Press Release PRESS RELEASE September 9, 2013 CONTACT: George Luc (Volunteer/Project Coordinator) 512.765.5145 Events@GivePulse Austin Volunteers Stand Together, Serve Together Samip Mallick of South Asian American Digital Archive to Kick Off Be the Change National Day of Service; Organizers Aim for Largest Event in Country for 4th Year AUSTIN, TX – On Sunday, September 29, the people of Austin will come together to serve their community as part of the Be the Change National Day of Service. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quotation, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” Be the Change takes place every year on or near Gandhi’s October 2nd birthday. Started at the University of Michigan in 1997, Be the Change has grown into a volunteer and leadership development program that attracts thousands of volunteers across the country. In 2012, over 3,000 people volunteered in fourteen cities, including 1,000 in Austin, and thirty two college campuses nationwide. Be the Change has been coordinated nationally by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national non-profit organization dedicated to building a more just and inclusive society, since 2000. This year, Austin Be the Change organizers are partnering with the Longhorn Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Texas, along with other community supporters, to continue expanding the event with the ambitious goal of recruiting 1,500 volunteers. The Day of Service will kick off on Sunday, September 29, with a celebration from 8:30 to 10:00 AM at Gregory Plaza at the University of Texas main campus, followed by service projects throughout the rest of the day. Volunteer registration is now available online at BetheChangeAustin.org for projects at Pease Park Conservancy, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Festival Beach Community Garden, Sunset Valley Elementary, and more. Additional sites will be added in the coming weeks; proposals for projects should be submitted to George Luc, Be the Change Volunteer Coordinator, at 512.765.5145 or events@givepulse; however, organizers cannot guarantee the number of volunteers for late submissions. Groups are also welcome to volunteer together; for more details on how to register as a group, please visit https://givepulse/group/374-Be-The-Change-Austin. Volunteers are also encouraged to RSVP, join the community discussion, and share information with their networks through Facebook at https://facebook/Be.The.Change.Austin. Austin has also been selected for the third straight year as a featured Core City, which will be highlighted nationally by SAALT. Last year, Austin held the largest event in the country, with approximately one thousand volunteers participating in over a dozen service projects for organizations such as the Capital Area Food Bank, Trees for Pease, and the Workers Defense Project. Organizers are hopeful that Austin’s spirit of service and the participation of the University of Texas will help reach the goal of one thousand five hundred volunteers this year. This year’s participants will kick off their day of service with a keynote speech from Samip Mallick, co-founder and executive director of the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA). The South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) is the only independent non-profit organization working to document the rich history of South Asians in the United States and protecting and preserving their stories for future generations. While he originally planned to pursue a career in computer science and technology, Mr. Mallick discovered his passion for documenting the human experience and helping communities tell their stories, for both themselves and to share with others. In collaboration with the Be the Change National Day of Service, the Austin chapter of the Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP) is sponsoring a creative writing contest on the topic, “Why is it still important to study the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi?” All pre-college students in the Austin, Round Rock, and surrounding areas are invited to enter and compete in three categories: students aged fifteen to eighteen, ten to fourteen, and nine and under. Submissions may include essays, poems, stories, and other forms of creative writing that address the topic question. Entries may be fiction or non-fiction and no more than 1,500 words. Entries should be submitted electronically, via email to [email protected] by no later than 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 26, 2013. Entries should include a cover page that lists the following: • Student’s name and age at time of submission • Email address and/or phone number • School presently attended • Title of submission NetIP will award a first and second place winner in each category, for a total of six winners. First place winners will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (7”) and second place winners will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet and be presented at the kick off event at UT on Sunday, September 29th. Winners will be notified in advance. Submissions will be judged on creativity and content, and decisions are the sole responsibility and prerogative of the NetIP Austin Award Committee. Event Details: WHAT: Be the Change Day of Service WHEN: Sunday, September 29, 2013 Kickoff Celebration – 8:30 – 10:00 AM Service Projects – Various Times WHERE: Kickoff Celebration – University of Texas Gregory Plaza Service Projects – Various Sites WHO: Volunteers from all across the Austin area HOW: Register to volunteer and find more information at BetheChangeAustin.org
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:57:53 +0000
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