Today we heard from Dr. Kala Stroup about a brief history of the non-profit industry, the volunteer impact, and potential careers in the field of non-profit work. Comment briefly on her presentation, on Erin Fleming's story, or
on the reading from Shelly Cryer's Nonprofit Career Guide.
In 2010, almost 63 million people volunteered their time in the United States. Wow!
We hope you had fun in class today, we sure did!
-Julia, Stephanie, Max and Hannah
Today, when Dr. Stroup talked about the history of Non-for profit organizations, I had never really thought about where they began or how they started. Nor did I think of 501C3’s as a revenue bracket. My father is a bond attorney that specializes in obtaining bonds from the government to fund the organizations, however that’s always just been his ‘job’ to me. I then began to think about how the first most philanthropic generation was my parents’ generation, and how their influence on me growing up has shaped my perspective as a college student striving to volunteer and make the world a better place. Growing up, I had always assumed that everyone volunteered and helped out; a part of everyone’s life. My parents were both very active in the civil rights movement, and even my great grandma was a suffragette. Making the world a better place was never an obligation, but a way of life, even in little ways. My mother had always been an animal lover, and every stray animal that walked on our property stayed. One of those animals happened to be a very cute yellow lab greyhound cross. He unfortunately chewed up my sister’s FAVORITE brand new Nike Flip Flops. Jennifer decided she couldn’t wear the chewed up shoes much longer, and we made the trip to the Topeka Mall to buy a new pair. On the way home, we passed a homeless man with no shoes, walking on the scorching black asphalt. With out a second thought, my sister gave the man the brand new pair of shoes, continuing to wear the demolished shoes for months later. As I progress into adult life, I have realized my parents’ lifestyle and outlook on volunteering has shaped whom my sister and I have both become. My parents have also put into perspective how life could be with out philanthropy as I’ve become a college student, and I am very grateful for their experiences, giving me the ability to have the same outlook they do.
ReplyDeleteToday, KU Professor Kala Stroup paid us a visit today to discuss volunteerism and its impact in the sector of Non-Profit Groups. I thought that she’d presented us with some very useful and encouraging information for us students who are participating in these Alternative Breaks! It’s always great to hear somebody tell you that what you’re doing somehow matters to the world, and that’s exactly what she did with her facts and her statistics. I understand that there are tons of volunteers in this country (pretty much everybody I know has volunteered at least once, I think!), but it’s always impressive to hear such a number as over sixty million volunteers. It was also encouraging of her to put volunteer work in the perspective of the local economy and the global sector, ranking the not-for-profit sector as the 16th largest economy in the world and yielding a GDP as large as the continent of Australia (if I heard correctly). I think that the facts of non-profit organizations and their large contributions to our society today helps put our volunteer work in perspective, even if we do something small over a few hours or through the course of a week.
ReplyDeleteErin Fleming’s story was definitely moving! I think it’s amazing that one person could have taken back so much from their volunteer experience to let it shape nearly their entire career, and that she has done so much with it on a much larger scale! Although my winter break focuses on a much less emotionally moving issue – environmentalism – I, too, hope to take something back from my trip and incorporate it into my life. Environmental conservation has always been an important issue to me and maybe this winter break trip will add more to my passions in a unique and surprising way.
I enjoyed hearing about Erin Fleming's story and the speech Kala Stroup gave today about the nonprofit sector. I definitely learned a lot about both of these areas and took away some really interesting and good information. I really liked Erin's story it was very inspirational to here all that she was able to do to help those who are just trying to seek out a better life. She was so passionate about what she was doing and about helping those who have to go through a lot just to try to get to a new place where they can have opportunities that we have and take advantage of everyday. That kind of passion and drive is what makes me really want to get out and volunteer; it makes me want to try to do whatever I can to help others who are less fortunate. This also reminds me of What Kala mentioned later on during her speech when she mentioned a man who did not want people to volunteer if they felt like they were just going to help or to just get a point for something, but so that they can learn. I believe this is a great point I do not believe one should go volunteer with the idea that the people they are helping a completely helpless or worse off then them and they should not feel like it is something they have to do, people should want to help because it is a good thing to do but they should also have the state of mind that they will be learning something new. They should be open to learning about new people and getting to know new people, by having this state of mind I believe people will gain a better experience during their volunteering.
ReplyDeleteKala Stroup is my HNRS 190 teacher - our class is called "Volunteering: Why it matters! Nonprofits change the world!" I was so excited to see that she was speaking tonight! Every time she talks about the nonprofit sector I can really see her passion for people, especially those in need. She's honestly the most knowledgeable I know person in this area - she knows so much about how the nonprofit sector runs and grows. One thing that struck me was her comment about a man from Mexico who said "Don't send us volunteers to help us, send us volunteers to learn." That's what I hope to accomplish through every piece of service work I do. During the application process for Alternative Breaks, I was focused on things like "Where do I want to go?" "Where would my talents fit best?" "Which would be the most fun place to go?" Thinking back on it, I should have been thinking "Where will I learn the most?" The wonderful thing about service opportunities is that you can be thrown into a completely foreign situation - sleeping on cold floors, staying somewhere without a shower, building something you have no idea how to build - and you will come out with so much valuable insight. That's the point of service, isn't it? Getting out of our comfort zones and experiencing something new, up close and personal - putting aside our comfort to make someone else's day just a little bit brighter.
ReplyDeleteHaving already taken Dr. Stroup’s Honors 492 Citizen Philanthropy class, it was nice to be reminded of all that I learned in that class. Erin Fleming’s story, too, was a great reaffirmation. At such a busy and stressful time in the year, it was calming to remember why I do what I do, with Alternative Breaks, school, and all of my other endeavors.
ReplyDeleteThe statistics that Dr. Stroup presented prove that the nonprofit sector truly is of vital importance, as is the dedication of the millions of volunteers that enable its existence. It is a tribute to the generations before us that service has become such an integral part of our young adult lives. But I think it is imperative that as altruistic-minded students come to college and begin focusing on developing their careers and professional goals for the future, they still have ways in which they can give back to the community. Not only is it critical that they are still able and encouraged to serve, but it is essential that learning and reflection accompany their service. It is through learning, and not just mindlessly serving, that indelible impressions are made and lives are changed.
Yet only a few of the many KU professors are providing the critical information on this huge part of American life and society. That is where Alternative Breaks plays such a huge role: we provide a way for students not only to serve, but to learn about and reflect upon the nonprofit world and the issues facing us today. I am so glad that I can be a part of an organization that is providing students with such a valuable avenue for learning! Through my small contributions to this organization, I can hopefully provide my peers with experiences that will enable them to move from simply helping to learning; eventually, students like Fleming who gain this insight will turn that into passion and motivation to be the change of tomorrow.
I know that I am undoubtedly learning about the sector in a way that I otherwise would never have encountered, and I can only hope that my experiences in this organization will prepare me to prompt positive change in the future.
It is evident from Ms. Erin Fleming’s Story Slam presentation, as well as from personal experience, that No More Deaths is an incredibly important organization. My home church, Grace Covenant Presbyterian in Overland Park, KS, has a history of sending young adults on international mission trips. One summer, this included sending volunteers to work with No More Deaths, the same organization that Ms. Fleming volunteered with. I was unfortunately not old enough to participate on this trip, but the stories told by those who went are with me to this day, and are similar to the experiences shared by Erin Fleming. My fellow church members had the immense fortune of actually staying with families who made their homes on the Arizona side of the Arizona-Mexico border. Many of these families were migrants at one point, and could thus relate to the difficult and heartbreaking stories shared by the brave individuals trying to make a new life for themselves in America by crossing the border. Although many of these individuals had heartbreaking experiences, they also possessed great joy and generosity indicative of the tenacity of the human spirit. These families had endured great trial and struggle, yet were still willing to share their homes, and everything that they had, with complete strangers. They were also more than willing to relax and have impromptu dance parties with those that they hosted. Needless to say, these courageous individuals possessed an amazing amount of resiliency, as they were able to carry on through immense hardship. Another shared story also stands out. The group from Grace Covenant was meeting with a migrant man who was in the process of crossing the border. At the end of their conversation, the group asked the man, “What can we do to help?” To this the man responded: “Remember us.” By sharing these heartbreaking and harrowing stories, Erin Fleming and the members of my church, are not only remembering the courageous individuals that they met, they are also putting faces to statistics. In the Midwest and other regions of the nation, far removed from the Mexico-American border, it can be so easy to have an opinion about immigration. However, we must remember that migrants are just like us; they are human beings with hopes, with dreams, with fears, and with families. We must remember the individuals encountered by my church members and Ms. Fleming, and we must continue to connect faces and stories to the countless numbers of individuals who are fighting for their lives by attempting to cross the border.
ReplyDelete--Blake Benton
Having Kala Stroup come lecture about the nonprofit world was eye-opening. The American nonprofit sector is 16th in the world….the WORLD! I never knew that the nonprofit sector was such a growing, booming part of the American economy. I never even considered that the nonprofit sector was a part of the economy. When Kala was talking about how nonprofit is what raises money for all kinds of research and organizations I thought, “Huh, that money does have to come from somewhere doesn’t it.” I had always thought that money for those kinds of things came from the government, but most of the money actually comes from nonprofit. Nonprofit has created funds for cancer research, drug testing, homeless facilities, United Way, the Boys and Girls Club of America, Red Cross, the KU Endowment fund, and a multitude of other organizations that are beneficial to the people of the United States.
ReplyDeleteWhen Kala was telling us that we were the generation with the most volunteer/service except for the 1960s I felt really good. It shows that our generation is involved and taking an interest in what happens all around us. Kala continued to praise us for the work that we were doing and the work that we have yet to do. It made me think about what all I had done in the past. I never really thought about people not doing volunteer work; it has just been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My first experience with volunteering was in the fifth grade at my elementary school. Two fifth graders were selected to go down to the kindergarten room every day, and we would help the teachers clean up and get ready for the afternoon session of kindergarteners. I remember feeling so honored when I was selected as one of the two fifth graders. It made me feel responsible and trusted to hold that position. I was also a part of a kind of big sister(brother)/little sister(brother) program in elementary school where I went and helped the first graders read books. Serving others and volunteering has been a way of life for me since such a young age, and I want to continue with it for the rest of my life.
I found Dr. Stroup's lecture fascinating. The idea that the GDP of the non-profit sector is larger than a vast number of countries is mind-boggling. Of course we all know that the non-profit sector is extremely important, but the lecture gave me much more perspective. As Dr. Stroup said, without the Red Cross, American Cancer Society, etc., the standard of living in many communities in our country would not be nearly as high. Specifically, I thought of the natural disaster relief efforts that often are headed by non-profit organizations and how without them, recovery would be a much more grueling process. Another idea I was formerly not aware of is that our generation has the largest number of volunteers since the civil rights generation. Comparing these two generations makes me wonder if the power in numbers will result in more drastic social change in our generation as it did in the 1960's. Our generation's work is undoubtedly making a difference, but it will be interesting to see if all of this volunteering will yield a more tangible change or not. This is the type of change that Erin Fleming is working for. Her story was extremely captivating. So many people feel passionate about things but do not act on their beliefs. I feel that alternative breaks can give someone an experience with difficult issues that is so personal, close, and emotionally engaging enough to light a fire in people. It was amazing to see that alternative breaks actually made Erin change her career path. In my Teach for America group, I see the potential for a similar situation to arise. Many of us are considering applying for the corps, and having the ability to see the educational inequality firsthand will be instrumental in helping us decide if the corps, and education in general, are for us or not.
ReplyDeleteErin Fleming’s story and Dr. Stroup’s lecture on Thursday were both inspiring and inspirational. Studying business, I knew that there were opportunities in the non-profit sector, but I never realized how large the industry really was or that it was growing at such a rapid rate. After attending classes for the past two and a half years where teachers lecture on how to make the largest profit in your business, the fact that so many businesses exist solely to help people is extremely refreshing. I was also pleased to find out that our generation is second only to the Civil Rights generation in volunteering. This statistic says a lot about my colleagues, and I am proud to be a part of such a giving community.
ReplyDeleteFleming’s story also showed how important and moving service learning can be. I think it is amazing that her trip opened her eyes and changed her outlook to the extent that it did. I feel like there are several ways to volunteer in the Lawrence community and have your eyes opened a little bit, but I hope that my trip to New Orleans really allows me to see how blessed I am and how much others really do need my and others’ help.
In high school I did volunteer work through National Honor Society, Key Club, and similar organizations, but it was more because I had to rather than because I wanted to. As I have gotten older and have had more volunteering opportunities, I have learned that it is so much more than that. The idea of service learning versus volunteering is so important for everyone to understand, and I believe that it should be taught at a young age so people are not stuck thinking like I did in high school or end up taking part of “poverty tourism.”
Like I said, Erin’s story and Dr. Stroup’s lecture were fantastic. They are both wonderful women and I hope to learn more from them and people like them throughout this course.
This past Thursday, we listened to an audio recording of Erin Fleming recounting an experience she had while on a KU Alternative break, and touching the surface on how her specific experiences have effected her life today, as well as the ways she has been able to implement the things that she has learned within her own community. In Erin's case, she learned about the issues within our country regarding undocumented citizens and immigrants. The organization "No More Deaths" works to solve these issues, and aid the people directly involved. "No More Deaths is an organization whose mission is to end death and suffering on the U.S./Mexico border through civil initiative: the conviction that people of conscience must work openly and in community to uphold fundamental human rights." I was really interested in what Erin had to say about her participation in the "Coming Out Event" for undocumented persons within our country, because it seemed to mirror that of the LGBTQ community, and have the same ideas in mind: declaring yourself, and not being afraid to do so.
ReplyDeleteErin Flemming's alternative break experience impacted her life in a large way, and the subject matter has now become a basis for her life's work. Personally, I feel very passionate about the issues revolving around my alternative winter break program: One Colorado. In my own life, I have never been able to find an outlet or organization that I felt could adequately impact the LGBTQ civil rights movement in a way that could make a significant impact, especially in the south/midwest where I have lived my entire life. My hope is that I will be able to learn more about these issues, and find a way to become more involved with volunteer work within the city of Lawrence, as well as the future place I will call "home."
I found Dr. Kala Stroup’s talk about the non-profit sector very interesting because I did not know much about it. I had no idea it was such a huge sector; it is one of the largest economies in the world. Wow. It was also interesting to learn just how much this sector matters to us; I could not imagine a society without organizations such as United Way. She made me feel honored to be a part of this non-profit sector by volunteering for Alternative Breaks. I have not volunteered that much so I am excited to finally give back to the community in a meaningful way and see what it is like to volunteer. Her talk made me think about just how important volunteerism is and how our economy is in some ways dependent on it. She talked about how you should volunteer because it is something you feel passionate about and not just for points for something. She also said how volunteerism does not just have a huge effect on society, but it can also have a huge effect on you as an individual. This is shown by Erin Fleming’s story about how much her Alternative Break had affected her. I could feel just through her words how passionate she now feels about volunteerism because of her Alternative Break experience. It is amazing just how much a weeklong volunteering project can affect someone. She now is very actively involved in volunteering and giving back to the community. I am going to keep an open mind throughout this alternative break experience in the hopes of getting something very meaningful from it. I understand that it cannot be something forced and has to come naturally. I am glad I chose to be a part of Alternative Breaks this year because through Dr. Stroup’s talk and Erin Fleming’s story I saw just how much it can change one’s life.
ReplyDeleteI must say, I was very excited to have Dr. Kala Stroup as our guest speaker this week. I am currently in her seminar about the history of volunteering and find her knowledge of the non-profit sector fascinating. I had never really thought of the importance of the non-profit sector; it was not covered extensively in the economics and history classes I had in high school. However, to learn that this one part of the United States economy has a GDP equal to that of Australia is astounding. The range of services non-profits provide is also surprising. According to the Non-Profit Career Guide, there are nine major categories of non-profit organizations, ranging from Environmental, Health, and Cultural and the Arts. For every issue in our society, there is at least one non-profit that is trying to fix the problem.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of Dr. Stoup’s speech that particularly spoke to me was her belief that Alternative Break participants should research the organizations with which they will be working. This, combined with Erin Fleming’s story and Julia’s comments about “poverty tourism,” really got me thinking about the significance of applying my volunteer experience to my own life. When I first mentioned to my parents that I wanted to go on an Alternative Break, my dad was fairly skeptical. He wanted to know why I thought it necessary to travel elsewhere to volunteer if there are social problems that still need to be addressed in the Lawrence community. This is an important question to answer. For me, it is my passion for children combined with my career goals that drives me to work with special needs and chronically ill kids. Give Kids the World is one of the best organizations to work with in order to pursue this passion. The idea that a trip like this can have a life-changing effect on my outlook and goals makes me feel really excited and admittedly a little nervous for our break. However, I hope that I will be able to use the experience and the knowledge I gain to make a make a difference in some way when I return.
Both Erin Fleming’s story and the presentation from Dr. Stroup were enlightening. I particularly resonated with Erin’s story because I found it analogous to my own. She spent an alternative break working with immigrants and as a consequence decided to become a lawyer focusing on immigration law. This winter I will be going to Detroit and helping out at the Freedom House which works with asylum seekers from around the world. As of right now I’m hoping to attend graduate school in the area of international human rights once I graduate from KU. Following that I’m considering applying to law school and studying international refugee and/or international human rights law. It was comforting for me to see a story that has similarities to my own because it not only lets me know that others have been affected by their trip as I hope to be, but it also shows that the experiences that one has as a participant in an alternative winter break do carry over to career decisions. My hope is that this alternative winter break will really solidify my belief about whether or not the path that I have described is the one that I’d like to devote my life to.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, Dr. Stroup’s presentation about the non-profit industry was really eye opening. I had always heard the term ‘non-profit’ thrown around but I never really knew what it meant. More specifically, I was not aware of the large scale of that industry. When she mentioned that 51% of the hospital beds in the United States were courtesy of non-profits I couldn’t believe it. However, the statistics weren’t the only thing that I enjoyed. When Dr. Stroup described how a large percentage of social movements began in the non-profit sector I began to feel that maybe I would like to be a part of that when I join the professional work force. I’m going to make a point to check out the book she described that deals with non-profit jobs and see if I could perhaps find a way to participate in such an important sector.
Thursday’s class really made me start thinking about how I want this experience to impact me beyond winter break. Since I do not know exactly what to expect on this trip, and since I am not totally sure as to what awaits me in West Virginia, it has been a little bit difficult to consider what impact it will have on my life. In the various areas of community service I have participated in, each has made some sort of impact on me, so I am sure this one will be no different. I look forward to getting more details and dreaming up what could happen.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to seriously consider a career in the nonprofit sector. My dream for the last few years has been to become a family and child psychologist and eventually have a nonprofit practice to serve low-income families, but that has always been just a wish, not something I considered seriously. Hearing Dr. Stroup speak of her love for nonprofits and how much she believes in the work they do, I have started thinking about this goal once again. As the reading says nonprofits do, it would certainly be seeking to serve the public in a way that does not seek personal profit.
When Dr. Kala Stroup came to speak to us about the nonprofit sector, I was very excited. My ultimate career goal is to work in the marketing department for a large nonprofit so obviously Dr. Stroup’s area of expertise is of great interest to me. I have always been interested in volunteering and service, but that is not the sole reason I have an interest working for a nonprofit. As side from the pride I would take in helping to further a cause and help others do good, I see marketing for a nonprofit has an interesting challenge. I find it very interesting to find ways to appeal to somebody when there isn’t anything solid in it for them.
ReplyDeleteDespite having some previous knowledge of the nonprofits, I was still shocked to learn from Dr. Stroup just haw large it is. The nonprofit sector in the U.S. is the sixteenth largest economy in the world with a GDP the same size as Australia said Stroup. Nonprofits also pay for and account for 51 percent of all hospital beds. These numbers are incredible. In my head non-profits, while very important, were a very small part of our economy and society as a whole. While they served a purpose, a purpose I am very interested in, I did not see them as ever being able to compare to major corporations. Clearly, I was wrong.
As I read, many of the figures that I came across backed up this new understanding. In some ways I was surprised to learn that only 36 percent of charitable gifts are made to religious organizations. Maybe I have just lived in Kansas too long, but I figured that percentage would be far greater. All in all around $40.7 billion was donated in 2006 and corporate giving accounted for around $13.8 billion of that according to the Nonprofit Career Guide. I was also amazed to learn that there are 1.4 million registered nonprofit organizations in the U.S. All in all I was very pleased to learn so many promising facts about the nonprofit sector.
Dr. Kala Stroup came to speak to us about the non-profit sector. I didn't have a lot of knowledge about the non-profit sector. It was great learning about how the non-profit sector works and that our generation has volunteered the most next to our parents generation. I had never really thought about how big the non-profit sector and how many jobs are created by this sector.
ReplyDeleteAs a filmmaker I have never really thought about a career in the non-profit sector. But, I know that the experience of volunteering and traveling effects filmmakers on the stories the tell. So, while I may never officially work in the non-profit sector. My films will always reflect my experiences and in their own way will serve a message of what I will learn.
Dr. Stroup was an inspirational speaker, especially after watching the film about what Alternative Winter Breaks has done for some alumi's future careers. Dr Stroup spoke highly of the non-profit sector in our country and opened my eyes into job opportunities no matter what your interests are. I became a Journalism major to bring information out to the world, however as time went on I have developed a passion for advertising- which almost made me feel guilty thinking I couldn't help others in my career. She showed how there is work to be done in any field for the non-profit sector.
ReplyDeleteHer achievements are amazing as is but her optimistic attitude in our generation was refreshing and helped ease me in knowing that thing scan turn around. That was the first time I have heard a positive thing about what our world will be when we grow to the Power positions. I hope I can achieve half of what she has in her lifetime and she is truly an incredible woman and speaker.
Professor Kala Stroup is my Honors 190 Seminar instructor as well. Our class is all about the nonprofit sector, and she knows so much about it. Also, after hearing Erin’s Fleming’s story for the second time (after hearing it at the Story Slam), I realized how much of an impact this experience could have on my life. All of the issues that are being addressed by the alternative breaks are so real, and I am hoping that my break will spark an interest and passion in me that I can use to better the Lawrence community. Being in the class has really changed my perspective on the nonprofit world and volunteering. I have realized that volunteering is not simply that “feel good” feeling a person gets after helping others in need. In scenarios like the ones we are all going to participate in—where we go visit a site for a week—the purpose is not just to try and help the people there as we intrude on their lives for a week. It is not just the ‘voluntourism’ that Ivan Illich talked about; it is not just going to place for a week to try and help people. Even though we are trying to help the people we are going to work with, we should also be learning about the issues that our breaks are concerned with. By learning about the issues, we can then bring what we learned back to our Lawrence and Kansas community and address the issues with a new perspective. In the few weeks that I have been attending the Alternative Winter Breaks class, I have realized how much of a difference this experience will have compared to all of the previous work I have done. Almost all of the work I have previously done has been for one main purpose, to add more numbers to my log of volunteering hours. This opportunity excites me so much because it really does give me a whole new outlook on volunteering and the nonprofit world, as well as the opportunity to look more in-depth at the social issue of aging and society.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Stroup’s survey of the not-for-profit sector was quite an eye-opener. My experience with non-profits is both broad and narrow. I was recently elected president of the student-run, international not-for-profit organization AIESEC, after spending all summer working abroad in Vietnam. I was surprised to hear the statistics regarding work in this sector, as I was unaware of its firmly held place in America, although I knew it was important. I think that Erin Fleming’s story is a prime example of the functionality of the not-for-profit sector. Additionally, it spoke well to the uniqueness of an alternative break! When you’re confronted with an issue in the world that you desire to change, such as homelessness, it’s natural to first meditate on how you might best solve that problem. With a not for profit, the organization operates outside of the capitalistic economy, with profit as the end goal, and instead has as its governing, and motivating, principle as the cause it’s striving to achieve. I think this might help explain the proliferation of the not for profit sector. With an alternative break, the education that goes into the experience, or is part of the experience, beforehand allows the participant to not only understand the work done on the break better, but to make a more informed effort. Possibly being educated, and equipped with the theoretical knowledge before approaching the practical, might make for a more powerful experience like Erin had. What’s more interesting to me is the way these not-for-profit institutions are reflections of our values as Americans. The largeness of this sector reinforces the idea that America’s don’t just espouse a “pull yourself up by your boot straps kind of ideology” as we might commonly be believed to do. The most important perspective I gained from Professor Stroup’s presentation was the place, whether economic or social or philosophical, of the not-for-profit sector in American society.
ReplyDeleteI was incredibly excited when I found out that Kala Stroup would be speaking in our class. I had heard great things about her class from my honors advisor and plan to take it in the future. In her presentation, Dr. Stroup presented an incredible amount of information about the non-profit sector; I had never considered most of the points she had raised. I was aware of the fact that the non-profit sector had a large presence in the US, but the 16th largest economy in the world? That thought had never crossed my mind. Given this, it’s no wonder this sector plays such a large part in the US. I have always considered working in the non-profit sector in the future, but I had never seen it as an expansive career field. It was inspiring and encouraging to hear just how many opportunities lie within it.
ReplyDeleteThis talk also made me start considering what my experience will be during my alternative break, One Colorado. I will have the incredible experience to work with this non-profit agency and campaign for the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in that state. As an International Studies major with significant Political Science interests, this is the type of non-profit I could see myself working with in the future. Because of this, the knowledge I will gain from this experience could potentially help guide me in my career selection in the future. Hearing Erin’s story, it really hit me how big of an impact this break could have on my future. I am so incredibly fortunate and excited to have this opportunity.
Prior to this class I had never heard of Dr. Kala Stroup or of any non-profit focused majors, minors or classes. Because I had no idea what she was "all about" I really was confused as to how her speech would relate to Alternative Breaks or prepare us for our upcoming experiences. As she was introduced and her credentials were up on the screen I began to make the connection. I found myself feeling like I was in the presence of someone so far above me. A few words that came to my mind as she was presenting were: distinguished, honorable, educated, role model, cultured, successful. I began to feel as though I was almost not worthy enough (I know that may sound silly) to be in her presence, but then at the end, one of the most memorable characteristics of her was brought to the surface. To conclude her speech she said, “Thank you for what you do” (or something similar to that). I just wanted to be like, “Are you kidding me, no! Thank You!” This wonderful woman that had done so much was thanking us! It was beyond humble for her to do that and although I had gotten them earlier in her speech, I once again got the chills. Dr. Stroup’s speech was probably meant to be education in regards to taxes and the government, but in my eyes it was motivational. I have wanted to start a group or program for as long as I can remember, and hearing just the tip of the iceberg as to what it all entails was so interesting! Literally got my adrenaline pumping and made me want to put all of the ideas flowing through my head to work. I think one of the most inspirational parts of her speech was when she informed us about the statistics behind the non-profit sector. Of course I knew that it must be large, but never would I have imagined that it would be the 16th largest economy in the world! Wow, there are so many people out there willing and actively giving for the good of others less fortunate.
ReplyDeleteDr. Kala Stroup's presentation on volunteerism and the non-profit industry was very informative and inspiring. I learned many things from her speech. I was unaware of how popular volunteering was in our generation compared to other generations in the past. I think part of the reason this has developed is due to college admission requirements. When I was a junior in high school, talking to my guidance counselor, he advised me to add more community service hours to my resume. Community service is highly recommended for college applicants and also is required for many organizations here on campus. By introducing these standards, it has created a generation of people that see volunteering as a social norm, as something everyone does. I honestly can't imagine my life if, until this day, I had no volunteer experience. By recognizing this generation as being very involved in community service, it makes me wonder about the future of community service. As Dr. Stroup touched upon, community service and volunteering has a huge impact on our economy. With such a connection to our economy, I wonder if volunteering sees a difference with the worsening of our economy. It makes me wonder if when times are hard, more or less people volunteer. I see volunteering as a way to bring a community together, to strengthen it, but maybe others do not. One of the reasons I want to work in the future with non-profits is because I see the power that they hold. It’s the sixteenth largest economy in the world, a force to reckon with. Before Dr. Stroup’s presentation, I was unaware of how much the non-profit sector contributed. The information she gave us about how much non-profits do for our community as well as our nation only inspired me more to be involved with them in my future.
ReplyDeleteRight before Erin's story was turned on I didn't think that an alternative break could have that big of an impact on people's lives. I decided to do alternative break's because someone came into my class and told us about it and I thought it was a good way to spend my break, helping others. When I saw Erin's story it changed my view on everything. I didn't realize the kind of passion you can get from just opening your eyes and really learning about what you are doing. It's amazing that it completely changed Erin's life and that she changed her direction in life and is now fighting for the people that she was helping on her alternative break. I've Volunteered my whole life and always enjoyed it but never really thought it could have a massive impact on my life. After listening to Erin's story it has made me more excited for my break and has made me really think about the issues that we are going to be dealing with on our break.
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