What the Service Movement Can Learn From Tehran
Today was the last day of the National Conference on Volunteerism and Service. Nearly 4,000 people attended the gathering in San Francisco, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Schwarzenegger, and other notables.
At the same time, thousands of young people across the globe were taking to the streets, organized via Twitter, in the name of social change and democracy in Iran.
The comparison is telling.
When a bunch of young people climbed on the Berlin wall and tore it down, it wasn't a community service project. The young people who protested the Vietnam War weren't tallying their community service hours. Think about the actions of the Civil Rights workers who marched, lobbied, and sat at restricted lunch counters--and all the ACT UP and Queer Nation activists who held kiss-ins in the 90s or the equality activists who took to the streets in California recently. And the list goes on...
Change has always come as a result of young people taking action. People rocking change--because injustice stares them in the face and they just have to do something about it.
Call it a reaction. An action. A movement. A force. But is it "service"? There are lots of good things out there under the auspice of "service"--like the millions who serve our country as part of the military. And then there's the 180 days of required "service" handed down to Chris Brown this week.
I wonder, will traditional "community service" orgs have a long life cycle? In the age of Twitter and Facebook, do we need conferences to exchange best practices? Will we need organizations or will we simply have movements? I.e. Tehran.
One thing I know to be true: the not for profit sector needs to evolve. Quickly. For example, the conference did have two bright spots. One was a panel called "Service 3.0: Converting Online Interest to Offline Activism," with Volunteer Match, Do Something.org, and others. The second bright spot was Arianna Huffington announcing the launch of All For Good.org. While this new platform isn't perfect it's a step in the right direction.
If you want to reach a tech savvy generation you need a new model of communication. I'm hoping that next year the entire conference just takes place by video on YouTube. Maybe then I'll attend.
Follow Nancy Lublin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/dosomething
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Action has always been the front seat driver in the vehicle of change. The fuel of course is the people that partake in the process of change. Although such terms are extremely elusive in definition, especially in a narrow (one can even say romantic) way, the emotions that we feel when we mention such terms are often very real and genuine.
On the other hand though, the traditional boomer model not-for-profits is fading - and such organizations must evolve. The way that "change" manifested itself 50 years ago is old, and it tried to capture it through a very narrow channel of communication. There was the organizer and those who listened to the organizers -- there was no room for input, no room for ideas, no room for real exchange of ideas... we all just accepted the message (not to mention, where there was a forum for "exchange" it was very formal, as if the very act of exchanging ideas was going to a special dinner -- we all had to dress up for it). As a result, and we are feeling a backlash from it.
I am a firm believer in the power of social media, and the one-way communication that many orgs send today will soon be replaced by a collection of conversations about those who are passionate about driving change. And unsurprisingly (and to our amazement), that happens because social interactions better communicate the essence of our deepest desires -- especially the ones that drive change.
The point of this article is to present a different way of looking at service as a response to our global and interconnected world. I don't think Nancy was trying to downplay simple community service at all, she's simply placing these service actions into a different framework, one that takes into account the social networking revolution that is taking over our world right now. I hope her message is not lost due to misunderstandings because I believe the not-for-profit sector does need to evolve, and quickly.
This week has really proven the power of online social networking sites. They are no longer just for college kids to post party pictures, but rather can serve as a catalyst for change. I definitely agree with Nancy that not for profits have to take advantage of these sites to reach a larger audience and encourage social action. Nice article!
I think it's clear that Nancy still supports volunteerism and community action, this generation is just capable of so much more. Its not that reading at lunchtime isn't a good thing (its a great thing!), but hopefully this uber-connected, super motivated generation can go further than that and do things that are so much more revolutionary and really transform our country and our world.
I hope people keep volunteering and people keep calling for revolution. It seems we need both in this country. And rock on to anyone who supports young people and gives them the tools they need to take action.
I completely agree. Nancy's talking about a call to action that this generation of young people can make significant, revolutionary, transforming change. The so-called "small" things, like volunteering in your community or locally, are still important and incredibly prevalent, as DoSomething.org clearly showcases, but there are bigger walls to break down and that generation has the power to do something about it. (No pun intended).
I absolutely agree. I participate in several local volunteer projects and continue to do so because I believe in their merit. I am realistic enough, however, to realize that using facebook, twitter and other cyber networks is most effective way to affect global change. Though local service should not be neglected, the real push in the future should be to capitalize on these ready-made connections. Youth are the key to this as they have the energy, the drive and the desire to better the world.
I don't think Nancy is dismissing community service as much as she is touching on the need for more action, less talk. She's dismissing the old model, the old terminology and looking ahead to what's next. Conferences and calling on kids to "do service" is not what's next. The young people in Tehran were able to garner publicity for their cause and eclipse Michelle Obama in the headlines -- that's telling. Orgs need to adapt to an extremely globalized, tech savvy and passionate generation and find a way to tap into it, to spur that offline action.
I agree with the sentiment that volunteerism and community service can mean many different things, some of which are not politically progressive.
However, I disagree with your blanket dismissal of community service. Volunteering for community projects can be a key way to not only get politicized, but to learn practical skills for building for long-term social transformation.
Any understanding of revolution as a process and not just a magical moment has to be based in the recognition that long-term change requires deep social learning--sharing stories and experiences across boundaries, working closely with people to build relationships of trust and solidarity, realizing the power of baby steps and small actions to contribute to a whole that is bigger than ourselves, etc. It is often through volunteer experiences that this deep social learning can occur.
Without the personal empowerment that often comes with seeing concrete social projects in action, many people--young and old--are left with romantic notions of revolution as instantaneous change, and live lives tinged by resignation and powerlessness, always waiting for the magic moment when the gods of revolution will finally arrive from on high.
If we are to ever create lasting social transformation, it will have to include the knowledge and actions of people who show their love for humanity in all sorts of ways, including ways that aren't as sexy as storming the barricades ;^)
Give me a break. Yes, it’s amazing and brave what is going on in Iran. No, they aren’t counting there service hours. No, we weren’t counting our hours when we marched against policies of our government’s actions in Viet Nam. Comparing these actions to volunteerism and service are like comparing a medical breakthrough to your son’s goal in a Saturday soccer match. Both good things - awkward to compare.
I didn’t go to the conference either. Your response in not being there is like a film critic bothering to review a move they haven’t seen. Your comment “Maybe then I'll attend” makes me think you weren’t there.
Chris Brown is not indicative of the people across the nation and world that provide medical services as volunteers, feed the hungry, read with and mentor a child in-need, or support their local fire station.
I work for a nonprofit which all of the service is provided by volunteers. Once a week, attorneys, administrative assistants, clerks, high school and middle school students, and retired people read at lunchtime with a child in need of literacy and self-esteem support. It makes a difference. It doesn’t bring down the Berlin wall, but tears down walls of opportunity that are closed to people who can’t read. Walls that block the entrance to living wages for people without an education.
Thank you First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Schwarzenegger, and others for supporting service and vounteerism. I do too!
Craig Fleishman
Executive Director, EVERYBODY WINS! Los Angeles
Maybe Twitter is to a conference what cybersex is to sex.
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