Profile of a Volunteer

My little sister, Kaitlyn, has followed in the footsteps of her older siblings (my brother and me) and has spent the majority of her youth and young adulthood considering the needs of others over her own. In her undergraduate years, she had attended college in Baltimore and quickly became involved in her community. Not only was she the president of her University's Habitat For Humanity student chapter, but she also began to work as a volunteer within different community outreach organizations working to connect community members with access to health-care. While working with these community health organizations, she helped to file new and existing client information, and in the process was able to learn about a whole community of peoples from their own perspectives. The impact of her volunteer work lent to a positive growth in the community, as she was able to institute more effective systems for practitioners to connect records and provide the community members with the most accurate services. Yet, although her major efforts directly affected her community, they made an incredible impact on her own life. Where she had never worked within a community such as the impoverished Baltimore community, she was able to understand the depths of the the social issues that plague their city and their lives. As she worked both in HFH and these community health organizations, she learned that the city's heartbeat existed in the lives of it's most needy, and the systems that need to be in place in order for improvements in their lives do not exist yet. Although any advocate that works on behalf of children and families understands that the world we hope to live in is not here yet, we can each do our part to build it. 

Using Social Media to Get Connected

Social media presents itself as a double edged sword. Something I find important to note, is that although social media can serve as an incredible tool for connecting stakeholders with information on topics that connect with them, it can also become a source for misinformation and negativity. Entering the social media world, one must realize how truly connected they are, the impact their words can have, and how important it is to speak intentionally into the world wide web. Technology is a sensitive topic of study, as it is so rapidly evolving we must be cognisant of our efforts to understand and utilize it to it’s fullest, and most rich potential.

Useful Social Media Tools

• Twitter: This format allows for stakeholders to access quick resources and updates from within the field. Organizations such as Zero To Three utilize platforms like twitter to increase involvement in advocacy efforts for major movements including the Rally For Babies.
• Facebook: This format allows for direct connectivity for advocacy groups. Facebook groups can be made public or private, allowing for controlled contributions towards informing and organizing stakeholders. Facebook allows for easy personalization for groups to invite new members, and share resources throughout.
• Change.org: This format allows for advocate to create and distribute mass access to petitions for change.
• Blogging- This format is a strong resource for helping advocate voice their opinions, and receive real time responses. Advocates can utilize this platform to inform the public of issues, share personal connections, and direct links to resources. This entire process is time logged, so advocates and stakeholders are able to track the movement and progress of their work.

Something I am curious of, is what we as a field can do to not simply utilize social media to spread our word, but how can we teach others to utilize it in the most effective ways? As children and families are becoming increasingly more active within these areas of technology, what resources are available to community members that support them in learning the vast depth of the the technological world, their connectivity, and how they can begin/continue to utilize social media as a direct facet of change for themselves and their families?

E-Advocate. (2011). Social media advocacy: Five influential steps. Retrieved from http://eadvocate.wordpress.com/social-media-advocacy-six-influential-steps/