I thought I'd share my opening remarks from last week's Social Capitalist Luncheon: 

In these times of scarcity, we see abundance.

On a chilly Monday night in Dorchester, Jaquan mentioned to the other SCI Dorchester Youth Council teens that it was supposed to a very cold winter. They started talking about how in this economy people were struggling to meet basic needs. Trained to act on problems they see, the council quickly devised plans for a coat drive.

Guided by Keith, the AmeriCorps member who mentors them, the Council developed a collaboration with the Burlington Coat factory. A few weeks later, on a rainy January night, Jaquan and the other Council members gathered to sort and distribute 600 winter coats. One recipient, who clearly didn’t have enough clothing to stay warm, said simply, “This coat drive is a godsend”.  read more »

NuPath, a Woburn-based agency that serves individuals with disabilities, is one of SCI's newest AmeriCorps host site partners.  These days, funders and others are often most interested in our numbers, how we are providing tangible benefits in this time of great economic need.  Yet this story, relayed by Jennifer Burns, an SCI AmeriCorps member placed at NuPath, reminds us of how a seemingly small action can bring great joy to someone.  Here's Jennifer's telling of how she was able to help a musician in-the-making:  read more »