RECRUITING MINORITY VOLUNTEERS

WHERE TO BEGIN

Demographers predict that by 2030 most of America’s school-age children will be from a minority group and by 2050, so will most Americans (Hodgkinson 1996).

• Changes the nature of population• Changes how audiences are served - List

CULTURAL LITERACY QUIZ

When is Black History Month celebrated?

Who was Fredrick Douglas?

When is Asian Pacific Month celebrated?

Name three ethnic groups that make up the Asian population in the United States

When is Native American Heritage Month ?

Name three Native American Tribes?

When is Hispanic American Month celebrated?

Name three places of origin or decent that would categorize people as Hispanic

BACKGROUND ON MINORITY

VOLUNTEERING Definition: A volunteer is someone who

serves in a community because she chooses to do so and serves without compensation.

Volunteering already exists in minority communities, informal, helping out

WHY MINORITIES DO NOT VOLUNTEER

United Way research poll found that minorities don’t volunteer for the following reasons:

Minorities were not asked

Fear of being used as a token

Do not feel connected to the mainstream community

Lack of personal time

WHY MINORITIES DO NOT VOLUNTEER

Lack of identification with agencies that are serving minority clients

Lack of knowledge about volunteer opportunities

Belief that minority input is not taken seriously

Uncertainty about benefits of involvement

Economic hardship

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES

Emphasize altruistic rather than personal reasons for volunteering

Helping others

Thinking about others rather than self

Making a difference in the environment/world

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES

A personal appeal is the most effective approach

Develop the image that 4-H is as organization in which people can feel strong personal attachment

Take advantage of the “era of volunteerism”, In vogue rather than materialism

Some 60.8 million between 09/06 and 09/07 or 26.2% of our population – 2006 estimate 299,398,484 73.8% to work with Population, 221,554,878

STRATEGIES FOR ATTRACTING MINORITY

VOLUNTEERS Participate in community events to increase

awareness of 4-H, distribute materials, solicit volunteers

Cultural events, fraternal, church related events, street fairs, music festivals, block parties, historical celebrations

Use minority media extensively

Distribute PSAs to minority radio stations, camera ready ads to newspapers, local magazines that market to minorities…Run PSAs on local cable television...

Ask minority retailers to put up ads, calendars etc.

Display posters at barber shops, doctors office...

STRATEGIES FOR ATTRACTING MINORITY

VOLUNTEERS Enlist the support of minority role models within the

community

Local minority sports stars, business leaders, veterans, politicians

Invite local minority leaders to serve on advisory committee, Expansion and Review committee, to judge events, to be guest speakers at events

Make use of existing community resources

Utilize volunteer centers, Volunteer Broward…

Collaborate with other organizations to do outreach

Solicit other minority volunteers to assist

BE SENSITIVE TO CULTURAL

DIFFERENCES Ensure that brochures and all marketing materials

represent the clientele you are trying to reach

Beware of when events or meetings are scheduled, be aware of how cultures view time

Don’t try to use language to fit in, be natural but be honest – If foreign language is used, have a volunteer or staff that can help to clarify policies, benefits, screenings etc.

Examine your own attitudes toward diversity, if you feel uncomfortable so will your potential volunteers

Be yourself, be honest…..

RESOURCES

http://www.energizeinc.com/prof/volop.html

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

The Volunteer Recruitment Book by Susan J. Ellis

Strengthening Programs to Reach Diverse Audiences

Handouts, evaluation and follow-up