and says it has been the honor of her lifetime to serve on our board.
Really, the honor has been ours. Thank you, Brenda.
Making Our Humanity Visible and Our Voices Heard: How Individuals Drive Systemic Change Every Day
In this three-part blog series, Natalye Paquin, Points of Light’s president & CEO, explores how the impacts of a global pandemic and social unrest bring to light the vulnerabilities in our society, and how we can take action to make change. This is the third blog in the series; read the first blog and second blog.
This Friday was scheduled to be the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games – Tokyo 2020. Many of us would have gathered around our screens with friends and family to watch the opening and closing ceremonies. At Points of Light, we would have been elevating the work of our Global Network affiliate
, and sending a congratulatory note to Mrs. Abe, First Lady of Tokyo, who is a strong advocate for volunteerism.
Together, we would have celebrated the awe of the moment. The parade and pageantry of athletes from all over the world, carrying the flags of their countries, with bright smiles, and exuberance of being there. The lighting of a torch in celebration of humanity united with a single purpose.
The Olympics provide an opportunity for the world to shine a light on our collective will to come together and celebrate what we deem good.
But when Tokyo won the Olympic 2020 bid back in 2013, no one could have imagined a year like this. A global pandemic, a volatile stock market, record unemployment and social unrest in the United States and countries around the world. Instead of turning our attention to world class sports, now a stadium-like spotlight is shining on the disparities and inequities in our society. A light so bright, that you can’t help but be awakened and recognize what you see. Our challenges are exposed and on full display.
But so are our opportunities.
Everywhere we look, there are articles, blogs, statements, pledges, and resolutions committing to root out and eliminate systemic racism where ever it stands. Around the United States, we are questioning whether and how to redesign systems of healthcare, education, housing, policing and the judicial system, hiring and promotions in the workplace, and systems that negatively impact our environment or contribute to poverty – this is just the beginning.
Focusing on eliminating systemic inequities is tough work. To some, the aspiration feels daunting.
And the systemic problems we seek to address won’t go away with a statement or pledge, unless met with action. Systems are not created with a snap of a finger. They’re created by people. One decision and collective action over time.
Knowingly or unknowingly, individuals host biases. These biases, which may be viewed as preferences, can become prejudices that lead to decisions that have a ripple effect toward systemic injustice.
We often look to institutions to lead. And there is need and a place for institutional leadership. Indeed, there are many examples of pressure placed on one sector by another that catalyzes action. However, we must examine our own individual biases first, and seek change where needed.
Let’s remember that nonprofits, corporations, small businesses, government, faith-based organizations, advocacy groups, neighborhood community groups, and others are simply collections of people. Groups of individuals, making decisions that impact or influence policy and systems every day.
At Points of Light, we believe in the power of people, that every action matters, and that no act is too small. To solve our greatest challenges and build a more just and equitable future we must engage a wide range of people in small decisions every day, that lead to collective action.
The year 2020 may be different from what we planned or expected, but it still holds promise for us every day.
Perhaps there is a lesson from the Olympic athletes who would have been competing over the next two weeks. We, as a collective group, have our own opportunity to break barriers and change history. There’s another story to write. It’s of the power of people, working together, toward the collective good, and like the Olympics, one that remembers and celebrates our shared humanity.
Natalye Paquin was the president and chief executive officer of Points of Light from 2017–2022.
She is a visionary and results-oriented leader, with more than 20 years of experience providing strategic, operations and fiscal leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors.
A Reflection on Volunteering and the True Humanitarian Spirit
As communities around the world continue to navigate and balance stay-at-home orders, we watch as our neighborhoods try to maintain themselves during these despairing times. I wonder what can I do? My thoughts turn to my dad and what advice he would give. I think the answer can be found in something he said when he started Points of Light from the White House 30 years ago, “We all have something to give. So, if you know how to read, find someone who can’t. If you’ve got a hammer, find a nail. If you’re not hungry, not lonely, not in trouble—seek out someone who is.”
Volunteering, donating, and the power of people are tried and true responses in times of disaster. And the problems we face now during the COVID-19 global pandemic have similarities to those we’ve faced during past crises but bring new challenges to the proven methods of response we rely on. What we are seeing, however, is that we are still acting – finding new ways to work together while apart and support each other during this crisis. I know my dad wouldn’t be surprised at the power of the human spirit to shine light in this time of darkness.
Currently, our country is facing another disease, a sickness caused by racial inequity, social injustice, and systemic racism, which have been around since the birth of this nation. And today, people are no longer remaining silent. We are seeing individuals, corporations, nonprofits, and countries participate in what is being considered the largest civil rights movement in the world. Volunteers far and wide are joining the movement by supporting programs and initiatives that aim to resolve social unrest, that seek to address our nation’s most pressing problems.
These two catastrophes, and many more, are stark examples of why dad took office as President of the United States. My father’s mission in life was to serve and to inspire others to act – leading by example. During his inaugural speech, he invoked the vision of a “thousand points of light,” and invited everyday people, like you and me, to take action through service of our fellow citizen. This was the foundation for what would become one of his greatest accomplishments.
In 1990, dad founded Points of Light, to encourage and empower the spirit of service. Today, dad’s legacy has global reach. Points of Light mobilizes millions of people through our Points of Light Global Network in 37 countries. And the Daily Point of Light Award program he started from the White House continues on to this day, recognizing everyday people who take extraordinary action. The program has expanded, and now also runs in the United Kingdom through the Prime Minister’s office and the Queen of England honors people globally with the Commonwealth Points of Light award.
This year, as Points of Light celebrates its 30th anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on all of the work that has been done, as well as all the ways in which the world has changed since its founding. And now, as we try to imagine a more inclusive world post-pandemic, we will see more change but what remains is the power of people. The ways people truly come together, support each other and their communities, and prove that we’re stronger together.
At Points of Light, we believe we’re on the dawn of a new era that we are calling the civic century, an age when people are the driving force that transforms our world. I believe when future generations look back on this time they will see it was an era of sustained, meaningful civic engagement, fueled by a global community of people ready and willing to do good.
It will take all of us, united in action, for this new century to take root. Our unity will write the next chapter in the history of civic engagement. With your gifts of time through service, your voice through advocacy and your financial support, you will ensure Dad’s evolving legacy continues to uplift thousands of individuals and organizations around the world. Please consider making a
to further our shared actions and passions, which will make Points of Light’s work even more brilliant for the next 30 years.
Neil Bush is the board chair of Points of Light. He is an international business man who has lead a life committed to service, expanding on his father’s vision of inspiring, equipping and mobilizing people to make positive change.
Making Our Humanity Visible and Our Voices Heard: Why Education Disparities may be the Half-Court Shot That Leaves Too Many Behind
In this three-part blog series, Natalye Paquin, Points of Light’s president & CEO, explores how the impacts of a global pandemic and social unrest bring to light the vulnerabilities in our society, and how we can take action to make change. This is the second blog in the series; you can read the first blog here.
In basketball, the half-court shot is remarkable precisely because it’s so hard to make. We’ve all seen the contests at games– for car giveaways or life changing cash prizes – where one lucky person has won just the chance to try a half-court shot, with the odds of making it slim-to-none. That’s why we watch so intently, and it’s why the crowd goes wild with stadium music blaring when it happens.
So how does it happen?
Imagine two fans, both proudly wearing their team’s colors walking into a stadium at the same time. One has dreams of being a basketball star and has practiced the half-court shot nearly every day for years. The other, had a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast. Which fan do you think has a better chance of making the shot?
Recently, I thought about being prepared to make a half-court shot and how it could be analogous to gaining access to higher education in this country. Admission to the best universities is largely dependent on a student’s performance on college entrance exams. Success often yields more scholarship money. Performance in this high-stakes moment is the difference between attending a top college, with mountains of debt, or not. And so, the trajectory of success begins.
From years of working in education, I know that some children prepare for these testing moments for years. They have test prep courses, private tutors, role models, and a range of other experiences. Other students, meanwhile, are advised to get a good night’s rest and be sure to eat breakfast in the morning.
Using the half-court shot analogy, how do we get more young people prepared to make their shot?
How do we invest in schools that lack art, music, technology, and world language options as a standard part of the curriculum? What about the communities where ACT and SAT prep isn’t even on the table? How do we support first-generation college students who don’t have role models or mentors to prepare or guide them?
This kind of divide exists up and down the education system in this country.
One of our recent Daily Point of Light honorees,
knows that divide very well. And this high schooler decided to do something about it.
For Brandon, the moment came when he was assigned a PowerPoint project in school. His family didn’t have a computer – they didn’t even have electricity at the time. So, Brandon went to the library, but it was closed. He went to a community center, where he was turned away. He went to neighbors, who didn’t have computers either. Running, in the rain, he made it to a BestBuy and completed his project on a display computer.
He got an A.
Today, Brandon is the leader of a group called “Hear the Youth,” which advocates for students. The group hosts roundtable meetings with school district officials to talk about the challenges facing kids like Brandon. And they’re making a real difference. They recently worked with the school district to create a program to lend mobile hot spots to students without internet access at home. Students can check them out of the library as easily as they check out books.
Brandon is exceptional. But should his achievements be the exception, positioned like that half-court shot?
Today, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, students have been out of school for months. For some, that means no computers, no internet access, no camps, or enrichment. The achievement gap is widening and it’s happening worldwide.
There’s a lot of talk about a “new normal” and the adjustments we’re all making. That the old normal wasn’t working – not for everyone. There’s so much to do in the social justice space. Improving systems and making change can begin anywhere. When we think of the compounding effect of education and educational experiences, it’s a solid place to start.
Taking our inspiration from Brandon, we have this moment to hold a mirror up to our society and change what we see. We have been given an opportunity to reimagine all sorts of things and it’s up to us to make those visions real.
There is power in people working together. So, let’s make something great happen. Educational success shouldn’t depend on a single half-court shot – because change, like basketball, is a team sport.
Natalye Paquin was the president and chief executive officer of Points of Light from 2017–2022.
She is a visionary and results-oriented leader, with more than 20 years of experience providing strategic, operations and fiscal leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors.
Continue the Learning: Business with Purpose Themes from the 2020 Points of Light Conference Online Experience
There is a great energy, a spirit of optimism and a sense of renewal when thousands of people convene with the same purpose. During the Points of Light Conference, leaders from the corporate and social sectors gathered for fellowship, education and inspiration. Although, this year, we “gathered” around our computers for the first ever online experience.
Business with Purpose workshops, designed specifically for professionals responsible for engaging their fellow employees in their communities, explored how companies are leading with their values and collaborating with nonprofits and other stakeholders to bring their resources, time, talent and voice to bear to be a powerful force for good – especially now.
Four themes emerged throughout the three-days of learning:
1) Going Digital. Due to COVID-19, many leaders are quickly adopting digital solutions for their employee engagement needs. With more employees working remotely, virtual volunteering becomes a way to continue their involvement in social issues. However, all nonprofits are ready to accept virtual volunteers and provide them a meaningful experience.
Virtual volunteering may also be harder to track, which can impact your ability to report results to leadership. No matter how you’re engaging employees in their communities at this time, a digital platform that helps you manage, communicate and track results is a cornerstone of a successful social impact strategy.
2) Setting Strategic Intentions. Several workshops elevated the need to be planful with your engagement programs. Whether they provided a straight-forward framework to follow or showcased the intentional planning that goes into programs once strategy is developed, attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of a company’s journey from “scatter-shot to strategic.”
Two workshops flipped the strategy conversation on its head and demonstrated how employee volunteer engagement can be used as a strategy itself to bring together disparate corporate cultures and ensure the well-being of your workforce. All very important proof points to share with company leadership as they look for solutions to these internal challenges or when you are advocating for more resources.
3) Uplifting Cross-sector Collaboration. Without strong collaboration, your giving and volunteering efforts may not elicit shared value. We heard from two organizations that have built deeply aligned partnerships for program design and delivery while working to solve complex global challenges.
It is, in fact, these strong collaborations that have enabled many organizations to pivot during the pandemic. Starting from a place of shared understanding while also acknowledging and appreciating similarities and differences will feed collaboration and ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.
4) Leading Through Crisis: Unprecedented times bring unprecedented opportunities. In a world facing natural and human-made disasters to the current health and social justice crises, how should a company respond? How can they balance their annual commitments with pressing community needs as they spontaneously arise? And, how can they support the increase in employee activism and shift in consumer expectations due to these crises?
It’s imperative for businesses to plan for the unexpected. Workshops provided tips that resonate broadly no matter the type of crisis you might face such as leaving some room in your budget for emergencies, tapping into partners’ expertise, refraining from knee-jerk reactions and diverting all resources to one need, and having a ready of inventory of upcoming priorities so you can quickly make decisions. And, of course, communicating transparently and acting authentically are true when balancing emergent needs and when those needs give rise to powerful voices internal and external to your company.
We invite you to check out recordings from all of our 2020 Business with Purpose workshops and connect to research, learn frameworks, and discover new ideas to inspire and renew your efforts to accelerate the impact of your company’s social impact strategy. These recordings are available on Points of Light’s newest digital platform, the Community for Employee Civic Engagement. Through CECE, you’ll be able to ask questions and get answers from experts, as well as stay up to date with the latest industry news and explore ideas central to maximizing the impact of corporate social responsibility.
For unlimited access to everything CECE has to offer, sign up for a complimentary 14-day trial.
Announcing the 2020 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year!
One of the great hallmarks of the Points of Light Conference is recognizing individuals and organizations that take action that changes the world. Although the experience may be different this year, this tradition of recognition carries on.
Today, Points of Light is honoring
as the 2020 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year for serving as a primary local resource that provides professionals with a link to peer networks, resources, and education to increase the benefits of corporate volunteerism on companies and communities. The award recognizes councils that have a clear purpose, meaningful educational activities, and measurements for success.
Since its founding in 1972, Corporate Volunteers of New York has served as a resource for CSR professionals working in greater New York City. CVNY is a coalition of 200+ professionals who represent more than 55 major corporations from a variety of industries that recognize the critical importance of volunteerism, corporate social responsibility, and the changing needs in the communities in which we all work and live. CVNY connects its members to peers, industry resources, and offers education through various ways to increase members’ knowledge and expertise, which will maximize the effectiveness of their respective employee volunteer programs.
Monthly meetings provide members with the latest best practices, tactics and tools and take a variety of formats. After each meeting, the board disseminates a brief recap to members, including contact information or follow-up information so members can learn more or reach out if interested in pursuing a particular program or nonprofit partnership.
Although other CVCs across the nation may weave professional development into their events, CVNY puts a focus on it by offering an annual Professional Development Day designed to help members succeed personally and professionally. During their most recent event, members were challenged to put aside their preconceived notions and dig in at sessions entitled, Balance is Bullsh*t, Tough Conversations, and Effortless Networking. CVNY also hosts two annual social activities that encourage discussion and collaboration among members, and provide a unique opportunity to learn about members’ priorities in a more casual setting.
In addition to monthly meetings and annual events, CVNY provides members with an online discussion forum on LinkedIn, a members-only section of their website, as well as an annual report that highlights the past year’s programming and accomplishments. As a service to members, CVNY distributes an annual Compensation Survey, and shares the anonymous results to their members. This resource can help member companies ensure they are benchmarking appropriately with their local peers.
The volunteer CVNY board, solely responsible for the maintenance of the organization, is constantly seeking to improve programming, provide more value for current members, and grow membership overall. Using responses from member surveys and informal feedback sessions, CVNY’s board meets each year during an annual planning retreat to adjust offerings to ensure the success of members’ volunteer programs, pulling topics for the upcoming program year directly from suggestions elicited from the previous year’s member survey.
As community needs change, CVNY consistently adapts to meet those needs. Most recently, they have shifted meetings to virtual, moderated COVID-19 discussions as a way to reflect current members’ needs. Points of Light celebrates CVNY’s long-standing commitment to their members and the greater New York community—especially in these challenging times—and is proud to recognize them as the 2020 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year.
To learn more about Corporate Volunteers of New York, click
Corporate Volunteers of New York Receives 2020 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year Award
One of the great hallmarks of the Points of Light Conference is recognizing individuals and organizations that take action that changes the world. Although the experience may be different this year, this tradition of recognition carries on.
Today, Points of Light is honoring Corporate Volunteers of New York as the 2020 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year for serving as a primary local resource that provides professionals with a link to peer networks, resources, and education to increase the benefits of corporate volunteerism on companies and communities. The award recognizes councils that have a clear purpose, meaningful educational activities, and measurements for success.
Since its founding in 1972, Corporate Volunteers of New York has served as a resource for CSR professionals working in greater New York City. CVNY is a coalition of 200+ professionals who represent more than 55 major corporations from a variety of industries that recognize the critical importance of volunteerism, corporate social responsibility, and the changing needs in the communities in which we all work and live. CVNY connects its members to peers, industry resources, and offers education through various ways to increase members’ knowledge and expertise, which will maximize the effectiveness of their respective employee volunteer programs.
Monthly meetings provide members with the latest best practices, tactics and tools and take a variety of formats. After each meeting, the board disseminates a brief recap to members, including contact information or follow-up information so members can learn more or reach out if interested in pursuing a particular program or nonprofit partnership.
Although other CVCs across the nation may weave professional development into their events, CVNY puts a focus on it by offering an annual Professional Development Day designed to help members succeed personally and professionally. During their most recent event, members were challenged to put aside their preconceived notions and dig in at sessions entitled, Balance is Bullsh*t, Tough Conversations, and Effortless Networking. CVNY also hosts two annual social activities that encourage discussion and collaboration among members, and provide a unique opportunity to learn about members’ priorities in a more casual setting.
In addition to monthly meetings and annual events, CVNY provides members with an online discussion forum on LinkedIn, a members-only section of their website, as well as an annual report that highlights the past year’s programming and accomplishments. As a service to members, CVNY distributes an annual Compensation Survey, and shares the anonymous results to their members. This resource can help member companies ensure they are benchmarking appropriately with their local peers.
The CVNY board, solely responsible for the maintenance of the organization, is constantly seeking to improve programming, provide more value for current members, and grow membership overall. Using responses from member surveys and informal feedback sessions, CVNY’s board meets each year during an annual planning retreat to adjust offerings to ensure the success of members’ volunteer programs, pulling topics for the upcoming program year directly from suggestions elicited from the previous year’s member survey.
As community needs change, CVNY consistently adapts to meet those needs. Most recently, they have shifted meetings to virtual, moderated COVID-19 discussions as a way to reflect current members’ needs. Points of Light celebrates CVNY’s long-standing commitment to their members and the greater New York community—especially in these challenging times—and is proud to recognize them as the 2020 Corporate Volunteer Council of the Year.
To learn more about Corporate Volunteers of New York, click here.
Service is a Way of Life for UPS Executive Nick Costides
, service has been a way of life, his entire life.
Growing up as the son of an immigrant father in Brooklyn, New York, he recalls how his mother took care of everyone around her. The whole neighborhood was that way, he says. “Doors were always open. If someone was laid off, people showed up with food. Everyone helped each other out. Because everyone was just trying to survive.” Nick says he didn’t really know what “volunteering” meant. It was just what you did. It was a way of life.
Nick’s dad was working a minimum-wage job when he became disabled with multiple sclerosis. Nick was just eight years old. The responsibility of caring for the family fell to his mom. His mother and her friends made sure Nick never felt as if he was going without. “We didn’t have much, but nobody did,” he remembers. Nick says his mother worked hard to provide for the family, and in tough times showed kindness. “My mother would give the shirt off her back to help anyone,” he said, and that gave him the foundation from which to learn, to excel, and to give back.
Today, Nick has certainly built on that foundation, serving as the President of Information Technology at UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company. You can feel a sense of service and concern for others in the way he talks about his work. Nick says, “I have the privilege of leading a team of the best IT professionals in the world. Together, we build innovative, industry-leading technologies that power our customers’ supply chains.”
Photo of Nick’s Mother | Photo provided by Nick Costides
Despite his leadership role and demanding job at UPS, just as his mother instilled in him, Nick always finds time to give back. After relocating from his native New York to Atlanta for UPS several years ago, Nick’s wife began volunteering for an organization and learned they were having funding challenges. She joined their board and together, she and Nick led a financial turnaround of the organization. As part of that effort, they used a Points of Light Global Network affiliate, Hands on Atlanta, to help coordinate volunteer efforts. A few years later, Nick was asked to join Hands on Atlanta’s board and in that role, he interacted with the team at Points of Light often. Eventually, Nick was asked and honored to join the Points of Light board.
“The Points of Light mission really resonates with me, and it’s very important,” Nick says. “Points of Light
inspires and engages individuals into service – anywhere in the world. Their impact is felt by the individuals who receive service through Points of Light and its partners; they help nonprofits in terms of capacity and management, and can make these organizations feel larger than they are; and just think about how many communities are being served by Points of Light and their affiliates. They provide the processes, the infrastructure, and more – and that can turn anyone into a point of light.”
At Points of Light, Nick has worn many hats, including on the Financial Investment Committee, as the Chair of the newly created Technology Committee, and working to support strategies related to data management and innovation that can change the way nonprofits interact digitally. Nick’s a resource for Points of Light operationally as well as on our board of directors as an advisor. He says being able to provide that kind of multidimensional support, beyond just going to board meetings, is what he loves about his role with us.
“When you think about Points of Light and its impact, especially around their concept of the civic circle, I look at it as an anchor point that depicts that there’s many ways to be a point of light,” Nick says. “It’s akin to the golden rule. There are so many ways to do good. It starts with the decisions you make and the causes you lean into. It truly is the way you live your life. The people who want to do good or create change don’t assign themselves labels; they just do it. It’s all about how you express yourself each and every day.”
Nick Costides (back row, third from left) and UPS Volunteers at the Louisville Zoo.
When he’s not at UPS or working with Points of Light, Nick and his wife support multiple animal rights, welfare, and health organizations, including having previously served on the board of the Louisville Zoo and the Kentucky Humane Society. Nick is still an advisor to Hands on Atlanta and an advisor to a nonprofit called ToolBank, which provides tools like shovels and picks for volunteer projects. Working with them and with the UPS Foundation, Nick helped to coordinate and create a mobile warehouse of tools, so that the tools could easily be moved to markets when disasters hit.
To those looking to get involved in their communities and make a difference, Nick’s advice is simple. He says, “You just have to find a cause that resonates with you. Just get out there. If you help in even a small way, it can really make a difference in the lives of others. Whether you can help with marketing, swing a hammer, or tutor a student, it makes a difference. There’s no downside. And everybody benefits.”
Don’t Unsee. Do.
Points of Light values inclusivity, diversity, and equality. We stand with people who are taking action for a more just and equitable world. We believe every action matters, that civic engagement takes many forms and is critical to advancing causes that improve society for everyone. Our President & CEO, Natalye Paquin, shares her reflections on the recent events taking place in America.
What do you say about witnessing an event so tragic, so graphic, one that is pierced in your memory, has shaken your soul, and breaks your heart in a way that is personal, very personal?
We can’t un-see the video of a human being dying in real time. We can’t un-see the profile of his face under the police vehicle, the look of indifference from the officers with their knees on his neck and body. We can’t unhear Mr. George Floyd begging to breathe, or the voices of bystanders in summer shorts and tees, yelling stop. All of this is happening in broad day light, in a mid-size, Midwest city that reflects Americana.
Our brains have experienced trauma. We can’t un-see this horrific act of inhumanity.
What do you say about what you have seen, and can’t un-see?
I am a black woman, a student of bussing in the 70’s, a mother of two young-adult sons, a life-long volunteer, and now the leader of a global civic engagement organization. I am the product of a family of volunteers, community leaders and law enforcement that includes police officers, correctional facility guards, and lawyers. Every version of me is hurting just like the rest of the country.
What do we say about this experience we all are sharing, with a new awakening of how often tragedies like this occur in communities of color more frequently than we have cared to admit?
There is a lot to say and that is being said – another press conference, blog, tweet, op-ed, commercial, video, poster – that rings hollow. You may imagine a cartoon character with a bubble over its head saying, “blah, blah, blah.” The character is hypnotized by a sea of captivating words, strung melodically together, growing louder and forming a symphony of “blah.”
We can and should speak up and speak out. We must continue to use our voices, our platforms, our influence as beacons of light. There is a lot to be said, but much more to be done. And for every voice and word written there are multiple actions we can all take. We can all “Do!”
In August 2019, I wrote a blog “
.” It was about the tragic mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. It was reported that in Dayton, the governor’s remarks to the grieving were interrupted with chants of “Do something! Do something!”
The protesters that are gathering in cities, large and small, throughout the United States are demonstrating through their physical presence their conviction of wanting change. This is the “something” they are “doing.”
The individuals seizing this moment to commit criminal behavior, hijack a legitimate cause, destroy property and communities and put others in harm’s way are ratcheting up the volatility for self-serving motives. The riots, fires and looting must stop. They must be held accountable – they are wrong, their behavior abominable, and they are creating a distraction.
The scenarios playing out on our screens, in our news feeds, on our streets, in our personal and professional conversations are stirring us. Whether triggered by the scene of George Floyd’s death, the peaceful protesters around our country, or the outrageous riotous criminals, it feels like a seismic shift has occurred in our collective perspective. As a country, many of us recognize out loud that “we have a ‘big’ problem.”
But what is it? Is it racism, systemic racism, bias, cultural bias, police brutality, lack of accountability, or something else? “It” may be all those things. What is “it” for you?
Whatever “it” is, you don’t have to live with “it.” You actually can solve “it,” remove “it” and create a new world with or without “it.” But first, we must name “it.”
So not to lose focus on what to “Do” when a moment of clarity hits you, I share with you a concept that Points of Light introduced a year ago capturing the power of civic engagement and the many mechanisms used to move issues forward and solve social problems. Consider them your suite of super powers to use as you lead and support causes you care about.
We can use our voices
to advocate and amplify the messages and positions we support, talking about the important topics with our friends, family, and networks.
We can vote for leaders
who will help us address systemic issues and change them. Our vote, which is our voice in action, speaks loudly about how we envision the future, and reflects the agents for good we expect. As we see in this moment, local elections matter. Your mayor appoints your police chief, your governor works with your state’s attorney, who in some cases are elected or appointed.
We can buy products and services
from companies and professionals taking an active role in building better communities today and for future generations.
We can volunteer in our neighborhoods
to make our communities stronger, safer places. We have seen in this past week, volunteers making signs and peacefully demonstrating their anger with the status quo, as well as neighbors cleaning broken glass, graffiti and debris left behind from bad actors.
We can donate our money and things of value
to people and organizations that are driving forward on issues we care about. Our financial support serves as fuel to accelerate the change and impact we wish to see.
We can start our own social impact businesses or commit to a year of service
with an organization that reflects our values driving solutions forward.
At Points of Light, we are using our voice and amplifying the voice of others. In our daily work, we take action. We are convening our nonprofit partners of local affiliates throughout the country and around the world to develop specific plans on addressing the “it” in their communities. We are convening our corporate partners to listen, learn, help them lead and support their efforts in solving or resolving the “it” they name.
There are many messages that have resonated with me this week; “we are better than this weekend” “we are not OK” and “this cannot be wished or prayed away.”
We imagine a world where no one is on the sidelines of change. There is a better way to live. The hate, darkness and injustice of this moment will cede to the greater forces of love, light and equality. Pushing through to the other side of darkness takes all of us acting on what we cannot un-see.
Natalye Paquin was the president and chief executive officer of Points of Light from 2017–2022.
She is a visionary and results-oriented leader, with more than 20 years of experience providing strategic, operations and fiscal leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors.
An Environment of Service, During and Despite COVID-19
Our environment is a precious gift – one that we have both received from generations prior and one that we will give to those who come after us. And while our environment is a gift, it belongs to none of us individually and to all of us collectively at the same time.
We’ve been reminded of how “shared” our world is throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic.
During
we regularly highlighted Points of Light corporate partners who are demonstrating – and in today’s times, redefining – service.
For this post, we’d intended to highlight the ways
and its resources, using their global footprint to reduce their environmental one. Given the spread of the pandemic, it’s important to instead look at how the company is using its reach to help slow the spread of the virus, and to help communities come out stronger on the other side.
Credit: The Coca-Cola Company
As grocery store workers are considered essential personnel, the company is going to great lengths to ensure its products – including critical items like bottled water and electrolyte-rich beverages – are not only available but are safely delivered to stores.
Coca-Cola is headquartered in Atlanta, just like we are at Points of Light. Incredibly, the company partnered with local university, Georgia Tech, to
for medical professionals. University engineers and others across Atlanta worked to design and manufacture protective gear using lasers and 3D printers. Coca-Cola donated 6,000 pounds of plastic, which will be used to make the masks.
Amazing.
Additionally, the company’s philanthropic arm, The Coca-Cola Foundation, has made financial contributions around the world, supporting relief efforts in China, Italy, the United States and Canada. The company is redirecting a large portion of the money it would otherwise have spent on advertising and marketing toward community relief programs, medical supplies and equipment – that’s in the short-term, for the long-term it’s making plans as to how to support a recovery and return to normal operations in the areas that are most impacted by the pandemic. Together, in conjunction with other relief efforts in development, brings Coca-Cola’s support for communities impacted by COVID-19 to more than $120 million … and counting.
Communities are stronger when we all play our part – and that’s true of the corporate partners in communities everywhere. There’s perhaps no corporate entity as “everywhere” as Coca-Cola and it’s wonderful to see their leadership and service – right when they’re needed most.
To learn more about Points of Light and Global Volunteer Month, please visit:
