Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something

Here is another in my episodic blog posts in support of the HEDIR Blog. As I have been transitioning between jobs and, in my spare time as a volunteer have also been working hard to help a mid-sized nonprofit manage in this fiscal crisis. This post is a collision between my work, volunteer life and personal passion.

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The title of this blog is “Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something” and is taken from the lyrics of a song by Gil Scott Heron. I chose it because I have come to recognize how important we are in these crazy times of economic, moral, and social uncertainty.

Last week I was in New Orleans at a national conference for Reclaiming Futures, the project I am transitioning into. While I was in my hotel room, ironing my shirt, President Obama was on the TV, telling us that he asked Congress Tuesday to include $1.5 billion in the 2009 supplemental budget to respond to a potential swine flu outbreak. On that day there were about 40-50 confirmed cases and I am not sure the first US. fatality had yet happened. A few hours later I am listening to Marian Wright Edelman talking eloquently about the Cradle to Prison Pipeline. I was staggered as I was reminded of the statistics that every year over 3000 children and teens die from gunfire and more than five times as many children and teens suffer non-fatal gun injuries. And I asked myself: Where is our press conference? Where is our national mobilization of the public health community? Where is our 1.2 Billion dollars?

All the while I was in New Orleans my email had the constant back and forth about budget cuts facing the community mediation center where I serve as a volunteer board chair. The agency’s city contract for neighborhood mediation and conflict facilitation services is facing a 20-50% budget cut. The County Contract for juvenile victim offender mediation was eliminated, despite the fact that such programs have an evidence-base suggesting an $8 return for every dollar invested. The agency’s state contract now faces a 20% cut in the best case scenario. And this is an agency with a diverse funding base.

And sitting at my desk, I read that “The Council on Foundations survey of 430 foundations in March found that 62 percent expect to reduce their grant making this year. Almost half of the respondents said they will decrease their giving budgets by more than 10 percent.”

So together the  cuts across the government and Foundation sector made me realize that our social service community infrastructure is in need of you and me.  And at point I recalled the lyrics of Gil Scott Heron’s song Work for Peace:

I don’t want to sound like no late night commercial,
but its a matter of fact that there are thousands of children all over the world
in Asia and Africa and in South America who need our help.
When they start talking about 55 cents a day and 70 cents a day,
I know a lot of folks feel as though that,
that’s not really any kind of contribution to make,
but we had to give up a dollar and a half just to get in the subway nowadays.
So this is a song about tomorrow and about how tomorrow can be better.

Nobody can do everything,
but everybody can do something,
everyone must play a part,
everyone got to go to work,

Work for Peace.

While the economy has taken out large number of people, including some of those on this list, many of us remain. Still accruing time in our State or University pension plans, refinancing our homes at sub 5% rates and still paying $3 or $4 for a non-fat, skinny latte with an extra shot. Fair trade and organic of course. So now I am not talking to those who are behind on their mortgages, just out of school with crushing debt or those struggling to stay insured. I am talking to those of us who remain. On this list we are health educators working for the public good. But it is not good enough just to do good as professionals.  We are also community members and have a responsibility outside of our work.  We need to be citizens and engaged and during this time and be engaged just a little more because right now, a little more is needed.

So here is the deal. I am asking this list to take up a challenge. Find 1-3 nonprofit agencies to donate to and for the next 3 months donate $30 per month to support the group or groups you identify. But it needs to be money you weren’t already planning on donating. It needs to the “just a little more.” Think about it. That’s $90 in 90 days. I figure on half of those days I spend $2 on a cup of coffee so I can be kinder to my body and support my community without doing anything dramatic in my lifestyle except to live a little more consciously and a little more intentionally. So there is the challenge.

Here is the vision. According to the HEDIR Directory there are almost 3,250 folks willing to self-identify as members. If only 20% of us took up this challenge that would be 650 contributions of $90 or this list would give back $58,500 to the community. Now imagine one more thing. If we each could get one additional person to take up this challenge we would then be talking about well over $100,000. Not quite a $1.2 billion dollar infusion but as a member of a board of a local nonprofit I know the value of each one trying to reach one. Nobody can do everything but everybody can do something.

So there is the challenge and the vision. Now it is time for action. Before you click close, open another browser window and make your first donation (and tell the agency know why you are giving to them). Then calendar the next two donations.  One in June and one in July. Better yet make a repeating donation to an agency. $90 in 90 days. It’s time to work for peace.

Mark

PS: My first donation is to Resolutions Northwest the community mediation center where I chair the board. My $30 to them is above and beyond my board pledge. For my friends and colleagues in the Portland area (heck, any of you looking for a cause), I would urge you to consider donating to Resolutions Northwest as they are doing great work for social justice. You can  Donate Here.

Pss. My next two will include an environmental organization and an music arts organization.