Wha'cha Readin'?

The other day I ate lunch at an odd time, and ended up sitting with a co-worker whom I had never shared a meal with before.  Following the unwritten rule of Library socialization, my co-worker started the conversation by asking, “So, what kind of things do you read.” 

I love working in an environment where it’s just assumed that everyone is reading something. 

No matter how a person answers the above question, the power of reading never ceases to amaze me.  Whether a person reads for entertainment, enrichment, formal education, to escape or simply to pass the time, there are tremendous benefits gained.  Reflecting on my own childhood, experiences with my younger siblings, godchildren, and various adopted-nieces and nephews – the value of reading seems to become a fundamental to our development.

I am reminded of two of my favorite Einstein quotes:

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Which leads to this natural conclusion.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

By reading we enter a world where we are able to push the boundaries of our experience.  In books (digital or print) we find knowledge, wisdom, and perspective.  There is danger there too, and risk.  But that's part of life.  Part of growing up.

I guess, this image says it all…

Impact of Service

For nearly two decades civilian national service programs have ridden the ebb and flow of unsteady political sea, which governs both Washington D.C. and the federal budget.  The debate over the value of AmeriCorps and its sister programs have been argued by party leaders on both sides of the aisle since founding of AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). 

Questions of the necessity of civilian service programs come from many in Washington, many of which who have never served along side an AmeriCorps Member (CM) to see the impact of their service.  Where the program’s value has rarely been questioned is in the field. 

•      In the classrooms where AmeriCorps Members provide much needed 1 to 1 literacy coaching for students who have fallen behind their classmates  - the value is real. 

•      In homeless shelters where teams arrive to provide much needed facility improvements, working alongside shelter guests to provide a safe and secure place for those in need – the value is real.  

•      In state and national parks where trails are blazed, controlled burns are conducted, and camp areas made safe – the value is real. 

•      When disasters strike and trained, dedicated, committed NCCC teams are deployed within hours to help victims respond to, recover from, and rebuild after disasters – the value is real. 

AmeriCorps programs throughout the country bring young people together in a way that is fundamentally American.  Not driven by greed, advancement, or personal benefit, but through a common bond of service do these Corps Members stand up every day and say, “Yes, I’ll help.” 

They are not volunteers. 

They do not serve at their convenience, on the weekends or in their spare time.  They do not accept projects which are fun, convenient, or within their comfort zone.

They are AmeriCorps Members.

As AmeriCorps Members, they dedicate their lives to the cause of serving communities in need.  They serve where needed, often accepting the most challenging and least glamorous assignments – because they need to be done.   They serve long hours for terms of service ranging from several months to multiple years in some cases.   

Post Script:  This post was inspired after a text from my wife (an AmeriCorps*Indiana Alum) who ran into around 20 AmeriCorps Alums at a presentation, and reading fellow AmeriCorps*NCCC Alum Ken Tran’s blog post about disaster relief in Joplin, MO, listed here.

http://americorpsalums.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/nccc-alum-remembers-how-americorps-works-in-joplin/#comment-2194