by: Nancy K. Eberhardt
I think there should be a government-backed program of 1-2 years of community service for every high school graduate.
The military is an option; other service roles could include student teaching, community patrol, national parks, legal aid, health clinics, shelters, food banks, and more. The only stipulation is that each 18-year old must be immersed in a community different from the one in which they were raised. Those who grew up on farms could serve in a metropolitan area and vice versa. Someone could serve in a community where they are an ethnic minority. Those rooted in neighborhoods of wealth could live in a community below the poverty level. The possibilities are endless.
I believe this would reframe our entire adult view of ourselves and of others. And this would imbue an understanding of service for everyone. It may lead to more thoughtful subsequent choices of schooling and careers, and encourage those who start college or trade training to finish.
Recently I heard Just Mercy author and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson use the term “proximate”. He said when we get proximate with people who have an experience different from our own, everything can change.
Yes, what he said.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Recent Posts
NPR recently interviewed one of the producers of Food Network’s Chopped Junior,…
Read More »Admiral James Stockdale, who was shot down over North Viet Nam, endured…
Read More »I was living and traveling between Montgomery County, MD and Richmond, VA…
Read More »We celebrated the 100th Encorepreneur! monthly breakfast, inviting six of our most…
Read More »Twenty-five years ago, waiting to board an eight-hour overnight flight from London…
Read More »As everyone is examining everything these days, many are searching for their…
Read More »I love fall – leaves turning, low humidity (critical for hair happiness),…
Read More »The word “accountability” requires explanation. The first definition that pops up on…
Read More »Remember the TV show Columbo? Peter Falk played the disheveled detective who…
Read More »Charleston, South Carolina, has always been one of my favorite cities. After…
Read More »Sometimes the universe bombards us with repeating messages. NPR’s Bullseye interviewed Jimmy Jam and…
Read More »Often we compliment resilience, adaptability, and compromise. We say “thanks,” believing the…
Read More »