On Wednesday I suggested that furloughed federal employees might be a great source of volunteers for DC-area schools--if only someone could organize them. Well, I've stumbled across a great social entrepreneurship effort to do just that sort of thing: Shutdown Startup, a website created by federal employees with the tag line: "If we can't serve our country, we'll serve our community." Yes!
The site asks federal staffers to make a volunteer commitment, which is great. But the actual volunteer opportunities listed are a little thin. So if you're a social service agency and would love to tap a handful of the hundreds of thousands of soon-to-be-idled federal workers, post something now!
Unfortunately DCPS is not likely to be one of those agencies; I heard from Chancellor Kaya Henderson and she tells me that all DCPS staffers are swamped with testing (and test security!) right now. Those damn tests, always getting in the way.
But surely local charter schools and inner-city Catholic schools could post requests for help. And well-organized PTAs in the District could also find creative ways to engage furloughed feds that didn't involve them stepping on campus. (For instance, they could knit sweaters to be sold at fundraisers, redesign PTA websites, or beautify local parks.)
I'm still amazed (like many of you) that our country's leaders might actually shut the government down. But if it happens...it's time to service up!
-Mike Petrilli
