So Many Service Events in September

In case you haven't noticed, September is a busy month for community service events!

Here are a few of the big ones nationally/internationally that are planned for this month:

September 11, 2009

9/11 National Day of Service

On April 21, 2009, President Barack Obama signed legislation that for the first time officially established September 11 as a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

September 14 - 21, 2009

Mozilla Service Week

"We believe the Internet should make life better. Join us a week in September as we take action to make a difference in our communities, our world, our Web." This will be the first year of this event, but it looks like they are really rallying some great partners.

September 19, 2009

International Coastal Cleanup Day

This year is the 24th annual. Nearly 400k volunteers collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash in 104 countries and 42 U.S. states during the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup - the world's largest volunteer effort of its kind. Official registration opens on August 3, 2009.

September 19 -27 2009

Play Day

It's a block party, a backyard BBQ, and a day of service all rolled into one.

September 22, 2009

One Web Day

It's like "Earth Day for the Internet" - For the last three years, OneWebDay has attracted a global network of partner organizations and individual activists committed to broadening the public’s awareness of Internet and Web issues while deepening a culture of participation in building a Web that works for everyone. In 2008, OneWebDay organizers documented volunteer-driven events 34 different cities across the world.

And many United Way chapters hold Day/Week of Caring events during September also e.g. United Way Bay Area's Week of Caring.

Get out there and paint some murals, plant some trees, build some playgrounds and clean the beach, or serve from the comfort of your own computer with virtual volunteering!

Martin Luther King Day of Service

MLK Day of Service is one of my favorite holidays.

Back when I worked at City Year New Hampshire I helped organized a March of Justice and Volunteer Fair, and it's great to see they are both still going strong after 8 years!

This MLK day, I wasn't out marching or volunteering, I was on a plane flying back from St. Louis where we were celebrating Grandpa's 90th birthday. But in honor of MLK day, I did some e-advocacy this year:

1. Helped enable and encourage employees to volunteer at work
2. Set up a Facebook "Cause" to Support Young Heroes (City Year's Middle School Service Learning Program) that now has over 200 members.
3. Created this Wordle from a portion of the 'I Have a Dream' speech to share with you:

Next year I am hoping to be out doing some more traditional service (e.g. painting a mural) and for inspiration, here's one of the best murals I have seen in a long time, by Dan of dstrbo.com:

I love the colors and detail and I have had this image set as my desktop background for about a month now. I like to think of it as MLK reminding me to get out there and do something that matters!