, which means disaster and how we respond to it is top of mind for many. That’s what prompted us to speak with two renowned disaster preparedness and response experts to get their best advice:
, a disaster preparedness and response expert with more than a decade of hands-on experience. They shared their perspective on their work, which has resulted in a five-part blog series, our answer to National Preparedness Month, and begins with this open letter from them both.
There are things each of us can do to foster community empowerment that will mitigate the effects of disaster on the people and places we know and love. These actions are critical to building resilient communities. To nonprofit/NGO crisis leadership teams, corporate citizenship team and anyone who recognizes the urgency we face around climate change, the disasters it can spawn, and the urgency of cultivating our response to those disasters, this series is for you.
is a resource that offers insights and strategies to empower you to take action before, during and after a disaster. You’ll also learn how to be an advocate for those affected by disasters.
, temperature shifts alone can have significant impacts on communities, causing more than five million deaths each year globally from excessively hot or cold conditions. And these extremes inevitably exacerbate natural and human-made disasters, both in severity and frequency. As disasters happen around the world, more people are scrambling to deal with the far-reaching consequences. It is not a matter of if but when these aspects of climate change affect all the communities where we live and work.
Considerations for National Preparedness Month
Take Care of Yourself and Your Family
Advance planning is the key to staying safe during a disaster. There are plenty of things you can do now to prepare for an emergency:
Figure out in advance how you would get to your nearest safe shelter and how you would communicate with loved ones if cell towers are down, for example, by purchasing a long-distance calling card.
Build an emergency kit that goes beyond nonperishable food and water to include prescription medications, important documents, batteries and local maps. This kit should sustain your household for seven days.
Don’t forget to safeguard your important documents. You may consider using a fireproof and waterproof box or safe.
If possible, save funds for an emergency. Ask yourself: how much money can I save each month? For many, saving a little at a time works best.
Take Care of Staff and Volunteers
Whether activating from an NGO, nonprofit or corporate perspective, prior to responding to a local disaster, work cross-functionally to create a staffing plan for those working throughout a disaster. Consider operations, HR, social impact, and other organizational functions, depending on your business model. Businesses should talk to NGO partners to understand their strengths in times of disaster and understand how, when and if a giving campaign will come into play. No matter what, start meeting with your team as soon as disaster is on the radar.
Outline shifts that account for both working hours and days off. Building rotation into your schedule in advance staves off burn out by allowing responders to mentally prepare for and maintain their work/life balance, knowing when they will be off duty.
Choose appropriate and safe volunteer opportunities that allow your organization to respond to a disaster in real time while keeping staff and volunteers safe. Train staff in standard policies and procedures to ensure volunteers are following safety protocols. Most importantly, teach staff how to make an informed decision in the absence of all information. This singular effort will empower them to be nimble and flexible in responding to community needs.
Before a disaster, plan what types of volunteer response activities your organization can support such as staffing heat relief or warming shelters. For organizations planning outdoor volunteer activities, consider policies that will keep participants safe. Annually review your volunteer safety policies and protocols. Create transparency with all stakeholders around when an event will be postponed, canceled, or moved to a different venue. When working in the field, orient volunteers on your natural and human-made disaster protocols.
Amplify Messaging from Local Experts and Officials
Often, word of mouth travels quickly in the disaster aftermath, which means it’s essential to review and update standard operating procedures and have a communication plan ready ahead of time. To combat misinformation, use your organization’s voice to support messaging from emergency management officials and reputable sources. Share safety tips on your organization’s social media channels. Promote messaging from trusted and experienced organizations around immediate food, shelter and safety community resources, and be sure to use familiar and simple terms everyone can understand.
Educate your followers on what they can do to be helpful, for example, by donating to a local nonprofit or NGO. While it may seem blunt to say, the truth is, what is most helpful to these organizations is money. Donating dollars means responders can get what they need in the right quantities, and if infrastructure isn’t wiped out, they can source from local businesses to help boost the economy.
Also, while it’s understandable that people want to jump in right away to help, communicate with your audience that patience is essential. It’s critically important to the safety and wellbeing of all to allow trained officials to deploy and restore operations in the impacted area.
Above all, organizations should communicate with compassion, concern and empathy while recognizing that people who are impacted by a disaster are likely experiencing stress, loss and suffering.
Expand Your Impact
Consider how to use the nine elements of the Points of Light Civic Circle®. Provide opportunities to listen and learn about climate change. Match community members with organizations doing advocacy work on how to cool down our planet or encourage people to use their Purchase Power to support ecofriendly and sustainable businesses. Combine Civic Circle elements to strengthen your impact.
Social impact leaders, this time is an opportunity to connect the everyday work you do to systemic issues. When it comes down to it, preparation and forethought are the best tools we have in addressing real and sustained change. So, even if you don’t have experience in disaster response, you can use your skills in tackling big, challenging problems. Our strongest assets are our grit, determination and collective knowledge, which means we can stay cool, no matter the temperature.
Spark the Change Colorado Energizes and Equips Volunteers in Community Service
Nonprofit organizations can thrive on their own, but we are even stronger when we come together to share ideas, inspiration and methods that have been proven effective. The
seeks to bring nonprofits together, operating with more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.
We spoke with Madison Taylor from
, a Points of Light affiliate operating statewide in Colorado. We discussed training and equipping volunteers, and tools that the organization uses to keep volunteers engaged.
Spark the Change Colorado exists to spark change and inspire a movement of good through the power of volunteerism, service and civic engagement. The organization envisions a world with stronger, more resilient, equitable and connected communities through the power of volunteerism. Its values are community, collaboration and courage.
Get an exclusive sneak peek into Spark the Change Colorado in action. Points of Light will be capturing the UPS Day of Service on our
How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?
At Spark, all of our work centers around volunteerism. We provide direct service programs— like our Mental Wellness, Senior and AmeriCorps Programs— that recruit, train and engage volunteers to solve community problems. We provide education and training courses for other nonprofit volunteer programs to create a stronger and more equitable volunteer environment across the state.
We also operate an online database platform that connects volunteers anywhere in Colorado with our nonprofit members who post hundreds of volunteer opportunities readily available for sign up. We are also beginning to integrate
in all that we do, recognizing that the community service industry is changing and that individuals, groups and companies are giving back every day in a variety of innovative and impactful ways— not just volunteering.
What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?
is a key resource for volunteers to find and engage with volunteer opportunities from, not just Spark, but a variety of nonprofits all across the state. We operate a monthly Volunteer Newsletter called “
” that is packed with different ways to volunteer and engage all year long.
Our direct service volunteer programs engage skilled volunteers directly, particularly seniors aged 55 and better, mental health professionals practicing in or entering the field, and individuals seeking board service opportunities. And our courses for education and training make it easier for participating nonprofits to engage volunteers in new and innovative ways.
What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?
Our mission and objectives are 100% centered around and rooted in
. Everything we do comes back to volunteering! Our mission is to SPARK CHANGE and INSPIRE A MOVEMENT OF GOOD through the power of service, volunteerism and civic engagement. We have direct service volunteer programs, support other nonprofit volunteer programs and provide tools and resources for anyone— individuals, nonprofits or corporations— looking to lend a hand and make an impact.
Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.
I would love to mention our Mental Wellness Program volunteers and all the amazing work they do. Our Statewide Mental Wellness Program is fully volunteer driven. The way it works is that we engage fully licensed and insured therapists as volunteers, and they dedicate their time to see clients pro bono, completely free of cost to the client. One specific story is that of our volunteer, Sofia Webb, MSW, LSW, CTP, being named a
What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement?
We will always promote volunteerism and civic engagement in all that we do, but we are planning on increasing the use of The Civic Circle to frame engagement in a way that is easy and accessible to all. We love the framework of The Civic Circle and are finding so many new ways that each element applies to the services and programs we already provide, but also ways we can start integrating multiple elements to make our services and programs more well-rounded and impactful.
Can you share any tips or best practices for other organizations looking to recognize volunteers?
Center the storytelling! People love to hear about other people, seeing pictures of people that look like them and hearing stories from people that sound like them. We are always looking for exciting ways to tell our volunteers’ stories, but also just share about them as the amazing humans that they are!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?
! Why reinvent the wheel? We put so much time and effort into gathering resources, building programming and finding the best tools to make volunteering and engaging in your community easy! Sign up for our newsletters and visit our websites. If you start with “
operates with innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities. We spoke with Melissa Heule from
, a Points of Light affiliate in Hackensack, N.J., to discuss volunteer retention. Bergen Volunteers provides human service and training programs to improve lives and strengthen communities. The organization provides critical services to youth, families, veterans, seniors and those who are economically disadvantaged in the community. They also connect volunteers with their own programs and those offered by the nonprofit community.
How is your organization engaging volunteers this year?
We have partnered with more than 90 local agencies in helping them amplify their efforts, promote events, connect with the right volunteers and offer support. We also have a dozen in-house programs for our community from kids’
, to financial advice, tax preparation, handiwork and errands services for seniors and those with limited means. We’re highlighting all of our programs and sharing thanks ahead of our spring campaigns.
How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?
We reach them through social media, newsletters, mailings, special events, corporate outreach, community outreach, long standing connections with leaders in the county and surrounding areas, business networking, press releases, schools, towns, word of mouth and youth-oriented groups.
What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?
We offer program training sessions, background checks, various promotions, celebrations, donated goods to give out to program participants (like books and wellness items), announcements, partnerships, corporate funds, grants for our programs and more.
What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?
We have a small staff but support 8,000 county citizens, donate $1,000 worth of goods, collect hundreds of bags, books and supplies and also fundraise.
We offer services to those who wouldn’t have had access to many of these programs. Our volunteers also participate, often times, as clients and as multi-level volunteers addressing our daily needs and overall program goals.
Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.
It’s always gratifying to hear from people we’ve had the opportunity to work with. You can share our joy in some notes of appreciation we received throughout 2022 on
What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement?
We have a long-standing Bergen LEADS community civics program where area residents and workers get exclusive access to government and public agencies, have Q&A discussions with leaders and come up with an annual capstone project solving an issue in the county. They present them in a public forum, and the winning idea implements them in year two. We hope to expand social services with more volunteer offerings.
Can you share any tips or best practices for other organizations looking to recognize volunteers?
Share stories. Match skills, schedules and desires with appropriate volunteer opportunities. Stay organized, cross-promote, have a supportive staff and come up with creative ways to grow and show off all that an organization can accomplish, especially through adversity.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?
Don’t see limitations as an end. Learn how to take advantage of compatible programs like “Redefining Retirement.” Our volunteer, and 30+ year retired music teacher used to volunteer in the handiwork program until back issues gave him trouble. He now supports clients with scheduling and loves keeping in contact with amazing folks in our area. Many of our volunteers have extensive law, education, professional, healthcare, wellness and parenting backgrounds and that knowledge supports our programs. Many feel they get more out of the program that they give. Volunteerism is great for
Building Collaborative Networks for Social Impact: Insights from the 2023 PreConference
“My challenge to all of us is this: to have the courage to reclaim a healthy public square that calls us to come together and to use our collective power to care for each other,” said Daniel O. Ash, president of Field Foundation of Illinois, at his opening keynote for the 2023 PreConference in Chicago, hosted by KPMG and sponsored by UPS.
It was an inspirational way to kick-off conversations with the
, reinforcing the value of their own efforts as leaders in societal-changing social impact work in communities around the world.
The day continued with informative breakout sessions, led by members of Points of Light’s Global Network Assembly. Sessions ranged from Disaster Management, facilitated by Chris Cameron of HandsOn New Orleans to Corporate Activation Goals & Strategies, facilitated by Jay Cranman of HandsOn Atlanta to Engaging Volunteers in
led by Rob Pabon of Chicago Cares. Attendees then moved to a second round of sessions with Assembly Chair Vanessa Diamond, Greater Richmond Community Foundation and Assembly Co-chair Julia Aramendi, Volies, building collaboration and offering opportunities for networking.
Day one ended with a fireside chat on “The Power of Networks as Change Makers,” which I had the privilege of facilitating with
(IAVE) CEO Nichole Cirillo.
“Networks are the key to resiliency,” said Cirillo. “The more people who use a network, the better and stronger it becomes.”
She went on to challenge perceptions of volunteerism sharing that, “volunteerism has shifted from civic duty to systems change Our younger generation is flipping the perception from civic duty to civic dissent.”
Cirillo emphasized how volunteering is finding the solution and delivering it to solve a societal problem. She also touched upon the importance of connecting the work to on the ground impact. We ended the day with her encouragement to take chances to reach one’s full potential.
“Failure is how we change and grow,” she said. And those words proved especially true later that same night.
“An excellent plan. What could possibly go wrong?”
— Kristina DaSilva, COO, HANDSON BROWARD, describing a moment in her career at Failure Night 2023.
Failure Night hosted by Tim Atkins at HandsOn Atlanta was a raucous gathering of Points of Light affiliates who came together to share their biggest failures, reminding us that failing is an essential part of learning and growing. The crowd represented, shoring up the presenters with warm laughter and understanding. Five brave leaders embraced vulnerability and shared their tales of failure, accompanied by valuable lessons learned:
I did my best to use humor with a healthy dose of humility to expose the hazards of ignoring stakeholder instructions and placing all your bets on hope.
Kristina da Silva, CEO at HandsOn Broward, shed light on the unpredictable nature of events, emphasizing that they often take on a life of their own, deviating from carefully crafted plans
Rosie Drumgoole, chief programs officer at Chicago Cares, imparted the vital message that neglecting self-care should never be an option.
Alana Jorge, operations director of Atados, divulged the consequences of picking the worst possible timing for an event—during the World Cup and elections, for example—reminding us timing is everything.
Stephen Davalos, vice president of external affairs at L.A. Works, demonstrated the repercussions of chasing grand ambitions while ignoring the subtle cues conveyed by the universe ultimately resulting in an overwhelming array of headaches.
Day two began with the group hearing “Bright Spot” stories from leaders worldwide as they showcased their impactful work, including that of Riakos Adams from
. More breakout sessions followed, ranging from Effective International Expansion and Engagement with Leila Saad and Stephen Joseph of Common Impact to How to Expand Your Impact and Reach Through Building up Your Network with Hannah Wojno & Kaynan Rabino from Ruach Tova.
PreConference ended with a historical first-ever shared luncheon between Global Network affiliate and the Points of Light Board of Directors. Board members, including Neil Bush, Nikki Clifton and Jeff Hoffman, mixed and mingled with affiliates. Lunch concluded with a fireside chat between Points of Light Board Member Michelle Gavin and Points of Light Interim CEO Diane Quest that focused on shared learnings from the Global Gathering in Brazil.
Gavin noted that it was a privilege spending time with affiliates and added, “It was like a cup of coffee in the morning. It was a jolt of energy that made me excited for the future of the organization.”
, who has given the last 13 years to supporting and building her community.
The event ended with palpable excitement, an invitation to Warsaw Poland February 4–10 in 2024 for the Global Gathering, and a reinforcement of the power the Points of Light Global Network, especially when its members connect and learn in person, together.
operates with innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.
We spoke with Andre Salkin from
, a Points of Light affiliate in France, to discuss how the organization is creating positive change in its region and beyond. Benenova was created in 2013 and is currently present in four regions in France: Paris, Nantes, Lille and Rennes. The organization’s mission is to facilitate the civic engagement of as many people as possible by offering a large variety of short, collective volunteer missions accessible to all through special programs of inclusivity.
Learn more about this nonprofit’s outstanding work in the realm of inclusive volunteer opportunities.
What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?
Since 2013, Benenova’s primary mission has been to mobilize citizens to get involved in a wide variety of volunteer missions with a focus on making volunteering accessible. Not only through the variety and choice of volunteer opportunities offered on our website, but also through inclusive programs which provide an entry into volunteering for those with physical or mental disabilities and those in situations of precarity. We do this by working closely with our volunteers and partner associations to ensure each mission is suited to the needs and desires of those involved.
Benenova also promotes a change in the way we envision volunteering. Our programs of inclusivity encourage a reversal of the relationship between the helper and the helped. Our volunteer base is largely young and new to volunteering. Forty-three percent of our volunteers had their first experience with Benenova, and 53% are under the age of 35. Rather than going out and “serving” a community, we want to show how volunteering serves us all, even the volunteers. To volunteer is to strengthen our bond within our cities and neighborhoods – to be really and truly included.
How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?
Our specialty at Benenova is providing an introduction to volunteering for those who are interested in getting involved. One of the ways we do this is through the “permanence,” in which first-time volunteers, particularly those suffering from situations of economic insecurity or social exclusion, can come to our office and be guided through the process of becoming a fully autonomous volunteer by starting an account and finding missions that suit their needs.
We held 22 permanences last year, allowing us to accompany 110 people in situations of precarity to get involved in volunteering missions. Our most active volunteers, called “supernovas,” help out with these introduction programs, representing Benenova in public spaces.
What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?
Our main resource is accessibility. We offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities on the online calendar. Across four cities, over 800 monthly listings relating to the fight against poverty, protecting the environment and aiding the youth and aged populations.
In addition to the permanence, we offer a specialized inclusive volunteer program to make volunteering accessible to those with disabilities – mental or physical. We also follow up with both volunteers and associations to ensure missions are going smoothly and everyone’s needs are being met.
Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.
One of our most notable success stories is that of Seijirô, a young man with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) who we accompanied as he began his volunteer journey. We started with an interview to better get to know Seijirô, his interests and his desire to help others feel useful. We were also able to identify some difficulties to take into account in order to propose adequate missions – for example, his sensitivity to noise, or difficulties related to fine motor skills or speech.
We worked with Seijirô to find a form of volunteering that worked for him, and we worked with the volunteer associations to ensure the task remained suitable for Seijirô. While Seijirô admitted the tasks were difficult for him at first, volunteering made him feel useful, and like he was able to help others. Alexia, a psychologist who has worked with Seijirô and his parents for years, echoed Seijirô’s positive sentiments, saying that volunteering made it easier to go about daily tasks, improving Seijirô’s mood and sense of personal autonomy.
The entire mission of Benenova revolves around adapting and welcoming every person willing to give time to a cause or an association. In that sense, the inclusive volunteer program is simply an extension of our values and core mission.
What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement?
There are two large yearly milestones for Benenova – World Refugee Day (June 20) and World Volunteer Day (December 5) – both big opportunities for Benenova to raise awareness and rally involvement in volunteerism.
We are also in the process of making a film about our 10 years of social involvement, incorporating spoken testimonials from those involved at every level of the organization. In addition, one of our most current objectives is the expansion of corporate volunteerism – getting salaried employees engaged in volunteering by presenting real initiatives to companies.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?
The best advice is to stay human-centered. We can never be in touch with every individual, but we can stay available and accommodating. All people can give is their time – the least we can do is be thankful.
HandsOn NWNC Focuses on Volunteer Recognition During Global Volunteer Month
affiliates who are positively impacting their communities through volunteerism and other pathways to doing social good.
The Points of Light Global Network operates with a network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.
, a member of the Points of Light Global Network, mobilizes the people and organizations that inspire community change in Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties in North Carolina. HandsOn NWNC envisions a Northwest North Carolina where citizens and nonprofits are equipped and engaged in creating thriving, healthy communities.
We spoke with Amy Lytle, executive director at HandsOn NWNC, to get her thoughts on Global Volunteer Month and how the organization supports its volunteers to take action and increase social good. She shared why volunteer recognition and other ways of engaging volunteers is so important.
How is your organization recognizing Global Volunteer Month this year?
Our largest event of the year is the Forsyth County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards, where we recognize the “best of the best” volunteers in our area at a 250 to 300 person breakfast that draws a wide variety of community leaders. This year, we’re holding the breakfast on May 2, but we profile all of our two dozen nominees in social media posts leading up the event.
How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?
, our online volunteer matching portal. And we publish a quarterly Volunteer Connection e-newsletter that highlights a variety of engagement opportunities. We also provide ongoing
What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?
Volunteerism is at the heart of why we exist. We have an active and engaged board of directors. The Program and Marketing committee of our board also serves as the core of the selection committee for our GVSA awards as well as our competitive, stipended programs.
We constantly seek to engage new audiences in volunteerism, whether it be youth (we just recently laid down a Youth Engagement Coalition, but it had been very active during the pandemic) or corporate, or the more rural/ex-urban parts of our service area.
Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.
Lots of our “best” volunteer stories have been recognized as
, another outstanding volunteer, was the driver behind our Youth Engagement Coalition and served on our board for two years while she was in high school, and has changed local public transport policies to make relying on the bus easier for families who need it to buy groceries:
What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement beyond Global Volunteer Month?
We also promote volunteerism around our large, established MLK Day of Service Read-In event, and we’ve put together a Civic Circle presentation that we’ve done for our local Chamber’s HR roundtable as well as local conferences for a variety of audiences. We hope to continue to do similar presentations to civic and church groups in the future.
Can you share any tips or best practices for other organizations looking to recognize Global Volunteer Month?
Just do it! Try to tie your local, pre-existing efforts into GVM and the Civic Circle to widen your story and generate press coverage.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?
Give us a call, check out our website and think about the causes and issues you most care about. As the Indigo Girls said, “If I’ve got a care in the world, I’ve got a gift to give.”
2023 Global Network Gathering Recap
We’ve spent three and a half amazing days with NGO affiliate members of the
, CEO Daniel Morias and staff were incredible (anfitrioes incriveis!), and of course, this event wouldn’t have been possible without our generous sponsors at UPS. We were welcomed, introduced to Brazilian social engagement leaders, offered learning opportunities, and given experiences within the Brazilian culture in São Paolo that will stay with us forever. Thank you, Atados team and UPS! Obrigado equipe Atados e UPS!
The Points of Light Global Gathering is an annual get together of our affiliate members where we convent with NGOs from small towns in Texas to Hong Kong, China, share around
and social impact and the failures we’ve learned from and the successes we’ve seen. We connect with each other to strengthen and uplift the community programs each of us is driving and take those learnings back to our teams. And there’s always a bit — ok, a lot— of fun, laughter and some dancing sprinkled throughout.
“Bringing together Points of Light affiliates from across the globe is an energizing and powerful experience. This gathering gave us the opportunity to learn about civic leadership programs in California and then about innovative corporate volunteer programming in Spain. We also heard from our affiliate in the Ukraine about refugee relief work,” said Vanessa Diamond, SVP civic innovations, Community Foundation for a greater Richmond. “As we learn about new program models, unique ways affiliates are integrating the
®, we each walk away with insight on how we can make our localized programming more efficient, equitable, and in turn, create more positive change in our communities. As we are catalysts for volunteer action in our own communities, in bringing us together, Points of Light created an opportunity to inspire and educate us so we can do more.”
We kicked off our time together on Tuesday, March 14, with a visit to Atados headquarters in São Paolo, where participants of the Service Project gathered to meet and exchange gifts with their Pen Pals after exchanging letters for weeks leading up to the Global Gathering. We were treated to a delectable dinner Tuesday night with a special welcome dinner at MSTC, The Roofless Movement from the Center, led by Carmen Silva. This activist organization rehomes the city’s unhoused population into previously abandoned buildings. MSTC provides access to healthcare, education, work opportunities and is the model for more than 160 similar sites in the area. It will live with us as a moment of shared understanding of Brazilian culture.
Points of Light Global Network Gathering Photo Gallery
Wednesday, March 15, was the first Social Engagement Summit in São Paolo that brought together Points of Light Global Network affiliates, local São Paolo corporations and leading NGOs in Brazilian social impact work for a day of learning and collaboration. The morning panels delved into current social impact trends featuring our own Interim CEO Diane Quest, Atados Founder Daniel Morias, and Points of Light Board Member and Assembly Chair Vanessa Diamond. I was honored to be invited to speak on the ways data is changing civic engagement, particularly in post-pandemic societies. Points of Light affiliates shared their expertise on panels ranging from disaster recovery and relief to examples of collaboration and innovation in corporate partnerships. Points of Light Board Member Michelle Gavin shared insights on the Civic Circle and its role in societal change.
“Being the host of the global gathering in Brazil proves the power of collaboration. It is an opportunity to bring international knowledge to Brazil and shows the strength of the Points of Light Global Network,” said Daniel Morais, founder and CEO, Atados. “Together with Points of Light, we could bring methodologies and credibility for our work and access to new networks. We hope it was also good for Points of Light to have a Brazilian experience.”
Our affiliates then transitioned into a day-and-a-half of Global Network discussions and learnings where we kept belonging, learning and strategy at the forefront. Vanessa Diamond, SVP of civic innovations for Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, along with Julia Aramendi, project director of Volies and Vice-Chair of the Network Assembly, talked about the catalytic nature of being together. They explored the value proposition of being a member of the Points of Light Global Network – from affiliate to Points of Light, and Points of Light to affiliate – and how the current structure of the network offers opportunities for shared learning through communities of practice, and local regional roundtables.
We then delved into how our world has transitioned to people seeing themselves as “taking action” vs. the historically more traditional role of volunteering. We heard examples from five affiliates around their community projects in alignment with the
® including Rosie Drumgoole with Chicago Cares, Bia Lin with Hands On Hong Kong, Stephen Davalos with LA Works, Leo Petrov with Children for a Better World and Amy Lytle with Hands on NW North Carolina.
On the final day of the gathering, four affiliate partners, including Daniel Morais with Atados, Hannah Wojno of Ruach Tova, Monica Gil with Hands on Colombia and Celina Lesta with Volies, shared what makes successful and not-so-successful collaborations both as network members and overall. Afternoon conversations centered around the Civic Circle and how
. Group discussions explored how the social impact landscape is evolving and the ways the Civic Circle applies to our collective work with various audiences – from nonprofits and NGOs to corporations to individuals, including youth activation. We talked about what we need to extend the reach and understanding of all civic actions with audiences in different parts of the world.
“I have so much gratitude for the expertise, knowledge sharing and commitment of our network. The 2023 Global Gathering in Brazil forged new and strengthened existing connections and grounded us all in the important collective work we’re doing together,” said Diane Quest, interim CEO and president of Points of Light. “We are so grateful for our host team Atados and leave Brazil with a better understanding of the work they are doing to build a social engagement society.”
We ended the day with an invitation and brainstorming around the next time we would be together in Chicago at the annual
We’ll leave you with some of our new favorite Portuguese phrases from the group:
Bom = good
Xicara de café = cup of coffee
Obrigado = thank you
Together we inspired each other, we laughed at our shared human fallibilities, we explored Brazilian culture, and we created memories and friendships that are at core of the Points of Light Global Network.
Can’t Miss Chicago Experiences with the Points of Light Conference 2023 Co-hosts
Whether you’re new to your job or an expert practitioner,
connect with fellow changemakers and drive real and sustained change in your own community and beyond. By connecting, learning from fellow leaders, gathering innovative ideas around
The Points of Light Conference 2023 will be held in Chicago, featuring inspiring speakers from around the globe as well as Points of Light’s own subject matter experts. Plus, our three Chicago-based
affiliates are co-hosting this year’s event. We asked these Chicago locals to tell us about their work and share highlights of the city they call home.
Share one remarkable thing about your community-changing work.
Chicago Cares:
Chicago Cares is inspired every day by what service makes possible! The impact of service experiences that are relational, community-driven and equity centered are richer, more creative and more expansive than we could have imagined. Whether it’s volunteers who go on to deeply invest in small businesses, residents who go on to be employed at a company after a service engagement or collaborative work greater than we could have imagined, like
, service connects, educates and activates us to build the city we all deserve. Through service, Chicago Cares is bridging the divides in our city, building social and civic connections, and weaving our communities together as a stronger whole. A city more deeply bound to one another socially and civically is capable of transformational change.
HandsOn Suburban Chicago:
Each person we connect with has a ripple effect. When we connect a person to a nonprofit
, they become engaged with that nonprofit giving their time, talent, and resources. Through their engagement, they grow in their passion for the work they do, often asking others to volunteer either with the nonprofit or to find a place of their own they are passionate about. They have learned the impact they have made, and that ripple effect continues to grow.
Giving Dupage:
It is remarkable to have a front row seat to generosity in our community. We bear witness to how people devote themselves to a cause and it is humbling to play a small part in connecting individuals to service.
“It is fitting that the 2023 conference will be hosted in Chicago: every day so many Chicagoans serve one another with love for their neighbors and pride for their city. Our residents and leaders demonstrate that service is a powerful way to connect, learn and build the city we all deserve.”– Ellen Ray, chief executive officer at Chicago Cares
Name one “can’t miss” experience in Chicago.
Chicago Cares CEO Ellen Ray
:
One of my favorite Chicago experiences takes me to Garfield Park on Chicago’s West Side to spend time at the
, a social enterprise restaurant with proceeds supporting Inspiration Corporation’s job training program for individuals ready for a new start in life.
HandsOn Suburban Chicago Executive Director Chris Swope Cholewa
is a must-see, offering history, music, art, dance and architecture representing diverse cultures and unique perspectives, and a free showcase to learn and enjoy so much beauty.
Giving Dupage Executive Director Shefali M. Trivedi:
Enjoy the delicious global cuisine in Chicago. If you are a foodie, then Chicago is your international foods test kitchen!
“It is thrilling to co-host the Conference and have the opportunity to motivate people across the globe to expand their knowledge, make new connections, and inspire change while experiencing the diverse cultures and communities of Chicago and the surrounding communities.”– Chris Swope Cholewa, executive director at HandsOn Suburban Chicago
Who’s a famous Chicagoan and notable community steward who you’re eager to meet?
Chicago Cares:
I am still holding out hope that someday I will get to meet Chance the Rapper! He is not only a Grammy-award winning artist, famed Chicagoan and a community steward through Social Works, he also guest appears in one of the most Chicago of shows, which is filmed in Englewood, “South Side” as Herbert.
HandsOn Suburban Chicago:
I would love to meet Michelle Obama as she continues to inspire her hometown and lives her words, “Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”
“There is a powerful energy created when thousands of minds and hearts converge around the intention of service and doing good. This thought inspires us and is a real signal of hope for all communities. Giving DuPage welcomes our friends and colleagues with open arms to the Chicago region!– Shefali M. Trivedi, executive director at Giving DuPage
Outside of the beloved Deep Dish Pizza, what’s one delicacy credited as a Chicago original?
Chicago Cares:
The Pizza Puff! It is infamous (for scalding your mouth)! If you grew up in Chicago like I did you’ve likely grabbed one of these, and the gooey, cheesy, fatty, salty treat is glorious and painful. It originated here and is tough to find outside of Chicago. Also, the Chicagoan in me has to point out that the most Chicago of the pizzas is actually Tavern Style.
. The original “Dog Shack” opened in 1963 about two miles from my home and has grown to $1.9 billion and spread throughout the country. I would say that it started as one great hot dog.
Giving Dupage:
Saganaki may not officially be a “Chicago original,” but it definitely became a signature dish here. Chicagoans often start Greek restaurant dinners to the sound of ‘Opaa’ when the dish of cheese is set to flame tableside and finished with a squeeze of lemon.
serves the public as the Dupage County volunteer center connecting people with local giving opportunities, mobilizing volunteers, providing capacity-building resources to local nonprofit organizations and striving to inspire their community.
We’re Saying Goodbye to Community – Our Online Content Hub for Nonprofits
As a convener of nonprofit thought leaders, Points of Light is always looking for ways to better serve you. Our online Community hub has provided an engaging place for idea sharing since 2020, and we’re thankful to our partners and staff who have provided valuable tips, expertise and templates over the last two years.
Our blog will still offer the same thought-provoking ideas made especially for nonprofit practitioners, like you, who want to innovate how to mobilize people power to bring your mission to life.
Thank you for being a part of Community and Points of Light.
5 Ways Nonprofits Can Promote Family Volunteer Day
, marking a global day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. This year, this special day falls on November 19. It’s a great way for nonprofits to highlight how families can help support your mission and your community’s needs. Here are five ways nonprofits can promote Family Volunteer Day and engage families in your community.
1. Create a landing page
Update your website with a landing page featuring family-friendly project ideas for your organization listing your greatest needs where families can help. Need ideas? Points of Light has a number of youth-oriented
full of social media graphics and language that you can use to promote the dayon your social channels. Encourage families in your local area to share the day and join in the opportunity to volunteer as a family – as well as any photos or videos on the day – on their social network of choice using the hashtag #FamilyVolunteerDay.
3. Share via your newsletter
Let folks know to save the date! Download and customize this
for your newsletter to share with your network or create your own call to action. We recommend giving people plenty of advance notice so they can plan accordingly. In fact, you can start promoting Family Volunteer Day now!
4. Link to existing Family Volunteer Day projects or opportunities
Direct people to search for family-friendly volunteer opportunities on your nonprofit’s landing page or volunteer search portal. Need additional opportunities? You can find them on Points of Light’s
or any other volunteer project sources. Engage is a global database with hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities, both in-person and virtual. Use the search filters to explore projects that are good for families, teens and seniors. If you are promoting your own Family Volunteer Day projects, be sure to tag them so people can find them easily.
5. Contact local media
Help spread the word about Family Volunteer Day and promote the activities your organization is involved with. Reach out to your local newspapers, magazines and radio stations to see how they’d be willing to promote your organization and the event.
However you choose to participate in Family Volunteer Day, we’re looking forward to watching the way you bring families in your area together. We’d love to hear from you! Tag Points of Light on your social media accounts so we can see what you’re up to for Family Volunteer Day this year.
Family Volunteer Day is a day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. Volunteering is a great way for kids and adults to make new friends, develop compassion for their neighbors and even pick up a new skill or two.
Know a family who’s a living example of what Family Volunteer Day is all about?
