It’s Getting Hot In Here

I know it’s summer (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere) and most folks aren’t in test-mode, but take a stab at these two multiple choice question.

The Summer of Solutions is:

A) An innovative youth leadership program empowering young people to make real change,
B) A launching ground for new projects to solve our climate, energy, economic, and justice crises,
C) A rockin’ good time,
D) A nation-wide effort looking for new leaders to help us grow as an organization, or
E) All of the above.

During 2009, Summer of Solutions has:

A) Empowered 125 young people to create solutions in 9 communities across the country,
B) Built awesome heating and energy efficiency, gardening, and listening projects from Eugene, OR to Worcester, MA,
C) Started incredible friendships, both with fellow participants and with community partners, that will endure long beyond this summer,
D) Supported ourselves, with grassroots fundraising and with a self-designed organizational structure, to run a completely youth-driven, youth-sustained project, or
E) All of the above.

I’m sure you’re shocked, but the right answer to both questions is E) All of the above! I’d like to draw your attention to option D) A nation-wide effort looking for new leaders to help us grow as an organization. Right now, Grand Aspirations (the organization that puts on Summer of Solutions) is looking to build its leadership team. We are relying on the innovation and energy of volunteers (like you!) to help Grand Aspirations into a solid, viable organization and to make Summer of Solutions 2010 a kick-ass, nation-wide, change-making program, bigger and better than in 2008 and 2009.

I’m going to throw another multiple choice question at you:

What do YOU want to do to build this organization and create an awesome program?

A) Design sweet organizational structures and create partnerships with other organizations,
B) Start the process of building our 2010 program in specific locations,
C) Find funding to support all this great work,
D) Work on improving communication, particularly on the website and with the media,
E) Plan a January conference to bring together folks working on all these different things, or
F) Help connect and support everyone else.

This question doesn’t have one right answer. We’ve created working groups to accomplish each of these goals. If any of those options are super exciting to you, please fill out our simple application to join a working group by Monday, August 24th to let us know group fits your interests best. One more multiple choice question:

What do you need to be a part of a working group?

A) Lots of experience working with Summer of Solutions,
B) 20 hours a week to work on it, or
C) A whole bunch of enthusiasm and dedication

The correct answer is C) A whole bunch of enthusiasm and dedication! We would love to work with you, no matter your history with Summer of Solutions. You don’t need to drop everything else you’re doing to work on this (although if you want to, that’s great too).

Summer of Solutions is about figuring it out, together. We want you to join in.

PS: If you are excited by the idea of Summer of Solutions but aren’t interested in joining a working group, please take a minute to rate Timothy DenHerder-Thomas’s proposal for the Nau Grant for Change as a 5. That funding will help our aformentioned January gathering happen, letting us kick of Summer of Solutions 2010 with a cohesive national team.