- Call the volunteer coordinator at nursing homes or hospitals.
- Call the central coordinating group (e.g. Scout Council) for established groups like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.
- School District offices can put you in touch with art teachers, drama teachers, guidance counselors, parent-teacher groups, etc. You may have a particular school in mind or the district office might be able to direct you to a school that has a propensity for community projects.
- Remember, the object is to bridge a divide in your community -- across income, race, religion, age, etc. The point is to get us out of our normal circles so that we may interact with folks who are different from us.
- Local United Way or Community Chest offices can put you in touch with local non-profit organizations. The non-profits may be able to put you in touch with individuals or groups.
- Local ministerial or other faith-based organizations can point you to congregations, adult and youth groups.
- Homeless shelters, halfway houses, transitional housing groups may welcome folks coming in.
- Your elected community leaders will know large numbers of local people.
- City and county offices may know of local organizations that aren't readily apparent.
- Service/civic organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, veterans' organizations and auxiliaries are a possibility.
- Day Care Center directors might be able to use a simple project as an activity. And remember that there are now day care centers for the elderly.
- Remember, the object is to bridge a divide in your community -- across income, race, religion, age, etc. The point is to get us out of our normal circles so that we may interact with folks who are different from us.
- Look in the telephone book yellow pages under "Service Organizations."
- Your community may have a local professional organization of volunteer coordinators and/or non-profit professionals.
- Local businesses and industries may have service clubs made up of employees.
- Librarians know how to look up anything! Talk with them. They want to help you.
- Take a walk around town. If you see someone knitting or writing or sketching or playing an instrument, start a conversation!
- Remember, the object is to bridge a divide in your community -- across income, race, religion, age, etc. The point is to get us out of our normal circles so that we may interact with folks who are different from us.
- The more you call around canvassing for your particular bridge, the more people will hear about your ideas and the concept of strengthening community ties through creativity. Work out a concise summary of what you want to do so that folks will gain a quick understanding.
- Remember, the object is to bridge a divide in your community -- across income, race, religion, age, etc. The point is to get us out of our normal circles so that we may interact with folks who are different from us.
What happens if you are not part of a group? What if you, as an individual, want to start a Community Handworks project?
- Can you teach a creative activity that you enjoy? It doesn't need to be formal; it doesn't need to be in front of a large group.
- Can you brainstorm ideas? Can you dream?
- Start calling from the above list. See if you can find a group or a few other individuals to help you plan a project.
- Make an object (or any creative offering) yourself and start a challenge. If you already have a plan and/or an object, it may be easier to gather others to participate in the next stage. (See my first project - "Metaphors Abound.")
- Remember, the object is to bridge a divide in your community -- across income, race, religion, age, etc. The point is to get us out of our normal circles so that we may interact with folks who are different from us.
I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced that they are about to change the world. I am more awed by...those who...struggle to make one small difference after another.
--Ellen Goodman
