Barbara Bush

For many Social Citizens and Millennials alike, the desire to do what you love and love what you do is taking precedence over more traditional factors such as salary and work hours. Barbara Bush and Jonny Dorsey (a Social Citizen Ambassador) embraced their own dreams to promote social good and created the Global Health Corps (GHC). The nonprofit organization (and former grantee of the Case Foundation) aims to “mobilize a global community of emerging leaders to build the movement for health equity.”

Enter GHC and its annual Fellowship program, which is now accepting applications for its 2012-2013 placements until February 17, 2012. It is through this unique approach of identifying young leaders under the age of 30 and empowering them to utilize their skills and fresh perspectives that is creating valuable change in the U.S. and around the world. Fellows commit 13 months to GHC and during that time may find themselves working in communications, finance, health, and many other subject areas with partner organizations such as: Mothers2Mothers, FACE AIDS, and Village Health Works.

Barbara and several of the DC -based GHC Fellows recently stopped by the Case Foundation to update Social Citizens on new developments for GHC and their expansion of the Fellows program.

 

 

Wondering how GHC applies to someone who does not have specific health, international or leadership experience? According to Barbara, she’s seeing a growing trend in GHC Fellow placements with partner organizations where groups are specifically requesting people with skills outside of the "traditional" fields. Barbara and her colleague Katie Bollbach elaborate on what it takes to be a GHC Fellow this video interview.

 

 

Learn more about GHC and find out how you can support this movement to build health equity around the world.

As loyal Social Citizens readers know, we were all abuzz at the Case Foundation as we brought together more than 100 organizations across the country for a virtual summit on Millennial engagement, earlier this summer. Check out the exclusive behind-the-scenes video the Case Foundation interns created featuring insights from Geoff Livingston of Zoetica, Barbara Bush of Global Health Corps and Erica Williams of the Citizen Engagement Lab!

While Millennials are known for being a tech-savvy and entrepreneurial generation, they are less well known for being one of the most active generations when it comes to volunteering and donating. For many organizations that strive to reach this skilled and passionate generation, figuring out how to tap into this passion for service and philanthropy remains a mystery.

In addition to the video we wanted to share some key highlights and takeaways we heard during MDS11:

• Social Media: Non-profits should use social media to interact with Millennials—don’t just make “announcement” posts, but ask questions, respond to comments and tweets, and keep people informed about your organization’s work. It might be a “virtual” relationship, but it’s still a relationship.
• Volunteers and Donors: Advanced technology and increased internet access have empowered the Millennial generation. Satisfy their desire to be influential—give your volunteers and donors legitimate decision making power about how their time is spent and where their money is going. 
• Cross-generational Communication: It’s simple—embrace dialogue between generations! Be open to teaching and learning.
• Non-profit Leadership: The entrepreneurial spirit of the Millennial generation should be harnessed in the non-profit sector—don’t be afraid to try a new method or idea just because it isn’t a standard operating procedure.

If you attended MDS11, what did you find interesting or exciting? If you missed out and want to learn more, register for post-Summit access to the videos at www.mdsummit11.com.

Special thanks to Kate Newman and Kathryn Beard, interns at the Case Foundation, who created this video piece and blog post.