Page 26 - Scene Magazine 42-03 March 2017
P. 26

Local Interest
Women as Volunteers: The Powerhouse of Our Communities
BY TIFFANY BLACKMAN, President-Elect Junior League of Battle Creek
Women have played an extensive role in society that has been irreplaceable. Since the beginning of time we’ve been tasked with being nurturers, gathers, and the ultimate multi-tasking (multi-faceted) bundles of awesomeness that we are! And look at us. We continue to shatter stereo- types, challenge structures and systemat- ically prove how capable we truly are. Is it a wonder why Forbes has argued that women are the best managers? An argu- ment as to why women are the backbone of our schools, businesses and the like? Yet society is still reluctant to give wom- en the recognition they deserve in being this powerhouse group of minorities that America has learned to lean on for sup- port each and every day. Change, and the kind that counts, often comes when a woman takes hold of who she is and how she can help in her community. It is vi- tal in how we continue to move forward. When we decide as women to build each other up and help each other out only the sky is the limit to our successes.
Now I’m sure you might be one of the women (all of us) that have at least 100 things to get done today, let alone this week! Most volunteers will tell you that they have no idea how they’ve found the
time to do what they’ve committed to. Yet in a worldwind of chaos, our world hap- pening around us, we still find time to do what is most important. Just like we find time to read to a child or take that extra class to get our long awaited degree. We just make it work.
So what does volunteering look like to- day? How have we built this movement? Nearly 40% of all women in the U.S. are connected to a group/organization giv- ing their time and almost 75% of women volunteer informally. We don’t volunteer as women because our mothers told us to, we volunteer as women because our mothers, aunts, grandmothers, caregiv- ers, sisters, and cousins have showed us
to. That is our heart as women. To nur- ture and gather for ourselves and for oth- ers. We desire to share resources. We feel emboldened to help heal. We often take action when others may see a need but struggle to understand how something can work. We simply take action and do! If someone needs help with food, cloth- ing, substance abuse, or even domestic violence; we pick up the pieces and get to it. Regardless of where our head rests or our heart wanders, we can find it in our heart to help someone else. That is the sign of a great leader (the great leader we all aspire to be), great leaders recycle humility.
Have you ever sat back and wondered why the PTA didn’t raise money for that new playground? Why 20% of a gradu- ating class dropped out of school? Why students are still going to bed hungry at night or arriving at school with no winter coat? These are your passions. Your prob- lems. Your solutions. Our community needs you.
You might be wondering how you can make it work or how to even start. It starts with looking around you. Keeping your eyes open for opportunities and be- ing proactive in seeking them out. If you want to help mentor youth pursue Big Brothers Big Sisters or connect with a lo- cal alternative high school. If you want to assist seniors in living a full life then seek out an adult care facility or senior activity center. Your passion will help propel your efforts. However you decide to volunteer, choose to make a difference as a woman, in our community, and for others. Togeth- er we are one but we are many.
Article Credit: Tiffany Blackman is a Program Officer at the Battle Creek Community Foundation and is the cur- rent President-Elect of the Junior League of Battle Creek. The Junior League of Battle Creek is a 501c3 nonprofit or- ganization in a network of 291 Junior Leagues internationally. The mission of the Junior League of Battle Creek is to promote volunteerism, develop the po- tential of women as leaders, and improve the community through the effective ac- tion and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information about the Junior League of Battle Creek visit them online at www.juniorleaguebc.org or on Face- book@juniorleaguebattlecreek.
26 SCENE 4203 I WOMEN IN BUSINESS


































































































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