Profile of a Volunteer






I selected Cynthia Bell she is a volunteer for Community in Schools. Community in School is a program that has programs in public schools such as Girl and Boys Scouts, Backpack Buddy, Christmas Wish Program, Career Day just to name a few. She is a foster Grandparent who volunteer’s Monday –Friday’s at the school. Mrs. Bell has impacted so many lives in her years of service to countless to count.



She is there no matter the weather and is always smiling and saying good morning to everyone she encounters.
Her contribution is invaluable as she is know as Grandma to many of the student’s who have no grandmother in their lives and even to the one who does.
Mrs. Bell encourages, helps with tutoring the at risk students and is a positive influence to not only the students but the adults as well.



I want to give back to children who are most in need and by seeing the work and the positive outcomes that I see of the volunteering that Mrs. Bell does makes me aware of how important not only advocating is for the students and their families that I come in contact with but volunteering in other areas as well.

 

“Using Social Media to Get Connected”

My past experiences using the internet and  social media  was overwhelming as once I clicked on the button, there was so much to choose from. After years of searching sites too many to count, I have gotten more comfortable and pretty good at finding what I need with only a few words typed in the search bar.

 This has opened a whole new world for me. I have come into the age of using social media to broaden my experience and networking with others who share my passion for advocating for children and families. This area has enabled me to share so much valuable information to parents, staff, colleagues, and collaborative partners who I come into contact on a regular basis.

The social media tools that were in the article for this week’s reading , Facebook, twitter, blogging, you tube, are all good resources to find and share information as well as stay connected to groups of interest. I feel these are all good media tools to get the word out and get more individuals involved in advocating for children and families.

I would share these sites with parents, staff and colleagues at staff meetings, trainings , workshops to broaden their resources and would encourage them to become members of organizations, volunteer, become active in writing letters to legislature on behalf of others using these sources.

These tools are invaluable to me as a student, parent, grandmother, supervisor and advocate for children and families and by using these resources , I have become more knowledgeable of many organizations and individuals who have the same goals and want to make a difference in this field.

 

 

                                                          "Advocacy Messages"

 

 

 

 

One campaign message I believe to be important and inspiring is in the article of Autism Speaks.The agency launched a major radio advertising campaign Sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA),  on the bill  that would authorize an additional three years of federal funding frozen at current levels to continue research, services and treatment for autism and related behavioral disorders. The authorization would not add to the national debt, while allowing critical work to continue in addressing autism, which has been declared a public health emergency by the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC),( Autism Speaks 2011).

 

                                                                                                            

 Another is the advertisement for missing children from the website www.missingkids.com. This website is inspiring and important because there are many children who are kidnapped yearly either from someone they know and who are strangers to them. I have just finished watching the story of Carlena White, a young woman who was kidnapped when she was only 19 days old. She was reunited with her biological family only because of this organizations website and services that assist in finding missing children.

I believe both of these organizations are beneficial to families and are great and important resources that should be supported by everyone.

www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/new-autism

www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet