Panel Discussion 3
Looking Beyond the Summit

Panel Transcript

Perspectives of Government

Emil Cherian of the Federal Communications Commission

Cherian discussed how the switch to digital television from analog can be a challenging and confusing experience for many individuals. Many cannot afford cable or satellite, and many such as the elderly, low-income, or non-English speaking individuals may not be properly prepared for the change. The FCC is spear-headed walk-in digital television assistance centers. Volunteers were essential to supplying outreach, setup, and in-home installations for the elderly. The FCC supplies materials and training to volunteers.   Read More

 

Laura Balun of the Veterans Administration

Balun explained how the Veterans Administration, despite being a government agency, relies heavily on volunteers and 350 private organizations to aid in providing veterans’ assistance. Volunteers provide 11 million hours of service to veterans per year. Each medical center is staffed with a volunteer manager to organize efforts. Tasks include providing transportation and escorts, working as part of an honor guard in the cemetery, or working in the laboratory. Balun highlighted the importance of "asking" and creating awareness about the need and the worthiness of the cause of veterans.
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Mark Walter of the New York State Corporation for National and Community Service

Walter described how the NYCNCS seeks to foster civic engagement by creating opportunities for New Yorkers to volunteer in their communities. Areas of focus include education and school dropout issues, energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, healthcare, economic assistance to low income communities, and disaster relief. The website NewYorkersVolunteer.org has been created to facilitate volunteers seeking opportunities in their area. The state of New York has allocated $500,000 towards training volunteer coordinators for nonprofit groups. The NYCNCS also administers 46 AmeriCorps programs in New York State.  Read More

 

Perspectives of Faith-Based Volunteer Groups

Susan Kohn of United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York

Kohn described how The UJAF serves needy and at-risk individuals both within and outside the Jewish community. The UJAF produces between 600 and 800 grants for community based project on a multi-year basis, and has a network of 101 different agencies which collaborate on social service projects. Kohn emphasized the importance of governing boards in providing leadership, vision, and long term goals for organizations. The group works to co-locate social workers both in their social service facility and in local synagogues to reach a wider population of underserved individuals. They offer training, mentoring, resume writing, career counseling, and other forms of professional support to needy individuals within the congregation. The UJAF also sponsors a volunteer effort called Jewish Action Month, and provides funding to numerous institutions and individual synagogues to support their individual charitable ventures.   Read More

 

Most Rev. William Lori, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn.

Bishop Lori explained how providing social services to the underprivileged is an essential component of their daily work among the 194 Catholic Dioceses across America. For a faith-based group, service is part of the organization’s identity and mission of love and charity. Local dioceses are often the largest private supplier of social, educational, and charitable services in their communities. They provide meals to the hungry, a system of catholic schools and mentoring services for inner city youth, and other forms of outreach. Volunteers are indispensible to all aspects of their work. Dioceses often rely on talented professionals who have left successful corporate careers who are willing to work for little pay. The Diocese of Bridgeport in particular partners with numerous other charitable groups, such as the United Way, Catholic Charities, AmeriCares, Habitat for Humanity, and local universities. Bishop Lori noted that faith should never be downplayed for the sake of these partnerships.  Read More

 

Lorenzo Martinez, Vice President of External Affairs for Episcopal Relief and Development

Martinez presented Episcopal Relief and Development, which is an official nonprofit arm of the Episcopal Church that works in 44 countries on issues of poverty, disease prevention and treatment, and disaster relief. Volunteers are vital to their work. They volunteer their time in different Episcopal parishes across the country to speak on behalf of the work of Episcopal Relief and collect contributions to support ongoing operations. Volunteers also do work on the ground in affected areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Acknowledging their central role in the organization’s work, Mr. Martinez emphasized the need for greater training of volunteers going forward.
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