By: Madison Akers
UMD representatives appeared at the first hearing before the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service (NCMNPS) on Thursday to educate the commissioners on the principles and practices of the Do Good Institute.
UMD representatives appeared at the first hearing before the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service (NCMNPS) on Thursday, Feb. 21, to educate the commissioners on the principles and practices of the Do Good Institute.
NCMNPS held a hearing to brainstorm potential strategies that would encourage more Americans to engage in military, national and public service. Director of UMD’s Do Good Institute Dr. Robert Grimm spoke to NCMNPS members on ways to implicate the “Do Good” campus model in high schools and colleges, ultimately expanding the program to a national level and increasing the opportunity for service.
John Heck, the chairman of NCMNPS, introduced the hearing by proposing the question, “How can we, as a country, inspire universal service across America?”
According to a report released by the Do Good Institute, the percentage of Americans volunteering and giving is at an all-time low in approximately 15 years, while not one state has experienced a significant increase in volunteering since post 9/11 years.
Grimm explained that the Do Good Campus model would counter these negative trends by equipping young people with the opportunity to “transform our world.”
As an example of the ways in which the Do Good Institute has combated these negative trends, Grimm referred to a group of young UMD students who noticed piles of untouched food from the dining halls being thrown away. After working closely with the students, they developed an award-winning non-profit called the Food Recovery Network, which currently has chapters on 230 college campuses, resulting in millions of pounds of food waste being recovered.
He encouraged the commissioners to replicate the Do Good Campus model by “deploying high quality, hands on learning to cap students’ passions and empower them to make an impact today.”
Heck said that in order to encourage more service among Americans, there must be universal access,making sure that those who would like to serve are able to do so; universal expectation,allowing service to maintain voluntary while also continuing as the norm;and universal obligation,while all Americans are obligated to serve, they have a choice at how they serve.
The hearing also included panelists from a Jesuit service organization and the Boys and Girls Club of America.
NCMNPS held a hearing to brainstorm potential strategies that would encourage more Americans to engage in military, national and public service. Director of UMD’s Do Good Institute Dr. Robert Grimm spoke to NCMNPS members on ways to implicate the Do Good Campus model in high schools and colleges, ultimately expanding the program to a national level and increasing thee opportunity for service.
John Heck, the chairman of NCMNPS, introduced the hearing by proposing the question, “How can we, as a country, inspire universal service across America?”
According to a report released by the Do Good Institute, the percentage of Americans volunteering and giving is at an all-time low in approximately fifteen years, while not one state has experienced a significant increase in volunteering since the post 9/11 years.
Grimm explained that the Do Good Campus model would counter these negative trends by equipping young people with the opportunity to “transform our world.”
As an example of the ways in which the Do Good Institute has combat these negative trends, Grimm referred to a group of young UMD students who noticed piles of good food from the dining halls being thrown away. After working closely with the students, they developed an award-winning non-profit called the Food Recovery Network, which currently has chapters on 230 college campuses, resulting in millions of pounds of food being recovered.
He encouraged the commissioners to replicate the Do Good Campus model by “deploying high quality, hands on learning to cap students’ passions and empower them to make an impact today.”
Heck said that in order to encourage more service among Americans, there must be universal access – making sure that those who would like to serve are able to do so, universal expectation – allowing service to maintain voluntary while also continuing as the norm, and universal obligation – while all Americans are obligated to serve, they have a choice at how they serve.
The hearing also included panelists from a Jesuit service organization and the Boys and Girls Club of America.