Ryan Wilcox

Writing. Photography. Storytelling.

Archives for September 2009

Cornerstone Expands Social Presence with Idealist

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Idealist is the social network for people with a passion for service. Image Credit: www.idealist.org

One of my duties as a VISTA for Cornerstone is to establish an online presence for them. I’ve set up profiles on various social media websites, established a blog and yesterday established a profile for them on Idealist, a social network for people with a passion for service.

I’ve volunteered since I was in high school, but this was my first exposure to Idealist.

What is Idealist?

Idealist serves several functions for both organizations and individuals. Mainly, it is a resource that connects people with a passion for service. Below I’ll detail some of the benefits Idealist provides, both for individuals and non-profits alike.

For Individuals:

  • It is a social network. Idealist gives people with a passion for service a place to connect and exchange ideas.
  • Find volunteer opportunities. Do you have a cause you care about? Do you love volunteering? Idealist can help you connect with organizations looking for volunteers with your specific talents.
  • Find job opportunities. This is perhaps my favorite part of Idealist. If you have a passion you can turn it in to a career. You don’t have to spend your life working at a job you hate!

For Companies/Organizations/Non-Profits:

  • Post volunteer/job opportunities. By being a member of Idealist non-profits can post their job openings and volunteer opportunities. Because everyone on Idealist has a passion for service, this is as targeted as advertising gets.
  • Advertise your organization’s events. Do you have an upcoming event or fundraiser? By being a member of Idealist, you can get exposure for your organization and increase your chances of success.

Final Thoughts:

I think I am going to enjoy my Idealist membership and I know Cornerstone will benefit. If you are interested in joining Idealist, view this video below to learn more.

Treating the Whole Person

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A few Tarrant County non-profits work to improve the lives of the homeless.
A few Tarrant County non-profits work to improve the lives of the homeless.

Recently I had an opportunity to visit two local non-profits, Mission Arlington and Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County.

The goal of the visits was to learn more about their volunteer programs so that Cornerstone can develop a comprehensive volunteer management document.

Union Gospel Mission, founded in 1988, serves the homeless through daily chapel services, community meal and assistance programs, food and shelter for homeless men, women and children, as well as spiritual development for all their residents.

Like Cornerstone, Union Gospel Mission is a holistic ministry, working to treat the whole person, not just immediate physical needs.

Mission Arlington was founded on the idea that we should treat the areas we live just like the international mission field. They have set up bible studies in local communities all over Arlington. In addition to meeting the spiritual needs, they also meet physical needs as well. Their services include a dental clinic, food pantry, educational classes, job and transportation assistance. The goal is to meet immediate needs and plant seeds for Christ.

Mission Arlington has developed a large “word-of-mouth” following among Arlington residents, so they don’t do any active recruiting or advertising for their volunteers, instead relying on God to bring volunteers to them.

I enjoyed experiencing both ministries. It is nice to learn from ministries with like-minded missions. Cornerstone’s goal is to have a comprehensive volunteer program, so working with other non-profits only makes that process easier.