Innovate to Educate: Community Solutions for Education Success
This signature conference event, sponsored by Target, highlighted innovative, citizen-driven solutions that are helping address the challenges facing America’s education system.
It showcased inspiring examples of community-based engagement that have resulted in tangible results for schools and students nationwide.
Attendees enjoyed a passionate opening by featured speaker Soledad O’Brien, award-winning journalist and anchor for CNN’s special investigations unit, as well as stories from community leaders who are collectively leading the charge for innovative education solutions.
The session concluded with a surprise performance by musical duo and sisters, Martie Maguire and Emily Robinson of the Court Yard Hounds.
Lending a Hand in New Orleans through Service
NCVS served as the final stop on University of Phoenix’s six-month Road to the Gulf program.
With the time, talent and resources of up to 700 NCVS participants, local volunteers and the continued support of University of Phoenix, 25 parks and recreation centers across the city of New Orleans were revitalized.
Efforts were focused on four signature park restoration projects at Sam Bonart Park, Bunny Friend Park, Village de l’est Park and Evans Park.
At each park, volunteers installed new playground equipment, repaired basketball courts, installed sideline benches, built soccer fields, installed lighting and beautified the parks to help them become jewels within their neighborhoods.
At Sam Bonart Park, the only park within the Lower Ninth Ward, a low-income area devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the action caught the attention of local children, who lent a hand in the transformation of their playground, which has been largely unavailable since the storm.
Citizen Solutions for Economic Opportunity
Fostering
and advancing economic opportunities in under-resourced communities is a constant challenge.
Some communities have found success drawing on existing resources
and the power of volunteers.
At this session, sponsored by Chase, Diahann Billings-Burford, chief service officer for New York City; David Eisner, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center; and MSNBC contributor and The Grio.com chief correspondent Jeff Johnson discussed practices of asset-based community development and case studies of successful community programs.
You can relive the excitement of our signature plenaries at
The 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service (NCVS), which took place in New Orleans, June 6 – 8, provided more than 4,600 Champions of Service with the opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired through a range of plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects and more.
Convened by Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the conference showcased the city of New Orleans as a laboratory for social innovation in areas reaching far beyond disaster recovery.
Since 2005, millions of volunteers have helped address the city’s educational challenges, economic development issues and government leadership.
NCVS provided an opportunity to pay tribute to the impact of volunteerism on the revitalization of the city, demonstrating the critical role of service in improving communities and our nation at large.
The 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service kicked off in style with a live marching band ushering in 100 champions of service.
These service leaders set the stage for a jazz-packed opening session that celebrated luminaries like civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges and jazz legend Branford Marsalis, explored the role that service continues to play in revitalizing the city of New Orleans, and entertained us with the music of New Orleans, including the soulful sounds of Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band.
We heard Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s heartfelt thanks to volunteers for helping bring New Orleans back.
Laysha Ward, president of the Target Foundation, showed us Target’s great work in the community and ABC News’ Deborah Roberts moderated a spirited conversation with political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin on the power of volunteerism and the resilience of New Orleans.
CEO of Points of Light Institute Michelle Nunn said,
“Now, more than ever, we need service champions – super-empowered citizens who are utilizing new, more powerful tools for change. We expect this year’s conference to deliver those tools.”
Conference attendees were immersed in the spirit of New Orleans at the “Only in New Orleans” kick-off party, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company with support from Entergy.
Attendees took in the art, music and food of this magical city, while gaining an opportunity to learn and share with one another.
Service Leaders Honored as “Champions of Service” at 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service
The Closing Session of the 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service was a fitting end to a great Conference in which it honored Champions of Inspiration for the transformational work they are doing throughout the globe.
We presented the Eli Segal Award, honoring an outstanding AmeriCorps Alum who embodies the essence of citizen service, and the George W. Romney Excellence Award, honoring the outstanding work of a Points of Light HandsOn Network affiliate. Six additional Champions of Inspiration were highlighted for their commitment to their communities and the world at large.
“Now, more than ever, we need service champions – super-empowered citizens who are utilizing new, more powerful tools for change,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute. “These individuals embody that spirit and serve as inspiration to us all.”
2011 honorees included:
2011 Eli Segal Award
Hope Grows Farm: AmeriCorps alumni Arianne McGinnis and Elliott McGann abandoned comfortable career paths to create Hope Grows, a six-and-a-half-acre sustainable farm in southeast Georgia that produces food for more than 150 families. Each season, Arianne and Elliott teach 10 part-time apprentices and host hundreds of service learners eager to get their hands dirty. They regularly invite volunteers and community members to the farm to feast on good ideas and food.
2011 The George W. Romney Excellence Award
Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin: Two years ago, Farrell Swain moved out of a homeless shelter in Marin County, Calif. Wanting to give back, Farrell became a volunteer with the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin (CVNL) He took part in their Flex Projects which are designed to make it easy to “get HandsOn” and participate in meeting community needs. In 2010 alone, CVNL connected more than 8,000 area residents to service, a 28 percent jump from the previous year.
2011 Champion of Inspiration Award
generationOn Youth Advisory Council: Service is a “now” opportunity, and generationOn’s Youth Advisory Council is taking advantage of this opportunity. These 10 outstanding youth prove there is no age requirement for role models: Jacob Bernstein, D’Andrielle Chee, Milton Dimas, Joshua “Clay” Hurdle, Mohit Jain, Rachel Ley, Lance Oppenheim, Rachel Shuster, Malaika Worsham, Liu Zhen Huang. As Council members, they have two main jobs: teaching their peers how to lead their own projects by creating and shaping tools and guides and educating by example as service ambassadors who share their stories in local communities and on the national stage. generationOn is the youth division of Points of Light Institute.
Chip Chappelle, UPS: It may not make headlines, but logistics make the difference between dreaming and doing. Such logistical know-how was critically important when Haiti suffered its devastating earthquake in January 2010. UPS transportation manager Chip Chappelle immediately offered his logistical experience. Within 48 hours, Chip and his colleagues activated a plan to get life-saving food, water and medical supplies into the hands of Haitian children and their families. With Chip’s expert coordination, more than 50 humanitarian aid organizations from all corners of the globe have relied on UPS to transport more than 15,000 cubic meters of non-food items to Haiti including water purification tablets, cholera medicine, tents, shoes and construction materials.
Hands on Tokyo: In 2006, a group of friends launched HandsOn Tokyo to give back to their community. The organization has become a catalyst for a new service ethos across Japan. HandsOn Tokyo developed a volunteer clearinghouse to match people with projects in children’s homes, elderly living facilities, schools for the blind and other places where compassion needs no translation. In response to the March 11 earthquake, HandsOn Tokyo has mobilized hundreds of volunteers and continues to deliver much needed supplies including 20,000 clean towels, 30,000 toothbrushes, comfy blankets, slippers, socks and other items that help people care for themselves and each other.
Natalie Snider: As science director for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Natalie Snider works to protect our uniquely vulnerable ecosystem. Natalie leads volunteer teams to restore coastal wetlands through plantings, sand fence installations and beach cleanups. In 2010 alone, her program engaged more than 1,800 volunteers from 37 states and three different countries to rehabilitate more than 80 acres of Louisiana’s marshy, muddy, erosion-prone, wildlife rich and precious shoreline. Natalie also generates advocacy through education, providing more than 40,000 volunteers with the information they need to speak knowledgably about wetlands protection issues, empowering them to go out and make the case for large-scale projects in Louisiana and elsewhere.
Brendon Barclay: Through his Atlanta-based service learning organization, Sustaining Urban Villages, AmeriCorps Alum Brendon Barclay advocates for green-space, transforming schoolyard green-spaces and urban forests into outdoor classrooms for students of all ages. His projects brought together more than 1,000 volunteers last year, restoring school yard habitats and urban parks.
Camo Quilt Project: Linda Wieck is an example of the power of personal outreach and support to military troops around the world. Linda showed this kind of support to her son-in-law, Todd, in 2006 when she made him her first camo quilt prior to his deployment in Iraq. Since then, hundreds of volunteers have joined Linda on national days of service like Make A Difference Day to send quilts to soldiers. To date, more than 10,000 handmade quilts have been sewn and donated to troops.
Closing Session Celebrates Champions of Service
In today’s closing session, attendees enjoyed music from R&B legend Percy Sledge and a celebration of truly inspiring champions of service.
, CNCS and dozens of other organizations will work together to create the single-largest expression of service in history.
Reimagine Service at NCVS!
Reimagining Service is a national coalition of multi-sector representatives from nonprofits, government, education, faith-based organizations, funding entities, and corporations.
Reimagining Service views volunteerism like an ecosystem, and believes it can deepen the impact that volunteers make by working collaboratively to address the challenges and opportunities facing all of us.
Join the Reimagining Service sessions in New Orleans!
Speakers: Gary Bagley, James Weinberg, Diane Melley, Liz Blake, Kaira Esgate, Rosa Moreno-Mahoney, Sonal Shah, Amy Smith
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5086
Join this forum for updates on Reimagining Service learnings over the past year, and to hear how leaders from nonprofits, for-profits, and government are applying the Reimagining Service principles to their work.
Senior staff from all sectors, especially those with policy-making authority, are encouraged to attend.
Reimagining Service in the Corporate World
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Session ID: 5095
Speakers: Kaira Esgate, Gail Gershon, Monique De La Oz, Evan Hochberg, Dean Furbush, John Power
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5095
Reimagining Service has identified eight key characteristics of highly effective corporate volunteer programs.
What are the characteristics of these corporate service enterprises and what steps can a company take to implement them?
How do corporate service enterprises collaborate with community organizations so that both partners get maximum value out of the relationship?
Corporate representatives will share their experiences — including honest insights into barriers, challenges, and opportunities – and discuss how they’ve applied the Reimagining Service principles to their work
Becoming a Nonprofit Service Enterprise
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Session ID: 5178
Ann Burroughs, Rafael Gonzalez, Margaux Helvey, Dannielle Campos
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5178
Everyone can probably think of a nonprofit that has figured out how to fundamentally engage volunteers in mission critical activities, enabling the organization to do more with the same financial resources, and deliver significant positive results.
We think of these organizations as nonprofit service enterprises.
When you talk to leaders and staff from these kinds of organizations, they’ll probably tell you the change didn’t happen overnight – it took time to shift thinking, policies, and practices – but that it was worth the effort.
At this session, we’ll hear from nonprofit representatives who are at various stages in the journey toward becoming service enterprises.
Last, we’ll save time for a peer exchange.
Participants will divide into groups based on the organizations they represent — nonprofit direct service, nonprofit volunteer management, government, faith-based organization, for-profit, schools – to further explore their own organizational needs and opportunities.
The power of asking “What if…?” …and REALLY thinking BIG.
Many of us have looked at the night sky and been awestruck by the mystery of space…and the stars. With just our naked eye, we can see roughly 2,500 brilliant stars that are millions of miles away. I’m sure many of you have joined me looking up on a few amazing, star-filled nights and said “Wow!”
The stars that we see, however, are ONLY a tip of the inspiration that truly exists when we look up.
After a recent visit to the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, I was reminded of some amazing facts. First, our sun is the ONLY star in our solar system (composed of the earth and seven other planets). Our solar system is contained within our galaxy. However, did you know that in our galaxy there are over 400,000,000,000 (billion!) stars just like our sun? AND according to recent super-computer calculations, our galaxy is only ONE of over 500,000,000,000 (billion!) galaxies in the universe!
Now, that’s mind boggling! And to think that we are a part of that!
What does this mean for us? It clearly means that we are part of a universe that is endless in size and possibility. And it leads me to ask this question: when we live in a universe so B-I-G, why do we spend so much of our time thinking so small?
Whenever you feel strangled by either the minutiae or dissatisfaction of your own life or organizational direction, step outside, look up, and ask “What if…?”
Since we live in a “no limits” universe where possibility is greater than we could ever imagine, why not challenge ourselves to think on a universe-sized scale in regard to goals and solutions? Why not consider expanding our own possibility thinking to match the universe in which we live?
Why not ask “What if…?” And this time, think a little bigger.
PS: It’s tough to fathom how big the number 400,000,000,000 x 500,000,000,000 actually is. (Again, the number of stars in the galaxy multiplied by the number of galaxies in the universe.) So…here’s a more down-to-earth comparison to help picture the true enormity of how many stars might exist:
Scientists estimate that if you counted EVERY grain of sand on the ENTIRE earth, there would still be more stars by a 100 to 1 ratio!
This post comes from Shawn Anderson, ShawnAnderson.com, five-time author, corporate trainer and national speaker on the topics of “possibility thinking and creating opportunity.”
He is also the Founder of the Extra Mile America Foundation, ExtraMileAmerica.org, a non-profit organization empowering people to “go the extra mile” in life.
In 2010, the Foundation led the charge in motivating 116 mayors in 45 different states to declare November 1, 2010, as “Extra Mile Day”…a day to recognize those in the local community going the extra mile.
In 2011, over 200 city mayors in all 50 states are expected to do the same.
Join Shawn on Wednesday, June 8th, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, for his session titled The Power of “What if…?” Extra Mile America: Stories of Inspiration, Possibility and Purpose.
The Down Low on NCVS After Hours
Sorry young’n, this one is just for the big kids who can stay out after the streetlights come on. NCVS sessions may end 7pm every night, but The Big Easy has a nightlife culture that is sure to keep you entertained until the wee hours.
From Bourbon St to right around the corner of the convention center, we’re taking care of you in this nightlife guide.
There’s so much to do that you’ll need an agenda for after NCVS hours!
greets you and your wallet. Try your luck on over 2100 slot machines, over 90 tables, and a poker room.
Who knows, you may go home with more than just great service learning!
You can’t talk about nightlife without mentioning NOLA’s most famous and historic street:
Bourbon St
.
Everything from Mardi Gras to Superbowl After Parties takes place in this central part of the French Quarter.
You’ll find plenty of bars, dance clubs, novelty and souvenir shops stretched down the 8 block sector known as “Upper Bourbon St”.
Grab a famous “hand grenade” and enjoy a full night of bar/club hopping. Tip – Don’t bother buying any Mardi Gras beads, as plenty will be thrown at you.
– the oldest bar in the US, established in 1772. Much of the bar’s original authenticity has survived through the times and the place still remains lit mostly by candles.
, the oldest gay bar in the US (see a trend here?)
Located at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine St, the bar, which was frequented by Tennessee Williams during his stay in NOLA, still serves as the center of Gay Nightlife in New Orleans.
Before you leave the Bourbon St. party, make sure you grab a bite from any of the conveniently located
stands at every street corner. They’re quite delicious after a night of fun times.
Rated by USA Today as one of the “Top 10 great places to bar-hop around the world”, take a stroll down to
Frenchmen Street
if you’re looking for some great live jazz cafe and bars.
It is also a great spot for live music enthusiasts as you will hear trumpets and horns playing from every store front and corner of the street.
For beer enthusiasts, make sure you stop by d.b.a., located in the middle of the famous street.
The smoke free bar features an impressive international beer selection and cover will get you in to see some of the best live blues and jazz bands in town.
Frenchmen St. is a great alternative to the evening tourist crowds of the French Quarter.
No jazz hands required.
Finally, if staying up is your thing, but partying isn’t, head down to Decatur St. to grab some Cafe Au Lait and French style beignets at the New Orleans staple
They’re open 24 hours (only closed on Christmas and the occasional hurricanes) and there’s always plenty of seating in their patio.
Of course, always be responsible and make sure you make it to everything on your conference schedule!
Books & Beignets – How to NOT Eat a Beignet
Get HandsOn will be sponsoring Books & Beignets this year and we thought it’d be nice to show you how to not eat one of those delicious fried pastries at one of our five morning sessions.
Tip – It only looks cute to be covered in powered sugar when you’re under 5. After that, you just look like you had a rough night/morning.
Remember –
Don’t wear black when eating a beignet
Don’t breathe in when eating a beignet
And again, DON’T wear black.
Enjoy responsibly!
New for 2011 – Interactive Workshops Highlight Innovation!
New this year at NCVS…
During each workshop block there will be one
90-minute Pathway to Innovation session in room 352
with multiple presenters within a single session.
In rapid succession, each presenter will make a pitch for funding to a hypothetical donor seeking innovative, evidence-based solutions to challenges facing nonprofit organizations, communities, and the country.
After the brief presentations and reflections from the hypothetical donor, participants can choose to learn more from one of the presenters in small group discussions.
Each session will be limited to no more than 70 participants.
MONDAY
In
Pathways to Innovation: Education
on
Monday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m.
you will learn about using the Boomer+ generation to advance middle school science and math, Admission Possible, professional corps AmeriCorps programs, campus community reciprocity, and teacher residency programs.
TUESDAY
On
Tuesday, June 7 at 8:30 a.m.
,
Pathways to Innovation: Leveraging Volunteers
will introduce you to new ideas for strategically engaging volunteers, engaging the reluctant volunteer, engaging the rural volunteer, the Big Sunday concept, and the AtlasCorps model.
Later that day at 4:00 p.m
.
Pathways to Innovation in Reclaiming the American Dream
will feature several models for how service is addressing community economic challenges through mortgage relief, beautifying neighborhoods, providing fresh foods, access to better education, and family financial counseling.
WEDNESDAY
On
Wednesday, at 8:30 a.m
. current grantees of the
Social Innovation Fund
will share their models including New Profit, the Mayor’s Fund of NYC, AIDS United, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
During the 10:30 workshop block
we will feature
Pathways to Innovation in International Service
with the U.N. Foundation, the United Nations Development Program in Cote d’Ivoire, American Jewish World Service, Meridian International Center, and Service for Peace.
If you are looking for something different at this year’s conference, these sessions could be just what you are looking for.
Come see a range of innovative practices and ideas that you can learn about and replicate and back home!
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations at NCVS!
This year at NCVS, session content is organized across a series of issue areas so that attendees can tailor their schedules to meet their learning and networking needs.
Check out all the sessions associated with…
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations
Connecting Communities for the Common Good: Conversations and Partnership Opportunities with the Obama Administration’s Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Office and Agency Centers
Monday, June 6, 2011 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Session ID: 5719
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5719
The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Pre-Conference
Get In The Game-Creating an Innovative Game Plan for Impacting the Community
Monday, June 6, 2011 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Session ID: 5486
Speaker: Monty L. Hipp
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5486
As we look to impact our communities in a positive way, it is vital that we have a game plan for our approach.
In this session, The Care Strategy will be presented. Through a systematic approach, this strategy is changing lives across a wide variety of innovative social and neighborhood community efforts.
These have included mentoring, sports, feeding, environmental, and education programs that have benefited urban, suburban, and rural areas across America.
This approach makes collaboration possible—expanding community partnerships, increasing volunteerism, while also increasing sustainable funding pathways for all social innovation projects at hand.
Not Just for Themselves: Jewish Young Adults Repairing the World
Monday, June 6, 2011 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Session ID: 5027
Speakers: Jon Rosenberg, Fern Chertok, Jim Gerstein
Twitter Hashtag: #repairtheworld
This workshop will share lessons from a groundbreaking national study of what motivates Jewish young adults to serve, the varieties of service in which they engage, how they construe the connections among their involvement in service, Jewish values and identity, and the most promising points of leverage to increase their commitment to service.
Explore the practical implications of this important research for understanding the issues, values, and goals that move young adults to action, and for developing effective strategies for overcoming current obstacles to volunteer engagement among young adults in general and specifically among those from ethnic/religious minority backgrounds.
Resilient Communities: The Critical Role of Faith Organizations
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Session ID: 5636
Speakers: Father Vien The Nguyen, Omar Suleiman
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5636
In reflecting upon local lessons learned in the aftermath of Katrina, panelists will discuss the role of faith in resiliency. This session will provide a unique call to action for civil dialogue for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 this September.
Developing Service and Volunteering in the Wake of a Disaster
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Session ID: 5180
Speaker: Michael Weil
Twitter Hashtag: #service;volunteering
Katrina brought significant opportunities to New Orleans and created a potential for service. Since then, tens of thousands of Jewish volunteers have come from all over America to volunteer in the Gulf Coast.
The challenge was to find meaningful avenues for their time and talents. Avoda House has become a central agency in the community and an organization that acts as a residential base for social action.
This session will focus how on how to apply the learnings of Avoda House to your programs and organization.
Movie: A Village Called Versailles
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Session ID: 5718
Speaker: S. Leo Chiang
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5718
A Village Called Versailles is a documentary about Versailles, a community in eastern New Orleans that has be
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Vietnamese American residents in Versailles impressively rise to the challenges by returning and rebuilding before any other flooded neighborhood in New Orleans, only to have their homes threatened by a new government-imposed toxic landfill just two miles away.
The film recounts the empowering story of how this group of people turns a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change.
Neighboring: Building Sustainable Communities from the Inside-Out
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Session ID 5285
Speakers: Khyati Desai, Cathy Puett, Gigi Rolfes, Billy Fettweis, Marco Ramirez
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5285
Join us to learn how asset-based community development can help nonprofit agencies better engage the communities they serve.
Learn the steps to Neighboring and how to work with residents from different backgrounds (e.g., Latino and multicultural families and youth).
Fostering Interfaith Cooperation on College Campuses through National Service
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Session ID: 5383
Speakers: Maggie Stevens, Emily Sellers, Mary Ellen Giess
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5383
21st century leadership involves working across differences, including religious difference. President Obama has emphasized interfaith cooperation and service as important ways to build understanding between communities while solving society’s most pressing problems.
When combined, interfaith cooperation and service can build social capital by bringing diverse groups together, strengthen social cohesion by promoting inter-religious understanding, and solve social problems by acting on the shared value of service.
Through a presentation and panel, participants will learn innovative approaches to involve college student led interfaith cooperation and service initiatives. Presenters will showcase programs from the campus, regional, and national service perspectives.
The Closing Session of the 2011 
