37.1

That’s the percentage of Twin-Cities-metro residents who volunteered their time in 2010, according to a study from the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The CNCS complied data from the U.S. Census and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which shows that Twin Cities residents have retained their long-held status as national leaders in volunteering.

In her article, “Why Twin Cities residents volunteer more,” the Minnesota Post’s Cynthia Boyd found that volunteers save America billions, with last year’s efforts being valued at $2.2 billion for the Twin Cities alone, this according to officials from both the CNCS and the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration.  With the world’s economy on its heels and America reeling from nearly four years of recession, help is needed now more than ever.  Minnesotans understand that no contribution is too small.  Last year, some of us volunteered a handful of hours, others put in ten or twelve per week, some committed full-time to their respective causes, but  together, we lifted our community to the no.1 slot.

Mary Lynn Smith from the Star Tribune takes a good stab at the “why” in her article Twin Cities helping hands lead nation.  In it, she quotes Community Service corporation’s CEO, Robert Velasco, II, as well as the head of Lutheran Social Service, Mark Peterson, who attribute the results to both individual and institutional compassion.  We have high rates of education and home ownership, short commutes, a generous, civic-minded corporate environment, and a generally warm-hearted population that doesn’t mind baking the occasional pan of lasagna for a hungry family, or driving it over to them. 

Minnesota’s volunteers save billions of dollars in service costs, feed, educate, and provide counsel to their neighbors, and assist with daily needs and personal goals, sometimes helping in the realization of dreams. 

Volunteers, volunteer organizations, corporate sponsors, faith-based groups, and a wide, effective range of public programing and funding are what keep Minnesota’s legacy of fellowship and goodwill alive and active throughout our great state.  The Minnesota Literacy Council knows that adult basic education is vital to our continued success.  Adult basic education programs enrich the lives of Minnesotans and ratchet up the potential for economic growth.

If you can read this post, and know what a couple of billion means in relation to the state or national debt, and if you can get here (as you must have) via web, read and contextualize the data, assess the claims, follow the links and reach a conclusion, odds are you have a better chance of finding a job and supporting a family than someone who cannot read, or do basic math, or surf the web.  Speaking, reading and comprehending English; learning to use math and quantitative reasoning, computers and web-tools; preparing for a GED test; these are some of the things people can accomplish when they meet with a volunteer in community literacy.

I’m glad to have a role in MLC’s mission, and proud to live in a community where 37.1% of the people strive to connect with and strengthen other members.  Congratulations to all volunteers.  You address your convictions by taking action, and you deserve your community’s deepest thanks. 

Joe Conry

Volunteer Outreach Intern

August Literacy Leader

August Literacy Leader - Mike Hennessy

Five years ago, Mike Hennessy spotted an ad for ESL tutors in his local community education brochure. He answered. At the initial training, Mike learned of a high need for GED math tutors and offered to help in that arena instead. Since then he's been tutoring math at the Wayzata ABE program.

A couple of years after joining up, Mike met with another opportunity. He heard that IOCP (Interfaith Outreach Community Partners) needed more tutors in their computer lab. "I offered to help them," he writes, "and have been tutoring in the computer lab and teaching basic computer skills plus basic Word and Excel for over a year."

Once a week, Mike spends his morning helping students prepare for the GED--the math portions mostly, but he isn't shy to help in other subject areas when needed. He says that he prefers tutoring one-on-one because "it's easier to focus on what a student needs and build up their confidence one-on-one." With Mike's help, several adult learners have overcome their fear of math, some have passed the GED; others can now set up email accounts, apply for jobs online, use a word processor, and attach or post resumes.

When asked how volunteering has impacted him, Mike responds: "It's humbling when I see students pushing to get their GED while balancing kids, one or more jobs, in some cases learning English, and other day-to-day issues. I really want to help them succeed. Also I've had to re-learn some of the math, especially parts of algebra that I've forgotten over the years, so it keeps my mind working."

Cheryl Lubinski, Wayzata's ABE Coordinator, says that Mike is "a very active and versatile volunteer." She recalls last summer, when Mike drove a handful of students to their GED graduation ceremony, students who otherwise would have lacked the transportation. He caters his skills to different learning styles, and even works on call for students closing in on test day. In addition to his volunteer role at Wayzata ABE, Mike also volunteers with AARP to do free tax-preparation. Using this skill set, he has helped many of his students who needed this free service.

"Michael is a wonderful community volunteer," Cheryl writes. "He has the admiration and respect of the many individuals whose lives he has touched."

Thank you, Mike, for your amazing contributions.

 

 

Do you know an exceptional volunteer? Each month the Minnesota Literacy Council highlights a talented and enthusiastic adult literacy volunteer in Minnesota. To nominate someone you know, please contact Tricia at tbrooks@themlc.org.