Change/Wire

We here at BTC believe deeply in the power of coalition. It's a major force multiplier, and makes big, bold goals possible. And who doesn't like big, bold goals? That's why we are excited by the debut of a major hunger relief initiative called We Can End This, which has pulled...

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Think about your last several birthday celebrations. Have they all been very different from one another? Perhaps you've spent one abroad, or another with close friends. Odds are, they somehow included a cake, a celebration, and an end. Fun, but a bit same-old, same-old. What if your birthday were different this...

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Anyone who loves service loves the Peace Corps, because it's one of the most storied and effective service programs America has ever devised. President Obama knows that it is one of the most effective tools America has to build bonds of trust and understanding with other nations, and during his...

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This week we've got a great roundup of stories, ranging from college students and Oscar winners, to former Presidents. Let's take a lesson from these inspirational figures and gear up for a week in service! 1) Oscar's Leading Service Champions: USA Today has an excellent feature on this year's Oscar nominated...

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When it comes to supporting funding for service on Capitol Hill it's important that our community stay engaged and continue to let our legislators know that we think full funding for the expansion of national service and volunteer service opportunities is critical to help address problems and provide meaningful work...

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is probably doing more to change the world than any organization we know. So it's always inspiring to drop in on all the amazing projects the foundation has launched, as well as listen to what Bill Gates has to say about the year ahead. In...

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No one who has not been through it can presume to know what it takes for a grievously wounded veteran to pull his or her life back together. And sometimes the paths they travel are unusual, and inspiring. For Ronnie Simpson, a Marine who almost lost his life to an...

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It's always fun to take a tour of the service-related video subscriptions we follow. And this week there are plenty of compelling stories to watch online: 1) March 8 is International Women's Day and the World Food Program has an excellent video take on the importance of women in global food...

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Chile's earthquake, in terms of raw numbers, was not as devastating as the earthquake which struck Haiti in January. But for thousands of Chileans who lost family members or homes, it was as devastating as any earthquake can be. International organizations are once again scrambling to try and help Chile...

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Okay, there are just three days left in the current round of voting over at Pepsi Refresh, and some of our ServiceNation partners are in the running for some major cash grants. Let's help push them over the top with a final sprint by casting votes for each of them...

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What's been going on in the world of service? Here are a few stories that caught our eye. 1.  Volunteer Army Builds Home For Iraq War Veteran Coming home from fighting overseas for the US military is already an extremely difficult transition, especially for those who have been physically disabled.  Frank Pierson,...

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Did your non-profit organization create an awesome video in 2009?    Whether your campaign revolved around the environment, human rights, disaster relief, health care, or education, you likely used a video or video footage to convey your message and your work.  Get recognized for your hard work and technological creativity! How? Select your...

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No Americans are more dedicated to the ideals of duty and service than our nation's soldiers, sailors, and airmen (and women). And ServiceNation: Mission Serve, our campaign to unite the worlds of civilian and military service in mutual support, is one of the most important and promising campaigns we have...

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One of the core goals for ServiceNation is an America in which 1 million Americans volunteer to serve our nation each and every year through national service programs like AmeriCorps, because we believe that would fundamentally change our democracy and civic life for the better. At the same time, in...

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Patrick Corvington (more on Patrick here) was sworn in yesterday, and he wasted no time communicating his ideas and thoughts about the future of service. First, with this message: Dear Friends,   On my first full day in office, I want to tell you how excited and honored I am...

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In 1985 Lionel Ritchie, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson wrote and recorded--with the help of a superstar list of singers--an iconic benefit single, "We Are The World," to call attention to famine in Africa. It helped raise millions of dollars. Twenty-five years later, in response to the Haiti earthquake, Jones and...

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They go by the acronym WASP, which stands for "Women Airforce Service Pilots," and they flew noncombat missions during World War II to free up male pilots for combat. They were brave, skillful and a vital part of America's war effort. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the WASP: The WASP...

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We've been telling you about the promising Democracy 2.0 Summit that ServiceNation: Mission Serve is helping Mobilize.Org organize April 1-3 in Los Angeles. ServiceNation: Mission Serve Director Ross Cohen has just filmed a short video to offer his take on the meaning and importance of "Beyond The Welcome Home." The aim...

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It took a while, but last night the Corporation For National and Community Service got a new CEO. The Senate, by unanimous consent, approved the nomination of Patrick Corvington (along with 26 other Obama nominees for a variety of jobs). Here's what CNCS had to say about Corvington's confirmation: Washington, DC...

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Our friends and partners at Voices For National Service are intrepid and determined in all their work, so they weren't going to let a little Snowpocalypse prevent them from gathering for the annual Friends of National Service Awards Reception in DC on Tuesday evening (just as blizzard #2 was cranking...

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Former Be The Change, Inc. intern and Boston University student Amanda James let us know this week about a terrific event she is planning to benefit Haiti Relief efforts, specifically Partners In Health. This event, called Boston Stands With Haiti, will take place on February 28th, in the George Sherman Union...

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We told you earlier this month about the great Democracy 2.0 Summit (April 1-3 in Los Angeles) that ServiceNation's Mission Serve is helping Mobilize.org pull off. The aim of the summit, which is called "Beyond The Welcome Home," is to explore the critical issues facing Millennial veterans as they return...

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It's always worth taking a minute to check out what's happening with service on YouTube. Here's a quick playlist to set you up for the coming work week. 1) CNN drops in on the Southwest Conservation Corps: 2) ServiceNation friend and supporter Demi Moore is supporting GEMS (Girls Educating And Mentoring Services)...

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In honor of the upcoming one-year anniversary of the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the University of Phoenix and the HandsOn Network are working together to organize a contest to honor the volunteer whose work has done the most to further and honor Senator Kennedy’s legacy...

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The 2010 Do Something Award season is up and running! The awards are sponsored by, you guessed it-- DoSomething.org. Here’s what they have to say about this exciting opportunity: “Could you use $100,000 to change the world? The Do Something Awards celebrate young people 25 and under who are tackling a...

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Video is a very powerful medium for creating awareness around important issues, as well as inspiring others to join in a solution. That's why the What's Your Issue Foundation runs an annual competition (now in it's 5th year) that calls on 14-24 year-olds to submit short videos about issues they...

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The Pepsi Refresh Project is an audacious experiment in marketing, social media and doing good. The doing good part, of course, is the part we care about most, and it involves Pepsi giving away $1.3 million a month to organizations and individuals who submit ideas to change the world. Citizens...

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Mobilize.org is one of our most inspired and active ServiceNation coalition members. Each year Mobilize organizes a Democracy 2.0 summit that highlights and rewards the most innovative ideas of our Millennial citizens. This year, in Los Angeles April 1-3, ServiceNation's Mission Serve (along with MTV and with support from the...

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On January 18th, citizens across America spent the day celebrating and honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by serving their communities. The Corporation for National and Community Service has been tallying the results and collecting stories (share yours here), and it was a great day for service...

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First Lady Michelle Obama has emerged as a strong voice for military families. This past Veterans Day she helped ServiceNation and its partners launch Mission Serve (video here), which seeks to unite the worlds of military and civilian service in mutual support. And early this week she traveled to Bolling...

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