Volunteering by, in, and with low-income communities

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Abstract

Traditionally people in low-income communities help their neighbors in times of need without consciously identifying with concepts such as "community service" or "volunteering." An awareness of this and other cultural issues related to volunteering in low-income communities is helpful for organizations that "go into" volunteer communities for volunteer initiatives and service. To this end, The Points of Light Foundation in partnership with the Volunteer Center National Network and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, initiated a study to determine best practices for volunteering in distressed neighborhoods. This effective practice was highlighted in the October 4, 2002 issue of To the Point, published by the Points of Light Foundation. From the report, A Matter of Survival: Volunteering By, In, and With Low-Income Communities.

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Issue

What are key strategies through which traditional volunteer organizations can partner with low-income communities and help mobilize residents to solve community problems?

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Action

The Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network collaborated with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to explore the role of volunteering to transform distressed neighborhoods into family-supporting communities. In 2002, a team of community experts was convened to develop an initial understanding of volunteering in low-income neighborhoods as a way of strengthening families and neighborhoods. Participants included local community partners of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Points of Light Foundation, Volunteer Center leaders, youth volunteers, and experts in this field.

From this initial session, the following effective practices in three key topic areas emerged:

1. Empower community members to identify the community problems on which they want to focus.

  • Partner with neighborhood residents from the very beginning.
  • Make sure projects are important to the community.
  • Seek out neighborhood associations, the faith community, and other local associations on an individual basis.

 

2. Help community members to identify and uncover their unique gifts and talents and acknowledge neighboring that is already happening.
  • Be respectful of all that community members have to offer.
  • Provide resources to enable communities to be self-supportive.
  • Understand the nature and language of volunteering in troubled communities. Volunteers are more likely to be called, "willing workers, block captains, community workers or leaders."
  • Overcome barriers to volunteering. Barriers include lack of time, financial resources, childcare, and transportation as well as low self-esteem and confidence and cultural and language barriers.
  • Strengthen existing community leadership. Organizations should identify existing leaders and develop new ones.
3. Affirm that neighboring should be structured to provide an exchange for tangible rewards such as continued eligibility for housing assistance, meals, or educational assistance.
  • Promote family volunteering as a great way to empower families. Family volunteering shares values, encourages positive interaction, and reduces barriers.

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Context

Oftentimes volunteering done by people in low-income communities takes place informally on the basic level of people helping each other in times of need. For instance, community members might purchase food for a neighbor, organize block patrols for safe streets, or offer the safety of their homes in times of crisis. However, it has been suggested that the term "volunteer" is culturally specific and, by definition, excludes many populations. In fact, to many residents of low-income communities the terms, "volunteer" and "community service" have negative connotations. Many ethnic and minority populations have a history of helping but the term "volunteer" does not translate when they talk about these activities. Adopting the terms "neighboring" and "community involvement" expands the meaning of volunteering to all sectors of society. Considering these cultural differences helps foster a meaningful and vital climate of service.

The Points of Light Foundation was founded in 1990 and is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes volunteerism. Based in Washington, D.C., the Foundation advocates community service through a partnership with the Volunteer Center National Network. Together, these two organizations reach millions of people in thousands of communities to help mobilize people and resources, delivering solutions that address community problems.

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Citation

A Matter of Survival: Volunteering By, In, and With Low-Income Communities. Washington, D.C.: The Points of Light Foundation, 2000.

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Outcome

  • Transforming the roles of people who live in low-income communities from recipients to providers of services helps ensure vigorous, healthy families and communities.
  • Empowering volunteers and others in service with an awareness of specific cultural issues within the community where they are serving helps promote successful programs and assistance.

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    Posted On

    November 21, 2002

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    For More Information

    Points of Light Institute
    Phone: (404) 979-2900

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    Resources

    Points of Light Foundation: Neighboring: Key Concepts
    http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/neighboring/neighboring/key_concepts.cfm

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