The University of Maryland and a Milwaukee-based national organization that cultivates young people into workers and leaders for nonprofit organizations have announced a partnership that brings the program to Maryland.
Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, dean of the School of Social Work, and Paul Schmitz, CEO of Public Allies, made the announcement during a daylong celebration of the School's Social Work Community Outreach Service (SWCOS) on March 25. Schmitz delivered the keynote address.
"I'm delighted to welcome Paul Schmitz, especially since our School has enjoyed a long connection with public service programs starting in the 1960s with operating a training center for VISTA and AmeriCorps volunteers and currently with returning Peace Corps volunteers wanting a good social work education. The School has a long history of educating social workers who've become effective community leaders," Barth said.
"SWCOS' mission of educating and inspiring social workers as agents of change and public service dovetails with that of Public Allies," said Dick Cook, MSW, director of SWCOS. "Public Allies Maryland will now be housed at SWCOS."
During his address, Schmitz noted that Public Allies embraces three principles.
"Everyone leads. Anyone, regardless of their education and station in life, can lead and work for change," he said. "Sixty-seven percent of the allies are people of color, 15 percent are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, and 50 percent are college graduates. Ninety-five percent of the allies have met or exceeded the expectations of the nonprofit organizations they serve, and more than 80 percent of alumni have continued careers in nonprofit and public service, and they volunteer and engage in civic and political activities at more than twice the rate of their age cohort."
The other two principles are taking responsibility?socially and personally?and practicing values so that any effort is imbued with inclusion, collaboration, and integrity. "By living up to the conviction that everyone can lead and take responsibility, we can foster a society that is diverse and civically engaged," Schmitz said.
Since its inception in 1992, Public Allies has graduated more than 2,500 diverse young people who have committed themselves to a lifetime of nonprofit and public service. In the process, they have established new and exciting organizations, including some that have become international success stories.
This spring the partnership-called Public Allies Maryland?will identify and select 25 Marylanders age 18 to 30 who want to make a difference in their communities and match them to 25 nonprofit organizations. For 10 months, the 25 Allies will work four days a week and attend leadership training classes on the fifth. "This will enable the nonprofit organizations to expand, improve or develop new services," said H. Ted Busch, MSW, director of SWCOS' Resource Mentoring Project. "Nonprofit organizations who partner with Public Allies Maryland will have the added benefit of the resource mentoring service, which helps them better understand business approaches that can keep them solvent while they strive to achieve their missions."
While developing leadership skills, expanding their networks, and learning to become community leaders, the Public Allies will start building a track record of nonprofit work.
"I call this the first year on," said Schmitz. "Many young people-college students included-don't know about careers in the nonprofit sector. They want to change the world and change their communities, but they don't know how to go about doing that, and they have no idea that the average executive director of a nonprofit can make about $90K a year." Schmitz said the nonprofit sector comprises 11 percent of the economy.
Requirements to be a Public Ally include having a high school diploma or GED, being a U.S. citizen or having legal resident status, and having a commitment to making a difference. ýPublic Allies earn $1,500 each month, plus child care and health care. College graduates, while serving in the program, get a student loan deferment, and all Public Allies earn a $4,725 education award to help fund future education or to pay down student loans.
The nonprofit organizations, which can be large or small, benefit by having high quality employees at low cost. The organizations can create, improve or expand their services, cultivate young talent, build community across social boundaries, and collaborate with other organizations.
"Although the program will begin in Baltimore, the goal is to expand it across the state," said Busch. Applications are available on the Public Allies Web site www.publicallies.org and must be submitted by June 1.
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