Give Back Chicago – launch event 11/4/09

Posted on November 3, 2009. Filed under: PipelineB2B Member Profiles | Tags: Chicago, Chicago Gives Back, nonprofit, volunteer |

Filling in the gaps on your resume, while helping out a great nonprofit

In keeping with the theme of volunteering to keep forward momentum during a career transition that began with Sunday’s post, I want to introduce a group of individuals that are generating great opportunities for individuals looking for work and nonprofits in need of support due to budget cuts – Give Back Chicago.

Give Back Chicago has launched an incredible initiative to connect nonprofits in need of event, project or office support with professionals in transition. Not only can you donate your time and talents to a great cause, you will also be able to fill possible gaps on your resume, try new projects and have great on-the-job learning opportunities. Give Back Chicago’s kick off event is this Wednesday, November 4 and from the looks of the response, it will be a fantastic and empowering evening for all.

Date: Wednesday, November 4 from 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Location: Buca di Beppo – 521 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL

Registration link: www.givebackchicago.eventbrite.com

Tickets: $10 per volunteer ($15 at the door), one nonprofit will receive 100% of the event proceeds

I have had the privilege to get to know one of the event’s organizer’s Justin Roy (@justingroy) and am very happy to support such a fantastic organization. Justin has been a wonderful friend and supporter of my projects and it is my honor to return the favor. I was able to grab a few minutes from Justin’s pre-event preparation and ask him a few questions about the organization.

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What was the catalyst that brought the Give Back Chicago organization together?

I think it was a combination of a group of professionals who are all too-well-aware of the situation for many and [based on their experience] knew the importance of these folks to become active in their community for many reasons. It’s important for job-seekers to get out of the chair and away from searching for a job to renew their social calendar, brainstorm with folks, network (never know who you are going to meet), and just generally get out of the house. Job seekers have so many skills that are an incredible asset to a nonprofit, yet the resources available can be daunting and overwhelming.

By combining our knowledge and network, we thought connecting the professionals with extremely valuable skills with nonprofits who are in need of these skills at little to no cost would be a good use of our skills. As nonprofits have seen their budgets cut, any help is appreciated and welcomed, even if it is only an hour.

Given your background as a recruiter, how do you feel about professionals volunteering their time during a career transition?

I think it is almost a “must do” to remain competitive in the job market. As the economy picks up, and firms start hiring again, they are really going to look at what you have been doing since feeling the wrath of the times. Put yourself up against somebody who has not been active in their community in their “time off” and you have a leg up. Hiring managers will look and consider gaps in employment and being able to boast that you took this time to give back will not only get you to the top of the pile, but will give you something to talk about when they ask what you have been doing since being laid off: consider: “I was looking for a job” vs. “While searching for employment, I used my skills to volunteer for a community organization”

Why a volunteer auction?

We wanted to connect professionals and network but in a fun and different way; an auction brings excitement and a different type of event than others are offering. And, hey, why the heck not?

Where do you see the Give Back Chicago movement going in the next few months?

We plan on having these auctions quarterly, with follow up social events at Maui Wowi between to catch up with the volunteers and nonprofits. We’ll be networking and grabbing a smoothie; we know smoothies and networking is not the norm, but we wanted to keep in line with our “different” ideas and set up!

Additionally, we already have a list of nonprofits that were not able to participate in this round who also need the help of a skill-based volunteer. There certainly is not a lack of need, nor a lack of professionals interested in helping!

What is your favorite memory of volunteering?

My favorite memory was when I went to Cuba a few years back. I went there to deliver medical supplies to a hospital and was able to tour their facility. Needless to say, the ICU was much different than here in the United States, and the passion of the medial professionals also was noticeably more passionate and creative in terms of care giving. From there, I traveled a few hours inland and had the opportunity to work with some youth groups on spirituality, volunteerism, and humanity issues in addition to day-work as a habitat-type volunteer.

The experience working in a 3rd world country was amazing and really gave me a new perspective on what was really important at the end of the day. While some look at our policies and question, we tend to forget the freedom to question and the freedom to challenge. Compare that to being questioned by militant government officials, and you tend to have a different view point in life.