“The highest expression of life is cooperative service for the common good”
Anonymous -- Inscription on Minneapolis Convention Center Plaza monument
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Overview
We are offering stories that inspire one to action – to recognize we are all a part of a community and each of us is responsible for the health and welfare of our community. These stories celebrate the contributions of “ordinary people” who volunteered their lives to found or shape significant human services organizations. They were sparks of change, whose zeal, discipline and hard work forever changed this nation’s collective capacity to care.
Leading by Example
In the telling of their lives and work, the legacy and impact of their actions, we begin to weave together the elements inherent in our national character – voluntary association – the building of healthy, diverse, inclusive community. Blending biography with history, we determine the legacy of their actions: the growth, impact and promise of civil society in America.
Stories that Inspire
Seven monographs will relate the stories of how things happened to transform the fabric of society in the United States during the 20th century. We will discover the impulse, the moment in their lives when reformers knew social change was needed and were willing to act to make a difference. Their individual commitment led to the formation of significant social reform movements, the making of our organized capacity to care. The main goal of the monographs is to capture interest, encourage attention, and inspire commitment to action on the part of the reader.
The Monographs
The monographs will spotlight the life and work of:
- Jane Addams, Hull House, 1889-1920 (Click here for .pdf of monograph)
- Clifford Beers, Mental Health America, 1907-1935 (Click here for .pdf of monograph)
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- Wm Edwin Hall, Boys and Girls Clubs, 1935-1950
- Robert Smith and William Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous, 1950-1965
- Eunice Shriver, Special Olympics, 1965-1985
- Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity, 1985-2000
The Jane Addams and Clifford Beers MONOGRAPHS can be downloaded from this website (see above) or by using the order form in the Contact Us section of this website. Each monograph interweaves the conditions and events of the era that gave rise to the need and enabled the response. We will seek to discover the major themes implicit within each story and present guidelines for each of us to follow in our own journey to make a difference. We will take a snapshot of the demographics, economic conditions and political action throughout the century.
Most important, we will seek to discover parallels in today’s world, the legacy of their work, and how the reader can take action.
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