Causecast

Check out more great ideas for service at Causecast’s United We Serve page.

by JONATHAN HARRIS, Managing Editor

1945 had the summer of victory. 1967 had the summer of love. 2009 now has the Summer of Service. The White House has announced a groundbreaking national service initiative called United We Serve to encourage collaboration and focus, hopefully making service a way of life for Americans.

United We Serve will be centered around four main categories: Energy/Environment, Education, Health Care and Community Renewal. Beginning on June 22nd, Americans will have an unprecedented amount of resources, including efforts from Americorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America, to get involved.

The four categories:

Energy/Environment — The approach here is to educate Americans on the importance of energy efficiency and encourage expanded carpool and bike-to-work programs.

Education — Volunteers will read to children, distribute donated books and help increase the use of America’s public libraries.

Health Care — Though President Obama has emphasized his desire to overhaul the current American health care system, the National Service Initiative focuses on preventative measures, promoting healthier diets and lifestyles.

Community Renewal — One of the largest challenges of Obama’s young presidency is the damaged American economy. Community renewal is an effort to encourage cooperation, with the goal of revitalizing communities hurt from the economy. Is your community doing just fine? Get on a bus to Flint, Michigan.

In addition to these four main categories of service, the White House will also provide resources for supporting military families, preparing for disasters, providing veteran’s with adequate health care, and teaching English to non-native speakers to help them better integrate into our society. Causecast is working closely with the White House to bring you some exciting interactive features that will make your volunteer actions engaging and effective.

United We Serve will conclude with a national day of service on September 11, the eight-year anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. This day, as it always does, will remind us of the bravery and selflessness of those who chose to serve.

There is no better time to help than right now, no better place than where you are. We can all enact change. Giving your energy to these noble goals is a first step. How are you enacting change? Write about it on your Causecast blog or tell the White House itself!

Photo by tukanuk, flickr