Missing: The Profits, but We All Profit!

Post #52

In my previous blog entry (#51 dated 5/3/10), I addressed the first of two glaring omissions in the  textbooks used in the State & Local Government classes I teach at Montgomery College.

Concerned about these gaps in the curriculum, I spent additional time working with the students to get them thinking about these issues as they relate to government and our lives.  The first, as I addressed in the last entry, was ethics. What could be more important in this day of mistrust of government?  But the other missing and highly important piece is the role played by the nonprofit sector, and the impact these vital organizations have on our community.

Too often, this critical part of our economy is overlooked and underappreciated.  While most people can reel off the names of national nonprofit organizations (The Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, American Heart Association, etc.), but how many of us are aware of the local groups?  Their work has a huge impact on our lives.  And how many of us are aware of the multitude of smaller organizations doing equally wonderful and much-needed work in our community, often with limited resources?

I suspect it would surprise most Marylanders to learn that our state is home to 27,000 diverse nonprofit organizations, employing more than 250,000 of our friends, neighbors and family members.

Our nonprofit organizations provide child care, employment and training programs, education, arts, recreation, religious and cultural activities, housing, health care, social services and so much more.  The nonprofit sector also helps to drive the economy of every county statewide through expenditures on goods, services and payroll.

I distributed to my students a list of about 60 Montgomery County-based nonprofits.  Each of them did research on three of the organizations and shared their knowledge with the class.  They were impressed by how many had started at someone's kitchen table, how much work they could do on a shoestring budget... and how much demand has increased in these tough times.

We are all better off because of the work done by these important organizations.  I urge you to support these groups by your donations, your time as a volunteer, and by voting for legislators who support the role that government plays is keeping this sector funded and healthy.  In these perilous economic times, such support is more vital than ever.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How do you think the nonprofit sector can increase its visibility and therefore respect (and support) among the general public?  How much government support do you believe they deserve?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#52) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.