Cookin’ Good: Volunteer organizations can get pretty specific. For those who enjoy cooking (I personally am a talented microwaver), Christine Carol has launched the Culinary Corps. Right now, they’re working in New Orleans, but they’re looking for new locations and plan to go to Nicaragua in November. Matador Volunteer has a great profile of the organization. I’m really impressed by the creativity, and hope the org expands. Hmm, now I’m hungry.
Listen Up! Be the Change, Inc. founder / CEO and all-around-awesome guy Alan Khazei (who also founded City Year) recently spoke at an MIT forum on civic engagement and young people. And you can listen to the podcast. Also participating are a professor of political science and an MTV vice president who works with MTVthink and Choose or Lose. Put on your headphones and plug in.
There Will Be (No) Blood: Our friends over at GOOD magazine are opening their film Son of Rambow in more cities today. The movie is about two young boys in Britain who decide to make their own Rambo film, and shows the power of friendship and imagination. I have a friend who took his mom to see it last weekend, and both really enjoyed it - so go see it!
The Latest Gossip: ServiceNation coalition partner Jumpstart is featured today on uber-Hollywood celeb blog PerezHilton.com (sandwiched between “Why He Dumped Her?” (Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson) and “Ellen’s Big Announcement” (she’s gettting married to Portia de Rossi)). It’s all about the traffic.
Help Out: The recent earthquake in China’s Sichuan province needs anything you can give. Since much of the area is rural and not very accessible, the government and aid organizations are having problems reaching people. Here’s a list of organizations and ideas that show how you can help.
Booyah: The Corporation for National and Community Service is honoring the best of AmeriCorps, and if you want a little inspiration, read about the honorees. Plus, the House of Representatives finally recognized that it’s AmeriCorps Week and passed a resolution making it official . Love the language:
Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
(1) encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness about the importance of national and community service;
(2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps members, alumni, and community partners;
(3) recognizes the important contributions to the lives of our citizens by AmeriCorps members; and
(4) encourages citizens of all ages to consider serving in AmeriCorps.
Is this the Son of Rambow or an AmeriCorps volunteer?
Tags: Alan Khazei, AmeriCorps, House of Representatives, movies, podcast, volunteer orgs
May 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
It’s great to get such a rich variety of good news–and a reminder that it’s all connected– in one quick read.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Virginia - Glad to see that you are enjoying the new round up. If you see anything we should post just let us know. The email is blog at bethechangeinc dot org.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Hi-Thanks for including our exciting mention on the Perez Hilton website! Just wanted to let you know our website is http://www.jstart.org. Thanks!
May 16th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Karen - we were really glad to see you there, too! Fixed the website link; sorry about that!
May 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I saw Son of Rambow last week in DC — it was really, really good. I had no expectations going in, but thought it was extremely creative, entertaining, and also had lots of meaning. It’s nice to see that some folks still believe those characteristics can work well together in modern movies and media.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hi
My name is johny and i’m living in USA,i’d like to help if there is an organization which wants me to go there it’ll be fine in july.
i can help in meny things.
Best,
johny
June 11th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Thanks for the link to our information about volunteer opportunities in China! Right now many people want to go help, but the infrastructure to support such efforts just isn’t in place… yet. There’s an opportunity here for any non-profit with ties to China to harness the tide of goodwill towards the country and towards helping the victims of the quake.
However, if people can’t find ways to get to China, there are plenty of ways to help in our own backyard. Victims of Hurricane Katrina still need help - there are still relief and rebuilding trips still going on:Rebuilding Together: New Orleans
Rebuilding St. Bernard’s Parish
Habitat for Humanity New Orleans
June 11th, 2008 at 10:53 am
PS. Cookin’ Good looks like an awesome org. Combines two of my favorite things - cooking and Nicaragua!! When I was in Nicaragua, I gained 5 lbs a month.. their cooking techniques aren’t exactly healthy… yet.