I had the great privilege of participating in the Points Of Light conference in Houston, which was an exquisitely organized and unparalleled opportunity to share and learn with professionals from all over the world.
Jennifer Sirangelo, CEO of Points Of Light, highlighted the importance of changing the perception of volunteering from something “good” to something “necessary” at a time of crisis of volunteering globally and with a huge polarization in society, our role as driving organizations is key to ensure the participation of all.
Nicole Clifton, Points Of Light board member and director of one of the congress sponsors, UPS Foundation, shared the impressive work they do. I would like to highlight one project in particular: training their drivers to identify and report potential human trafficking situations. This initiative not only demonstrates UPS’s commitment to the community, but also underscores the potential of empowering employees to address critical social issues.
Eric Liu of Citizen University enlightened us by questioning the underlying approaches and values of our society. Liu called for action not only in times of crisis, such as hurricanes or wars, but also on a day-to-day basis. He pointed out that the real problem lies in our separation and polarization. His reflection was deeply impactful and revealing.
Niiobli Armah and Ashley Jones of We Collab gave us one of the most motivational sessions of the conference. Their message about the importance of knowing ourselves and others to ensure empathy and equity was very inspiring. They stressed the need to build bridges to bring us together, seeking the beauty of what unites us and avoiding the perception of the “other” that separates us so much.
Sarah King, from Sarah King Creates, offered us valuable tactics to prevent and face burnout. She made us reflect on all the roles we play in our daily lives and the importance of remembering ourselves. Her techniques for managing stress and maintaining personal balance were very helpful and relevant.
The conference was also marked by a growing tendency to talk about a crisis in volunteering. A central point was the focus on equity and social justice, and another of the themes highlighted was the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to optimize resources and improve the efficiency of organizations.
In summary, this conference was an enriching experience that not only provided us with knowledge and new perspectives, but also motivated us to continue working towards a fairer and better world for all.
