First MiM Mob Sets the Tone

We were nervous about our first big MiM Mob. Mostly it was just stage freight in advance of our organization's debut. MiM prides itself on sponsoring students who are self starters, taking natural leaders and helping them focus their energies. It was important our first event be more than just successful, we wanted to demonstrate who Make it Matter is and its capabilities.

We place utter trust in our MiM Leaders and Campus Partners to live up to their ends of the bargain. They trust us to provide support, but also to stay out of their way and let them do their jobs.

This was our first opportunity to convert theory into practice, and it was a significant success.

Able to Work

Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Business Leadership Network, the annual Able to Work Spring Spruce-Up at the Salisbury Zoo is that nonprofit's showcase event. The event encourages business leaders to come work side by side with people with disabilities and get a sense of the workforce opportunities that sector represents. MiM participants had the opportunity to work with individuals with disabilities. Moreover, they were able to organize themselves around particular tasks with little direction.

Leadership Among Volunteers

MiM was founded on the premise that volunteering is a significant part of the leadership experience, but motivating volunteers is an even bigger part of the process. Charged with introducing friends and colleagues to the Make it Matter Movement, Nick and Erin brought friends who were happy to do the volunteer work, but who were also enthusiastic about participating in the MiM program. The result was that about half of the kids who participated in the event went on to become MiM leaders themselves.

Bringing Kids Together

One of the most exciting parts about the event was the number of kids who ended up interacting with the business leaders, the ESBLN participants and, most importantly, one another. During the after event, as the kids hung around waiting for the closing program to begin, the groups began to mingle in an organic way. As they helped sort the tools and put together tables and chairs, there was a sense of oneness among the MiM members, as the college and high school kids worked together throughout the cleanup and joined one another for lunch.



Its Own Reward

One of the constants in volunteerism, is people are reminded both how simple it is to do good and also how satisfying. As the day came to the end many participants had the spiritual equivalent of a runner's high, and were already looking forward to the next event. From the ESBLN standpoint, it was the first year in the event's history they had to turn away volunteers because participation was so high. By the time we had our brief after-meeting, MiM had been engaged to participate in three future events, and several of the other nonprofits that attended and brought volunteers complimented the group on its enthusiasm and participation.