Where Do I Go From Here?

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006
In previous blogs I described a sophisticated process of finding action that is immeadiate, relevant and concrete and how to use your passion and skills to help you find an appropriate action. But where do I begin looking? Back in the first blog and podcast, I said I would be featuring some opportunities, organizations and grassroots groups that are making a difference. In each blog and cast, I will provide you with some good actions/organizations and some not so good actions/organizations. I am also going to talk about something in the news, review a book or interview one of our Everyday Action Hero nominees.

You are able to examine and intepret this blog with relative ease because somewhere in the past you learned to read. Not everyone had that opportunity or the opportunity came at the wrong time. Research shows that learning to read at an early age is fundamental to success in school and life. If you can read, then you can help teach someone. You could offer your services at a school or youth group but they likely are more interested in a consistent approach offered by an organization. ” Calgary Reads” is an example of a small organization ( budget <$150,000) that reaches young readers in Grades one and two. Last year a total of 296 tutors worked with 504 students in 49 schools in every quadrant of Calgary. Calgary Reads has developed two half day training sessions and ask that you tutor at least twice a week for sixteen weeks. If the issue is that some children are having difficulty reading, then an immeadiate, releveant and concrete action is to help them learn to read better. Calgary Reads says that you are ” giving the child the gift of reading”. If lteracy is an area where you feel passionate then look for an existing progarm or group in your community. Some links from Canadian cities are at the end of this blog.

I would recommend that you pick up a copy of “Making a Difference: Changing the World One Penny and One Minute at a Time” by Dr. Rhonda Hackett. Check your public library for a copy of this 150 page how-to guide. Rhonda has found a way to inspire us to turn our intentions of helping into a realized goal while benefiting others. There is a focus throughout on donating financial resources but they steps she outlines work equally well for donating your time and skills. You can find more information about Dr. Hackett’s organization Nivek on their website.

If you have any comments, concerns, flames or flowers you can leave comments here or email optimistic.bob@gmail.com Let me know what you are thinking and what you might like to see covered.