Last year in Maryland, 1.2 million residents volunteered 174.3 million hours of service through or for a nonprofit or community organization. Among the residents of our state, 29.3% of residents volunteer, ranking us 19th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
In Howard County, nonprofit and community organizations have flourished as places in which citizens can get involved and have an impact on their community. Serving with national and local nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations and other groups, many Howard County residents tutor and mentor children, raise funds for charities and other nonprofits, collect and distribute food, provide health services, restore the environment and much more.
A cornerstone of Leadership Howard County’s (LHC) program over the last 26 years has been its focus on community service. Applicants to the program have experience serving as active volunteers and board members, and are often seeking ways to become more informed and effective as they serve the community.
All the Leadership programs — Premier, Essentials (for young professionals, now managed by Loyola University) and Leadership U for high school students — partner directly with county nonprofits, engaging class members in providing valuable expertise while they learn more about the challenges of a particular issue.
These “Community Impact Projects” provide many benefits for the members, the nonprofits and the county. For the adult programs, projects are designed to be a mutually beneficial experience for the organization and Leadership participants. The Leadership class members work in teams in a consulting capacity to address a real issue or challenge the organization has.
Because the projects are designed to be sustainable and have a lasting benefit to the community, these partnerships prove valuable to all concerned: The organization receives the donated expertise of senior level consultants, and the participants gain connections which often provide a foundation for an ongoing relationship with the nonprofit.
In 2011, Leadership Premier teams worked on the following projects.
• Humanim wanted to expand its outpatient program serving seniors, as well as a support program for caregivers. The Leadership team was challenged to provide a marketing and PR plan for the program and need for volunteers.
• The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County sought to develop a plan to connect local businesses with nonprofits seeking business volunteers, groups or partnerships.
• The Opting for Independence project challenged participants to assist the county in the pursuit of a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging to encourage older individuals to “age in place.” The project included research and interviews to determine the goals of individuals and assist in the development of strategies to design appropriate services.
Class member Hugh Cameron said, “For me, working on a project with potential consequences for the community made the LHC experience more rewarding. I felt like I was contributing to the community rather than just learning about it.”
• The Leadership Essentials teams worked on marketing projects for the Columbia Festival of the Arts and the Troy Park Tennis Center. They also developed a tracking system for gift cards for the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center and a community resource guide for Healthy Howard. For Neighbor Ride, team members created a plan to recruit critically needed volunteers aged 25–45.
Based on the work of the Leadership Essentials team, Brad Closs, Neighbor Ride executive director, reported that the organization invested in enhanced database management and began to make record-setting trends in increased services.
“We’ve been gratified by the response we received, which has allowed us to provide more trips for more seniors,” he said. “We appreciate your commitment and dedication to making a difference for our seniors.”
• Leadership U students also work with Howard County nonprofits, but work in teams with an adult mentor to create their own community service projects. Students are encouraged to pursue a project with a community partner that aligns with their interests. This approach allows for creativity and promotes teambuilding and leadership skills as the students learn they can make an impact on the community.
Sue Emerson is director of communications & business development for Leadership Howard County. She can be reached at 410-730-4474, ext. 116.
