For those who like to get their hands dirty and live close to Sommerville, the Somerville Community Growing Center is a wonderful volunteer opportunity. I have a friend who volunteers often and she said it feels like therapy.

http://thegrowingcenter.org/

Hello everyone,

This week's Better Together readings talked a lot about connections and how they were instrumental in the success of how HUCTW came to life and also the success of Experience Corps. I found an article which talked about creating connections, and below are the steps to create strong connections at work or on your personal life:

Be genuine. The only connections that work will be the ones that you truly care about; the world will see through anything short of that. If you don't have a genuine interest in the person with whom you're trying to connect, then stop trying.

Provide massive help. Even the biggest and most powerful people in the world have something they'd like help with. Too many people never reach out to those above them due to the fear that they wouldn't be able to offer anything in return. But you have more to offer than you realize: write an article or blog post about them, share their project with your community, offer to spread their message through a video interview with them. Give real thought to who you could connect them with to benefit their goals. If it turns out you can't be that helpful, the gesture alone will stand out.

Pay ridiculous attention. It's nearly impossible to genuinely offer help if you don't pay attention - I mean real attention, not just to what business they started or what sport they like! Do your research by reading blog posts, books and articles about the connection beforehand. Learn about their backgrounds and passions. Invest genuine time in learning what really matters to them and how you can help.

Connect with people close to them. Most job openings are filled through networking and referrals, and making connections is no different. You automatically arrive with credibility when referred to someone you want to meet by a mutual friend. For example, I recently wanted to meet a best-selling author, and it turned out we had the same personal trainer. In reality, that fact means nothing, but in the world of social dynamics, it's gold! Spend more time connecting with your current network of friends and colleagues and see where it leads.

Persistence wins most battles. If you can't get a direct referral, simply click send on that email or leave a message after the beep. But do not stop there, as most the world tends to. The first attempt is just the very beginning. Realize that the first try may get you nowhere, but the fifth or the tenth tries are the ones that start to yield results. An unreturned email or voicemail doesn't mean they don't want to connect with you. It's your job to be persistent! I sometimes get hundreds of requests in a day from readers who want to connect, but only about 2 percent ever follow up. Don't be in a hurry, but don't be invisible either.

Make real friends. Think about how you've made the friends you have. That's all this is. You only make friends with people you genuinely want in your life. The same rule should go for bigger-name connections. Don't over-think it. Be human, be helpful and most humans will happily be human in return, regardless of who they are.

Remain unforgettable. All of the above are simple - yet sadly underused - ways of standing out. Send birthday cards. Mail your favorite book with a signed personal note from you on the inside flap. Send them your family Christmas card. Be genuinely helpful. You'd be surprised how the simplest things actually never get done. Being memorable isn't as hard as some think!

Hello everyone,

Take a look at the link below, the information perfectly matches our reading assignment for this week (chapter 6). The book is probably very interesting but the information on this page is very helpful. I like the end: Don't hoard power. Give it away, carefully. So many try to hold on, when this week's reading assignment told us to use our power to empower other.

http://www.themindtolead.com/power.html

Hello Everyone,
After the readings, I was curious to learn if any of Hingham public schools were involved in a DO Something project. I found two! Below I have posted the links for you to review it:

http://www.dosomething.org/webform-submission/727152

http://www.dosomething.org/project/hingham-high-school-gay-straight-alliance

Hello Everyone,
I found this book at my local library, I haven't started reading it yet since I'm working so hard to catch up on some overdue assignments, but I feel that this book might answer some questions I have about how to be able to build a community in a world of time constraints and responsibilities overload we all seem to live in nowadays. I will keep you updated about this reading and if you are interested, this is not a new book (published in 2004) and you will probably find it at your local public library!

Starting in Our Own Backyards: How Working Families Can Build Community and Survive the New Economy

I decided that for my engagement project I want to be involved with an organization which helps immigrants. I have found that the Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition provides many opportunities for volunteers to engage in promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees.

http://www.miracoalition.org/en/take-action/volunteer-a-intern-at-mira