Day On

Martin Luther King Day, this past Monday, was a much-publicized day of service: volunteers around the country were encouraged to consider the holiday a "day-on" for volunteering rather than just another day off.

Many of us saw about-to-be-President Obama volunteering to renovate a DC area teen emergency shelter. (The homelessness catastrophe in our Federal City is a topic for another blog, so let's just say here that this was an aptly chosen project.)

This blog is perfect, however, for recognizing the largest MLK Day service event in the history of the nation. And where was it, you ask breathlessly? Wait for it...

Philadelphia!

60,000 volunteers, including Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Congressman Chaka Fattah, who took part in the Cradles to Crayons project, assembling supples for area homeless newborns and children.

Yes, the City of Brotherly Love took this step in opposition to its curmudgeonly reputation. You see, my family is of Philly origin, and I am myself a product of a South Jersey (extended Philly suburb) upbringing. So, maybe now we can be known for something other than booing Destiny's Child or throwing snowballs at Santa. (The #1 go-to story for illustrating how abhorrent Philadelphians are).

So, eat it all you larger-than-Philadelphia cities that couldn't muster more charitable citizens (I'm looking at you New York).

So, thanks Senator Casey, Congressman Congressman Fattah and the 50,998 others who participated in the events on Monday.

Scout's Honor

From an '07 South Florida Sun-Sentinel story:

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida, mom to young daughters and herself a former Scout, makes time for a VIP group of South Floridians - the Girl Scouts of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.

Wasserman-Schultz joined a half day empowerment event, "designed to teach girls about self-defense, healthy eating habits, and their power to change their communities."

As part of the program, which also included sit-ups and push-ups with former Olympian Dominique Dawes and sessions on inner beauty and personal safety, the Congresswoman led a session on standing up for your beliefs. She inspired at least one young scout to action:

"I'm going to start a petition to raise awareness in my school... about animal rights," 13-year-old Plantation resident [Hannah Gifford] said after hearing U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, speak about the importance of advocacy."

If They Had a Hammer

Today, we recognize... the entire United States Senate!

In the abstract, at least, for passing Senate Resolution 319, "The Houses the Senate Built"Act, back in 2000. The program called for every Senator to personally contribute to building a Habitat for Humanity home in their state.

While there's no official record of which Senators made good on this very worthy piece of legislation - and to be fair, it's probably easier for some members of congress to wield a power drill than for others - Habitat all-stars who put a little elbow grease into helping house their constituents include:

• Delaware's Tom Carper and Joe Biden
• Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln (who spent her time "helping apply the exterior siding")
• Maryland's Barbara Mikulski
• New York's Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton
• Idaho's Larry Craig (hold the jokes about constructing the bathroom stalls)
• Nebraska's Max Baucus
• Connecticut's Chris Dodd
• Utah's Bob Bennett
  
• Oregon's Ron Wyden
• Washington's Patty Murray (above... assuming she donned the pantsuit post-spackling, of course)

Is community service a political stunt?

I'm particularly excited about this post! See?!

I'd like to introduce you to Congressman Tom Periello's campaign volunteer hours tithing program. I picked this for a few reasons:

1) Rep. Periello is my new Congressman, from Virginia's 5th District.
2) We went to the same high school. (Yup, total yuppie. Deal with it.)
3) It allows me to address a concern about this website that I'd already heard. Thanks for your concern!

It goes like this: isn't community service just another form of campaign strategy? Isn't it all political?

Answer: Maybe. Hell, probably. But if a candidate for public office thinks that the best way to woo me as a voter is to roll up his or her sleeves and go serve food to the homeless, or build a house for Habitat, well, they're right! That is what I want to see from my elected representatives. I'm glad that their vision of America is one in which voters will reward someone who spends time on community service projects, and I will reward you, both with my vote, and my general support, including, for what it's worth (alot!), this blog.

Fostering community in California

Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) is a former foster dad (and now adoptive parent) to two California kids, an experience that he says has brought him in touch with the challenges that face the 100,000 kids in the CA foster care system.

So Cardoza, according to this Modesto Bee story, made a natural partner for Daniel Peterson, a young man whose love of music helped him through the difficulties of a childhood in foster care. Peterson, now living in complex for young people who have aged out of the foster system, hopes to open a space where other kids without resources can play and record music.

After being introduced to Peterson through another former fosteree, the Congressman was eager to help with the project. But rather than write a check, Cardoza has offered Peterson more hands-on help with making contacts for fundraising and offering the services of his staff - the whole "teach a man to fish" business that will no doubt make Peterson's eventual successes that much sweeter. Good luck to both of them!

Raising HIV Awareness in Florida

A salute today for Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL):

The first Latina elected to Congress, Ros-Lehtinen represents a heavily Hispanic-American district. In an effort to raise awareness for the spread of HIV within the Hispanic community, Ros-Lehtinen contributed in a very public way to the 2007 launch of the "Test for Life Florida" coalition by undergoing an HIV test on National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.

A cheer for Ros-Lehtinen for helping to challenge the stigma around HIV and encouraging her constituents to get tested.

Soup's On!

Proving that being politically reviled doesn't mean you can't be a mensch in your personal life, a Joe Lieberman (D-CT) story for today:

Over the Christmas holiday, Senator Joe donned a chef's hat and dug in to help serve Connecticut homeless folks a hot meal at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter/Open Door Shelter.

Says Joe:

"I think you learn anytime you come and see the need in this way. I think it's also important for those of us who have a lot to be grateful for to come and serve others."

Agreed! At a time when America's food pantries are trying to meet increased demand with fewer resources, it's refreshing to see a member of Congress literally rolling up their sleeves in their eagerness to understand the problem.