Acts of Service

Service is a very important quality of leadership. A prime example of someone who lives this truth is Ron Nirenberg, the former mayor of San Antonio, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing for the latest episode of Tripod to discuss, Nirenberg: The Education of a Texas Public Servant. 

Of course, participating in acts of service is not relegated to leaders alone. It is an endeavor that benefits both those receiving aid and those providing it, regardless of who helps or how.

Acts of service can take many different forms. One of the most common is volunteer work. But for those who aren’t serving others to receive college credit hours or to pay for speeding tickets, it can be hard to know where to turn for opportunities. City-specific organization websites and national databases such as VolunteerMatch and POINT are great resources for finding local nonprofits or monthly volunteer activities. They often use your location to help narrow down the many foundations in need of volunteers and can be filtered based on your interests, skill sets, and other factors. In addition, most local parks, hospitals, and animal shelters are always looking for helping hands. 

Many other forms of service can be integrated into day-to-day life. In talking to Nirenberg, I learned that he started an initiative dedicated to helping locals connect with their neighbors and neighborhood activities. Although having a conversation with a neighbor may not look like service on paper, sometimes the greatest help we can offer, especially in these trying times, is to communicate that we are available, have a desire to connect, and can be depended on to show up (even if it’s just to lend a cup of sugar). Making the choice to reach out to those around you is not as common as it once was, so it can mean a lot to make the effort to be a part of our neighbor’s lives. Nirenberg and I also discussed how important it is to engage in community events.

Although the online world has many drawbacks, one of its silver linings is that we can be more connected than ever before. I found many message boards and event postings on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn that allow local businesses, community centers, and other organizations to reach their customer base in order to provide better services. 

Shopping small can help keep family-owned services in business. Buying books from local stores nearby instead of large online companies can sustain someone’s dream of being their own boss. A shopping spree might not look the same as volunteering, but being deliberate about keeping one’s dollars in the community is both a fun weekend plan and an action that sustains that community’s cultural identity. 

To learn more from a lifelong public servant about the importance of giving back, listen to “Nirenberg: Service and Sympathy” on the Tripod website and anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

By Lily Brennan