|
After a full career in marketing for the high-tech sector, I decided that I wanted a greater sense of balance in my life. I left my fast-paced career and began volunteering with the Jewish Big Brother Program and the Friendly Services Program. Looking for a way to become even more involved in our community, I discovered my new project during Seder dinner in 2006. We were discussing the violence and suffering in Darfur, Sudan, and I was shocked when friends and family alike expressed a sense of uselessness: the conflict was too bureaucratic, too big. I said that I would show them that they can make a difference, and that very night I searched the internet for creative ways to do just that. I came across the website for the Save Darfur Coalition and saw that this organization sold banners and lawn signs which read “A Call to Your Conscience,” whereupon my marketing background kicked in. Why hadn’t I seen any of these banners around? Nobody supported genocide, so why hadn’t I seen more ardent public protestation about it? I decided that my goal would be to increase public awareness about Darfur, in the belief that once people were informed, they could figure out the best ways to take action. To make it easier for my community’s organizations to show support for and increase awareness about Darfur, I bought banners myself, then distributed and installed them free to all who wanted them. In order to maximize the impact of my campaign, I focused on my own town, Needham, Massachusetts. I received unanimous support from the leaders at my synagogue to put up a banner, and eventually met with all religious leaders in my community. Almost every place of worship agreed to put up a banner. A buzz began to spread around town as people started seeing the banners and lawn signs everywhere. What has been the effect of all the banners and signs? I might point out that it’s hard to know the effects of any awareness-building campaign, since people react in myriad ways, many of which go unnoticed. They may follow the news about Darfur more closely, or write a report about it for school. But I am aware of some direct effects of my effort. A neighbor, for example, recounted to me that he’d heard about a young couple looking to buy a house. Eventually, they decided to live in Needham, despite the higher cost, because the banners signified to them that the town had a strong sense of community and was caring, informed, and active. Needham has also been featured in local media, and the town paper has carried stories about the awareness-building campaign. Other towns have also recently begun to follow suit by hanging up banners about Darfur. With my banner campaign essentially complete, I’ve become more involved with the Save Darfur Coalition. As a regional spokesperson for the Coalition, I’ve given more than 20 talks for students and other audiences – including Discovering What’s Next.
On Legacy For me, legacy isn’t just about doing Good Work in my own life, but also about being a role model. By aiming to cover my town in banners promoting awareness about Darfur, I was also showing my peers and our community’s youth that indeed, they can make a difference too. Advice 1. Get feedback from friends, mentors, family and others about plans for your project. Prepare to accept constructive criticism, but don’t be discouraged if your plan is met with doubt or skepticism. 2. Think your project plan through carefully and stick to it. 3. Set a clear, narrow goal. If your goal is too big or ambiguous, you may not be able to assess your progress and might possibly become discouraged. 4. Network with local leaders and organizations. 5. Become friends with the media. Contact your local media sources to let them know about your project plan. |
|
|
Legacy isn’t just about doing Good 
