Links
These links go to sites created and maintained by other organizations. MNRPCV does not manage and cannot guarantee the content of external links. They are provided as a benefit to you and are not endorsed by the MNRPCV group.
Volunteer Opportunities in Minnesota
- The Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC) - is the only state-wide, nonprofit, volunteer literacy organization in Minnesota. MLC trains volunteers to tutor adults in basic reading or English language skills. Volunteers then tutor at one of MLC's direct service sites or at one of over 120 associate programs in the state. To receive information about training and volunteer opportunities, call 651-645-2277. www.themlc.org/mlc/training.htm.
- Hands On Twin Cities brings people together to strengthen communities through meaningful volunteer action, 612.379.4900. www.handsontwincities.org.
- Greater Twin Cities United Way. They can give you referrals to one time and long term opportunities and everything in between. Give them a call at 612-340-7400. www.unitedwaytwincities.org/Giving/volunteer.cfm.
- The Minnesota Zoo. You can volunteer in many different areas of the zoo. From office work to staffing the hands-on ZooLab, and from spring planting to leading tours, we need your special skills! http://www.mnzoo.com
- Twin Cities FreeNet. The Free-Net is a grassroots, volunteer-driven organization. Community networks around the world owe their success mainly to the talents and dedication of their volunteers. We need your help! http://freenet.msp.mn.us/volunteer/
- The Science Museum of Minnesota. With over 700 volunteers, volunteers are a vital part of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Adult and youth volunteers work in every area of the museum. Volunteers greet visiting school groups, staff the information booth, work behind the scenes doing essential daily jobs such as office and lab work, and explain and demonstrate science in the exhibit halls. http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/
- The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to provide direct care to survivors of politically-motivated torture and members of their families. CVT, the first organization of its kind in the United States, has pioneered a comprehensive assessment and care program. In recent years the Center expanded its work in research, training, and public policy initiatives designed to create new resources for torture survivors worldwide and new allies in the campaign to end the use of torture. http://www.cvt.org
- Community Solutions Fund is an association of 42 service agencies, neighborhood groups, and advocacy organizations dedicated to meeting a variety of community needs through self-help, community programs. Community Solutions Fund offers employers, working people, retirees, civic groups and others ways to work with community and social change organizations through workplace giving, group volunteer projects, cause marketing opportunities, and material drives to meet specific community needs. http://www.solutionsfund.org/
- Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) is a multicultural nonprofit that started in 1995 to help immigrant women in the Twin Cities build a quality of life they have envisioned for themselves when they decided to move to the United States. Since then, WISE works across cultures, ethnicities, races, ages, education and income level to support the development of immigrant and refugee women as decision-makers and leaders, and seeks to remove the obstacles that hinder the advancement of the status of women in the Asian, African and Latino communities. Phone: (651) 646-3268. http://www.charityadvantage.com/womenselfempowerment
Volunteer Opportunities Across the United States
- VolunteerMatch. Find a volunteer opportunity in Minnesota or across the nation. In Oprah's words (paraphrased): "You can find volunteer opportunities on VolunteerMatch? I LOVE the Internet!" http://www.volunteermatch.com
- Habitat for Humanity. http://www.habitatforhumanity.org
Volunteer Opportunities Across the Globe
- The Peace Corps. http://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/index.html
- The Crisis Corps is a program within the Peace Corps that allows PCVs who are completing their tours and returned Volunteers to provide short-term assistance to countries that have experienced natural disasters or humanitarian crises. If you have been a Peace Corps Volunteer and want an opportunity to put your Peace Corps skills back to work on behalf of people in special need, the Crisis Corps is for you. http://www.peacecorps.gov/rpcv/crisiscorps/index.cfm
- Global Volunteers was founded in 1984 with the goal of helping to establish a foundation for peace through mutual international understanding. As a non-governmental organization (NGO) in special consultative status with the United Nations, Global Volunteers is uniquely positioned to represent local leaders in a national and international arena, and to engage short-term volunteers in local development efforts. http://www.globalvolunteers.org/index.html
- Geekcorps is a nonprofit committed to expanding the Internet revolution internationally by pairing skilled volunteers from the high-tech world with small businesses in emerging nations. Geekcorps and its partner businesses in emerging nations evaluate technical needs. Then Geekcorps selects volunteers with the expertise to meet those needs. Geekcorps trains its volunteers to teach their skills to people from different backgrounds. http://www.geekcorps.org/
- Global Citizens Network seeks to create a network of people who are committed to the shared values of peace, justice, tolerance, cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation, to the preservation of indigenous cultures, traditions and ecologies, and to the enhancement of the quality of life around the world. By providing participants the opportunity to learn about the society, knowledge, art and livelihood of other cultures, Global Citizens Network seeks to honor and help preserve those cultures. http://www.globalcitizens.org
National Peace Corps Association - http://www.rpcv.org/index.cfm
Peace Corps Online - http://www.peacecorpsonline.org
International Issues and Actions
- The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems which challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system. Throughout the world, the UN and its agencies assist refugees and set up programmes to clear landmines, help improve the quality of drinking water and expand food production, make loans to developing countries and help stabilize financial markets. http://www.un.org.
- The Africa Society, a direct outgrowth of the National Summit on Africa, is to educate all Americans about Africa and its people, to build bridges of understanding and partnership, and to facilitate the Continent's social development and political transition to more open, democratic societies. http://www.africasummit.org.
- The Peace Gallery presents images from around the world as seen through the cameras of Peace Corps volunteers. Although the images show the amazing diversity on our planet, they also show how similar we are to each other. In looking through the gallery, marvel at the differences, but also see the similarities. After spending two years in the Peace Corps, one realizes it is how close we all are that is truly amazing. http://www.peacegallery.org.
- InterAction, the American Council for Voluntary International Action, is a diverse coalition of more than 165 US-based relief, development, environmental and refugee agencies working in more than 100 countries around the world. With headquarters in 25 states and grassroots chapters in many others, our coalition members receive support from tens of millions of Americans nationwide. http://www.interaction.org.
- NetAid uses the Internet to empower people to take action on extreme poverty around the world. This growing one-stop-site facilitates direct interface among people in developing and developed countries, creating opportunities for giving, learning, and building fruitful relationships. NetAid is a good place to start looking online for information and action steps you can take if you're interested in these issues. http://www.netaid.org.
- The Hunger Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific humanitarian need - the eradication of world hunger. On average over 220,000 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the "donate free food" button and help feed the hungry. Founded in June 1999, The Hunger Site was the first "click-to-donate" site on the Web. To date more that 101 million visitors have donated more than 198 million cups of staple food. http://www.thehungersite.org.
- America's Second Harvest is the largest domestic hunger relief organization in the United States. Annually, they distribute more than one billion pounds of donated food and grocery product, supporting approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies and the operation of over 94,000 food programs that provide food assistance to more than 26 million hungry Americans, including eight million children and four million seniors each year. 99.3% of all donations received by America's Second Harvest go directly towards feeding hungry people. http://www.secondharvest.org.
- Mercy Corps fights hunger worldwide by providing lifesaving food shipments during global emergencies and then remaining on the ground to find lasting solutions to poverty and oppression. The agency helps more than four million people annually in the Balkans, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Central America. Known internationally for its quick-response, high-impact programs, over 94% of Mercy Corps' resources go directly to people in need. http://www.mercycorps.org.
- GreaterGood's mission is to provide Internet users with free and easy ways to make a tangible difference in the world. GreaterGood owns and operates several click-to-donate sites, including The Hunger Site, The Rainforest Site, The Kids AIDS Site, The Child Survival Site, The Breast Cancer Site and The Landmine Site. These sites allow visitors to participate in worldwide efforts to end hunger, preserve endangered habitat, prevent and treat pediatric AIDS, increase the life expectancy of impoverished mothers and children and promote early detection of breast cancer - at no extra cost to them. Advertising sponsors pay for the donations generated by clicking on the sites' "donate" buttons. http://www.greatergood.com
- Heifer International Foundation's efforts are dedicated to the sustainability of providing food- and income-producing animals, training and related assistance to families and communities around the world. http://www.heifer.org.
- Oxfam America invests privately raised funds and technical expertise in local organizations around the world that hold promise in their efforts to help poor people move out of poverty. These projects are characterized by partnerships with local organizations. http://www.oxfam.org
- Action Without Borders is a global network of individuals and organizations working to build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives in a healthy environment. Its work is guided by the common desire of its members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect. http://www.idealist.org.
- FINCA International serves 121,120 borrowers through apporximately 6,092 Village Banking groups. http://www.villagebanking.org.
- The International Rescue Committee is the leading nonprofit, nonsectarian voluntary organization providing relief, protection, and resettlement services for refugees and victims of oppression or violent conflict. http://www.theirc.org.
- Sustainable Harvest International provides farmers and communities in the tropics with long-term assistance implementing environmentally and economically sustainable technologies. http://www.sustainableharvest.org.
- New Internationalist magazine online. http://www.newint.org
- The United States Campaign to Ban LandMines has current information on US legislation related to landmines. http://www.banminesusa.org.
- Living on Earth with Steve Curwood is the weekly environmental news and information program distributed by National Public Radio. Every week over 230 National Public Radio stations broadcast Living on Earth's news, features, interviews and commentary on a broad range of ecological issues. http://www.loe.org.
Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund - http://www.familiesoffreedom.org
Specific Country Information
- Portals to the World are selected links to information on 67 countries,from the U.S. Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/portals.html
- The World Factbook provides extensive information on more than 267 countries. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html.
Advocacy Sites
- The Foundation Center provides research funding sources. www. foundationcenter.org.
- State Net provides comprehensive and accurate information regarding state government, from bill tracking to regulatory changes to political news. http://www.statenet.com/
- Congress.org. Look up your elected officials here. http://www.congress.org.
- Project Vote Smart is a national library on over 13,000 elected offices and candidates for public office. http://www.votesmart.org.
- Congressional Observer Publications provides instantaneous access to votes in Congress. A small fee is charged for this service. http://www.proaxis.com.
- Voter Information Services, Inc. is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. The goal is to help interested citizens understand the effects of the federal laws enacted (or not enacted) by the U.S. Congress on our everyday lives, and the role of the individual members of Congress in the legislative process. http://www.vis.org.
- The Women's Voting Guide is a service from Women Leaders Online. www.womenvote.org.
- The Hill offers front-page congressional stories, political pundit commentaries, campaign information, etc. http://www.hillnews.com.
Minnesota Groups
- Peace Coffee believes that coffee should reward your taste buds while respecting coffee farmers and the environment. http://www.peacecoffee.com.
- Global Volunteers Global Volunteers is a private, international tax-exempt, nonprofit. http://www.globalvolunteers.org.
- The American Refugee Committee provides multisectoral humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries for more than 20 years. http://www.arc.org.
- Minnesota Literacy Council is the only statewide, nonprofit, volunteer literacy organization dedicated to helping individuals who need instruction or assistance in basic reading, English language, or other basic skills. http://www.themlc.org.
- Minnesota International Center offers numerous opportunities for face-to-face meetings and educational exchanges. http://www.micglobe.org.
- The Center for Victims of Torture provides direct care to survivors of politically-motivated torture and members of their families. CVT, the first organization of its kind in the United States, has pioneered a comprehensive assessment and care program. http://www.cvt.org.
- The Resource Center of the Americas, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit publisher of AMERICAS.ORG, is devoted to the notion that every person in this world is entitled to the same fundamental human rights. The Center focuses especially on the global economy, a system in which a minority flourishes while millions of people lack adequate food, shelter and employment. http://www.americas.org.
- The University of Minnesota Human Rights Center has developed an international human rights database to commemorate the pioneering work of Diana Vincent-Daviss. http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts.
- The Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs is the University of Minnesota's graduate professional school for students interested in public affairs and planning. The Institute's mission is to teach students, conduct research, and provide community service is to make people's lives better. http://www.hhh.umn.edu.
- Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) is designed and hosted entirely by Falun Dafa practitioners. All of the content except the founder's writings represents the ideas and opinions of Falun Dafa practitioners, and should not be taken as representative of Falun Dafa itself. http://www.tc.umn.edu/~falun.
- Global Citizens Network seeks to create a network of people who are committed to the shared values of peace, justice, tolerance, cross-cultural understanding and global cooperation, to the preservation of indigenous cultures, traditions and ecologies, and to the enhancement of the quality of life around the world. http://www.gcn.org.
- Cottonwood Foundation promotes empowerment of people, protection of the environment, and respect for cultural diversity. At least 90% of Cottonwood Foundation's expenditures are for grants to other organizations. Cottonwood Foundation awards grants in the $500 to $1,000 range to grassroots organizations in the United States and internationally. http://www.cottonwoodfdn.org.