Ahhhh compassion. It feels good to give it. It feels great to receive it. It even sounds good. According to a PARADE poll, more Americans think of "public service" as a way of life now more than ever. The economy is tough right now. Even those who are out of work are willing to work for free in hopes of landing a more permanent position. But most people doing their duty are "...motivated toward public service by simple altruism - 60% want to help other people, and 57% want to make the world a better place."
So who's in this new wave of helpers and volunteers? PARADE's survey uncovered three types of people who are driving change.
Yeppies - Young, engaged problem solvers. This group is probably made up of mostly Millenials who believe in themselves so much so that they believe "...that individuals can solve social problems" and on a world-wide level at that. They use the power of social media to increase their reach and influence.
Rapid Responders - Less wordly, more locally. They care about their civic duty and community on a focused and personal level. GenX'ers would be a great fit here as they're "aware" of their surroundings and the problems that persist in it. They want to help on a smaller scale by also engaging their peers to do the same.
The Mission-Minded - It's their mission to ensure that basic needs are met. This group is older, wiser and more experienced. And consequently might have a more money to travel to fulfill their duty to volunteer. They're guided by the ability of religious groups "...to fix the world's problems."
Don't think you fit in either of these new groups of volunteers? To find ways you can contribute your time, talent and skills, check out the Give Back Guide on my blog.
For stories of more people making a difference in their communities, visit www.parade.com/cares.
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