shared that they make purchasing decisions based on a company’s social responsibility
practices
.
For Gen Z, it’s significantly higher with
nearly 60 percent saying they
take a company’s practices into consideration when buyi
ng.
T
apping into your purchase power is an easy way to increase your civic engagement, and we’ll be sharing more information about using
p
urchase
p
ower next week, so stay tuned.
Here’s just a few ways
that you
can
impact your community through your
spending power
:
Choosing to shop at a small, locally–owned and/or minority-owned businesshelps address inequality and contributes to the growth of your own community by creating jobs and boosting your local economy.
Similarly, you can choose to buy from certified B Corporations, Public Benefit Corporations and social enterprises. Although not identical, these types of businesses believe that companies can be a force for good. They work to prioritize social impact in their operations. Some well-known examples include Ben & Jerry’s, TOMS Shoes, Seventh Generation and Patagonia.
When you purchase through large retailers, look for companies that are socially responsible and philanthropic. Many of them, like Amazon, have initiatives that donate a portion of your purchase to charity. You can support Points of Light every time you shop on Amazonby selecting us through AmazonSmile. A percentage of the sale is donated back to Points of Light and helps fund our critical work.
As a reminder, purchase power centers on the choice of where and how you spend your money – not the dollar amount itself. As you go about your normal shopping routine, consider the areas
where
you can implement one
,
or all
,
of our tips
to support the communities and causes you care about
.
Virtual Volunteering: How 2 Companies Shifted Their Days of Service Online Amidst the Pandemic
Like many other aspects of our lives, employee civic engagement – mainly traditional employee volunteering – has been considerably affected by recent global events. Restrictions imposed to protect the health and safety of communities worldwide have forced well-planned company-wide galvanizing moments of service to be either postponed or canceled.
Despite the complete upheaval to everyone’s daily life, Points of Light corporate partners have responded to the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, provided emergency relief and adapted to a new working environment. We are proud to tell the stories of some of our long-standing corporate partners that have built on the sense of community, history of supporting one another through the crisis and provided opportunities for their employees to be part of something bigger through their annual days and weeks of service.
The Vertex Day of Service has been an annual tradition for Vertex employees for the past 12 years. Vertex moved forward with their Day of Service celebration this year, making a few key changes to ensure safety and provide employees with a variety of ways to get involved:
Expanded the time for employees to get involved. Instead of reserving a day for community engagement, Vertex employees could take some time and engage in activities during the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, 2020.
Expanded the range of volunteer opportunities. Vertex curated and offered remote, virtual or outdoor activities for employees in partnership with several different nonprofit partners.
Vertex partnered with Points of Light and our Global Network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations to create custom remote and virtual employee volunteering opportunities in eight countries. Through the joint effort, we mobilized 195 volunteers that were engaged in 18 different volunteer activities, interacting with 23 local nonprofit organizations. Volunteer opportunities for Vertex employees included:
An online career day with students from a high school in Warsaw, Poland. Vertex volunteers reviewed the high school students’ resumes, provided feedback, discussed career pathways and participated in a job interview simulation exercise.
An at-home activity in Rome, Italy, where volunteers spent time assembling creative objects to help two local nonprofits support their programs and activities.
An at-home kit-building activity in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where volunteers put together supply kits to donate to 250 children.
“While our Day of Service may have looked a little different this year, we knew our employees were committed to supporting our community partners more than ever,” said Amy Seto, Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “Working with Points of Light and their local affiliates allowed us to expand our ideas of service while giving back to those most in need.”
One day each year, Casey Wasserman invites Wasserman employees and athletes to volunteer during the annual Wasserman Serve Day hosted by the Wasserman Foundation. With this year marking the 10
th
anniversary celebration of Serve Day, Wasserman company and the Wasserman Foundation especially wanted to show employees that the spirit of kindness, generosity and community involvement is more needed than ever.
Points of Light Global Network affiliates organized remote and virtual employee volunteering opportunities for Wasserman offices in nine cities across five countries. On Oct. 1, 2020, more than 550 Wasserman employees joined a variety of volunteer activities that included:
Writing articles, creating games and trivia quizzes, and putting together a printed newspaper that was distributed to more than 5,000 seniors in residential care centers across the Netherlands.
Assembling art-supply kits and creating simple, personalized art for youth served by a local nonprofit in Portland, Oregon.
Creating educational videos for children, encouraging them to learn and look into STEM subjects in London.
“The Wasserman Foundation was thrilled to partner with Points of Light to host the 10
th
annual Wasserman Serve Day,” said Cassidy Carol, Wasserman Foundation. “Points of Light went above and beyond to ensure that our first ever virtual events ran smoothly and were still fun and engaging for the volunteers. Their vast network of nonprofit partners around the world allowed us to curate impactful projects in 9 cities across 5 countries.”
The CSR leaders from these companies had the inspiration and courage to think more creatively about enabling their fellow employees to be involved fully and flourish. By continuing to coordinate company-wide days of service, they met the expectations of addressing current pressing community needs while harnessing employees’ passion for serving.
Points of Light remains committed to working alongside community-focused companies and corporate social responsibility leaders in this challenging work. From employee activation to consulting custom programming, we are here to make your ideas a reality. To learn more,
What the 2020 Civic Engagement Research Reveals for Businesses
“What’s next?”
How many times have you asked yourself that question since March? Planning for social and civic engagement has become an art of “if-then” scenarios as companies and their employees, nonprofits, and communities respond to the pandemic and the mental health and economic damage it continues to create for so many people in neighborhoods around the world.
What if the answer to “what’s next” was hope and action?
Perhaps we see a glimmer of that already. People are helping each other – whether it’s marching for racial justice, showing up to food banks and food pantries, helping to bring internet connectivity to communities and gathering laptops for at-home learning, or making masks and
to give to those in need.
To better understand the future of civic life and identify a path forward for businesses, nonprofits, and individuals, Points of Light and partners Carol Cone and Hart Research conducted a study, with generous support from AT&T, surveying adults in the United States about their attitudes, behaviors, barriers and motivations for civic engagement. In September 2020, Points of Light shared the results in a new report entitled “
.” This research offers the most current and comprehensive look into the state of civic engagement today, a universal desire to do more in the future, and how we can help convert good intentions into positive action.
How will businesses step up?
The research reveals the potential of this global health crisis to serve as a catalyst for a new era of civic engagement. It’s an era where businesses like yours are expected to lead and serve in partnership with nonprofits and communities. Your Gen Z employees come with expectations for engagement and social action that is outpacing any living generation.
Business, organizations, and governments must prepare to meet this generation’s high expectations for social responsibility. Not only is Gen Z the most likely to have decided about purchasing a product based on a company’s social responsibility, but they are also most likely to consider a company’s social responsibility when applying for or accepting jobs. Businesses stand to lose both customers and talent without robust civic engagement and social responsibility.
But, what does robust corporate civic engagement and social responsibility look like? In today’s age of corporate social justice, employee welfare and empowerment are top priorities as presented in the chart below. Providing opportunities for interested employees to volunteer in their communities, perhaps alongside top executives, and offering matches to employees’ donations of time and money are also important actions for any company that wants to promote civic engagement while also attracting and retaining talent and developing strong, positive relationships with their customers.
For 20 years, Edelman, a global communications firm, has studied the dynamic shifts in trust in the four major societal institutions: government, business, media and NGOs. The
indicates that 68% of respondents agree that companies can take actions that both increase profits and improve conditions where they operate. There is no longer any doubt that doing good can help a company do well – and this “if-then” statement is a clarion call to all business leaders.
There’s Still Time to Get Involved on Election Day
Civic Alliance x Points of Light Election Day of Service Toolkit
At Points of Light, we join our friends and partners at
in the shared belief that every individual should be able to live their most civically engaged life, and voting is a main component of that. In fact, in Points of Light’s recent civic engagement research, 78% of respondents said post COVID-19, voting will be more important than ever.
But with less than a month to the election, many are wondering if there are still times to get involved. Good news – in addition to actually voting, there are still ways you can engage and help get others involved.
Below find individual and community-oriented volunteer opportunities as well as volunteer opportunities with local, nonpartisan nonprofits.
is recruiting poll workers to ensure a safe, fair election for all voters. They are focused on recruiting healthy, low-risk candidates to ensure that those workers most susceptible to the coronavirus are given the space to take care of their health, while still keeping polling sites open and available for efficient in-person voting.
There are many kinds of jobs for poll workers to do, including helping voters maintain physical distance in lines, wiping down machines and equipment, and helping voters check in, understand their ballots, and cast their vote. With absentee and mail voting, poll workers also help open and count mailed ballots. Some jurisdictions may already be filled, but you can reach out and find out where there is a need.
is currently recruiting volunteers in a number of states across the country to help voters in 2020. Election Protection – led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – is the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition.
Through the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline and their voter assistance field program, Election Protection helps ensure eligible voters are able to participate in our democracy while collecting data for meaningful reform so that elections are free, fair, and accessible.
letter-writing program is currently targeted towards voters in Florida, Georgia and Wisconsin who are likely to have voter ID and voting-related questions. Volunteers are provided scripts, voter lists and a VoteRiders’ letterhead template. Current plans also include a fun and productive Zoom letter-writing party co-hosted by the “Hamilton” cast & crew, along with numerous independent letter-writing parties.
is running a robust nonpartisan peer-to-peer texting program that will help voters register and make a plan to vote. The texting takes place during 2-hour evening sessions. Volunteers can sign up for existing sessions or, if there is interest within a company, HeadCount can set up a specially scheduled session for the team.
Volunteers are needed to participate in a mix of different types of phone-banking, such as: calling voters who have indicated they are, or may be, in need of voter ID assistance; calling voters likely to have voting questions calling organizations that may be interested in using
Individual and community-oriented volunteer opportunities
Babysitting
Offer to babysit the little ones at home if your family member or friend needs the support to vote or would like to volunteer as a poll worker during early vote or onElection Day. By babysitting, you are making it possible for a parent to participate by voting and/or serving this year!
Dog walking
If your friend or neighbor is volunteering as a poll worker this election season, they might be working long hours from opening to closing. Consider dog walking for poll workers — or also a voter on Election Day waiting in a long line!
Host a bake sale to raise funds
Love to bake? Host a classic bake sale (or socially distanced lemonade stand!) to raise funds for the nonprofit organization of your choice or for a candidate or campaign you’d like to see win the election! This year it is important to individually wrap your items.
Bring supplies to the long lines
Long lines are to be expected on Election Day this year. Consider bringing masks and hand sanitizers to encourage everyone’s health and safety. Bring water bottles or individually packaged snacks to your local polling location and serve voters waiting in line! Have a skill? Consider sharing it at the polls – dance, play guitar, do yoyo tricks.
Pizza to the Polls
We could also encourage people to report long voting lines through
Some counties only have one dropbox, and/or a polling location may be a bit further this year. If you are healthy and able, offer to drive a family member or neighbor to vote. Remember, many states offer early voting, so you may not have to wait until November 3 to do this good deed!
Keep friends informed with social media
Early voting locations/hours, election day voting locations/hours, and ballot dropoff locations vary from state to state and county to county. Share
to help neighbors print voting materials in states where needed and boost voter registration. The Voter Help Map calls on Nextdoor members who own a home printer to add themselves to the map with an offer to print voting materials for others.
Take time off from work
Talk to your employer early if you need to ask for time off or schedule flexibility to vote early or on election day. Many employers as part of the
campaign have committed time off for their employees to vote.
Witness ballots
There are still several states that require absentee ballot voters to have a witness participate. Often a witness may be asked to give their name or signature on a voter’s ballot. Offer to be a witness so that your neighbor can successfully submit their ballot according to your state laws.
5 Reasons Why You Should Present at the 2021 Points of Light Conference
Sue Carter Kahl
It’s that time of year—school is (sort of) back in session, pumpkin muffins are popping up everywhere, and Points of Light is seeking presenters for the 2021 Points of Light Conference, scheduled for July 14-16. This year’s hybrid event will include in person and virtual experiences, with live sessions occurring at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, and online sessions for a virtual audience. As a past presenter, I am sharing a few reasons why I am submitting a proposal this year, and why you should, too.
You (and I) have something to say.
Sometimes I question what I can add to the conversation on volunteerism. What’s so special about my voice among a lineup of “experts”? Yet that is the beauty of our field: individuals who take our experiences and observations about community engagement—and translate it into insight, solutions and hope. No one else can deliver the message that is yours or mine to share. If we don’t share it, no one will.
Someone needs to hear what we have to say.
Have you ever been to a conference session where the presenter said something that lit you up, made you want to shout (or tweet) “yes!” to their message because it was so on target, or left you feeling deeply seen? That is the power of connecting the right message with the right audience. Someone is waiting to hear that message from you.
Presenting helps create meaning of our work.
I’m a Crock-pot in an Instant Pot world. I have to marinate in ideas to sort out what I know and what is still emerging. Crafting a presentation allows me to be in crock-pot mode and explore the rich stew that comes from simmering in this bit of research or that meaningful project. It also challenges me to figure out how to share what I am learning so others can apply and learn from it, too.
Co-creating enriches your thinking.
I’m an introvert who loves to noodle through problems on my own. Yet, there is no denying that my ideas and practices improve when I work through them in community. Points of Light Conference attendees are smart and engaging collaborators. The participants in each session I have facilitated have helped me clarify and refine my work. Our field is all about engagement—this is a chance to walk our talk about connecting with others to co-create a better future for us all.
Effecting positive change is a team effort.
My vision is to help leaders see volunteerism as a powerful strategy to advance their missions and engage their communities. I know this vision is possible when we frame and invest in service in meaningful ways. However, there is only so much I can do on my own. Presenting at the Points of Light Conference allows me to add my voice to a larger movement, meet co-conspirators for the common good, and join efforts with others who are committed to our communities.
I’m looking forward to attending next year’s conference and hearing the message that only you can share.
Sue Carter Kahl is president of Sue Carter Kahl Consulting, and a past Points of Light Conference presenter.
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.
