Utilizing Your Skills for Community Development
By Kelsey Holmes, Greenheart Club Program Assistant
Creating a sustainable, vibrant community requires that everyone works together. Members of the Greenheart Club have the unique opportunity of already being engaged in their communities through service. Through interacting with a global network of volunteers, members can find inspiration for volunteer ideas and utilize our resource database to further global leadership. Do you have a great idea that will help promote development in your community? Chances are, there are others around you who may have the skills or resources needed to make it happen.
We’ve defined community and what it means “to empower members of our cultural exchange community to be global leaders and take action.” Earlier this month, we talked about how strong community organizing leads to a lasting impact. Now, you should be able to utilize your skills to begin working for change in your community!
What problems to do you see in your community that need to be addressed? Next, identify what you do well. Are you really passionate about a certain issue? Focus on your passion and turn it into action. Maybe you want to make a positive impact on the environment; consider starting a community garden or, volunteer with a city clean-up initiative, or try your hand at urban agriculture. Perhaps you see a need in your community for creative educational opportunities for youth – find a community center and volunteer with an after school program.
What are your strengths? Do you want to be out doing the physical work of accomplishing your goals, or would you rather work behind the scenes? Where do you find yourself most engaged? After you’ve found a cause that you care about and have identified your own skills and goals, the work you put in to bettering your community may not feel like work at all!
Once you’ve identified where your strengths and passions intersect, it’s time to pair these with your community’s needs. Setting out clear goals and a strategy for accomplishing them are important components of working for change. The Greenheart Club is a great way to network with other volunteers near you and collaborate for community change!
It’s important to remember that everyone in your community has something to bring to the table. Watch this video by students of the University of California, San Diego who worked together to create a community garden:
The Greenheart Club is a global community of leaders who care about their future and the lives of those around them. How do you use your skills to advocate for change in your community?