Yeah . . . THAT Altruistic Greenville

Year of Altruism is already officially half over. Yet, we still sit in my office (IHOP on Wade Hampton) and contend with the challenge of conveying our vision to the community.

It should be straightforward: Altruism is doing the right thing and not expecting anything back for it. So, it's fairly easy to explain YOA as the movement to get the all of us involved in altruistic projects – plant a garden, build a Habitat house, visit the sick and homebound, work in soup kitchen or shelter, collect clothing and other basic necessities. Do it because it's right, not for payback.

In Greenville, plenty of churches and organizations already do those kinds of altruistic things. Our mission is to encourage greater participation, expand programs, create partnerships, and plant seeds to address unmet needs.

How do we motivate a congregation or organization to build an altruistic agenda? How do teachers, for example, infuse altruism in the classroom without banging kids over the head with it? How do you shape the community to respond altruistically to the homeless as no longer just an “issue,” but a bonafide crisis?

YOA, frequently partnering with churches and organizations, sees its higher calling as a catalyst for action on these issues. Thus, we recently convened a seminar for teachers and youth leaders on infusing altruistic values into their curricula, programming, and activities. Fifty educators benefited from the program.

How do we motivate congregations to bolster their sense of social responsibility? YOA and a consortium of churches recently called a workshop on “Building a Socially Engaged Congregation,” facilitated by JustFaith founder Jack Jezreel. Results: 300+ people from all walks of life participated, and many congregations associated themselves with JustFaith.

And, what of the dire issue of homelessness in our community? Again, YOA, in partnership with United Housing Connections, is convening a community-wide forum on all aspects of issues of homelessness. We hope that the gathering will generate an action agenda, and not just talk.

The one element of YOA's vision that is most challenging to explain is, “Why does your project have to spend so much on sponsoring concerts, theater, lectures, visual arts, and . . . ? Shouldn't a project dedicated to altruism focus exclusively on community service?”

Excellent questions.

Let's answer the question with another question: How do we create a fertile base for growing the seeds of altruism that YOA is planting? The answer: Inundate the community with an atmosphere that encourages higher vision. When a community is uplifted – intellectually, culturally, spiritually, creatively – the soul of the community become more receptive to growing the seeds of altruism. Each of our “fertilizing events” rings of some altruistic vision, be it the Symphony commemorating Kristallnacht, the Warehouse production of “Angels in America,” Arlo Guthrie's “Bring on the Kids!” concert, wrapped around altruistic activities, or the symposium on Medical Altruism convened by YOA, GHS, and Medical School.

All said, YOA aspires to prepare the ground of Greenville to grow more altruism.

We are blessed to live in Greenville. Altruism is not a foreign concept to our tremendously compassionate, charitable, visionary hometown. Greenville makes altruism fairly easy to grow. I cannot always say the same for other communities that have approached us with hope of cloning YOA. Impossible? No, just immeasurably harder.

What happens after YOA is “officially” over? Believe me, we dither a lot about that question. Yes, you will see artwork, maybe a street mural, to commemorate YOA. You will see an “Educators Altruism Resource Center”

But, above all else, you will see us still planting seeds of altruism wherever the needs are greatest. We may call for citizens to come forth on a particular issue. If they do, we will help organize them, get them off the ground, and ascertain whether there is enough mojo to keep the ball spinning. YOA will not “own” the project, but will be the catalyst for its genesis.

Does YOA aspire to “go national”? All we can say is that we have had numerous requests. They hear about us, and – what's most important – they hear about our consistent message: “Yeah – We are THAT Greenville.” We are a great place to move, build businesses, raise kids, worship, eat, become culturally absorbed, and now to be assured that we lead with our altruism.

So, answer the question! Do you plan to “go national.” You know, we can't even think about that now. We're too preoccupied with making sure that Arlo stays away from Alice's Restaurant.