Members of the 2009-2010 Public Allies Arizona class, which nearly doubled in size this year, began their work with a variety of nonprofit organizations around the Valley on Monday.
Public Allies Arizona began training the 48 members of the class, put together by ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, on Sept. 9 for the challenges that may arise in the nonprofit organizations the members work with.
Ana Arboleda, a member of the class who works with Communities and Schools of Arizona, said the members of the class all share a similar passion for working with nonprofit organizations.
“It’s kind of a common feeling between us that you go to school and you learn all the theories, power, [and] social politics, but you never get the experience until you go out and work with a nonprofit in the community,” Arboleda said.
She said she think it’s important that students who are fortunate enough to receive a college education share their knowledge with the community to help enhance it.
“It’s important to get involved so you can apply everything you learned in college and put it into a place to help the community,” Arboleda said. “In a way you are the vessel to the community, you are bringing all this knowledge you have back to your community.”
The Lodestar Center adopted the public allies program three years ago and has nearly doubled the number of participants through the success of the first three classes, as well as AmeriCorps national expansion.
In previous years the Lodestar Center accepted 25 members into the program, compared to 48 this year.
The members are paired with a nonprofit organization in Arizona and work with that organization for 10 months.
Arboleda said although the members are spread out through various organizations, they strive to collaborate as much as possible.
“Although we are in different places, we help each other out, so that each organization really has 30 people, not directly working for them, but behind them supporting them and collaborating resources,” Arboleda said.
In addition to a commitment of 10 months to a nonprofit organization, members of the class also participate in Public Allies Arizona training twice a month and work together on a team project benefitting the community.
Patrick McWhorter, president and CEO of the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, said the class is a welcome addition to the nonprofit world that is currently facing more strain because of the slumping economy.
“There’s a tremendous need for new talent to come in and help these organizations. Nonprofits are critical, especially in times like these, with the recession,” he said.
Lloyd Hopkins, director of the community re-investments for the Communities in Schools of Arizona, said that Public Allies’ members have had a positive influence on their nonprofit organizations.
“They are definitely enhancing our capabilities and enabling us to expand our program to new areas, new communities and new schools,” he said.
Reach the reporter at michelle.parks@asu.edu.
