Voices of VU PHL: Meet Campbell Bird of Global Citizen!
VU PHL Partners with Global Citizen to prepare for the 2020 Greater Philadelphia Area MLK Day of Service!
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, VU Crew! This month, we were proud to volunteer with Global Citizen - a nonprofit organization that was originally founded to create and grow the Greater Philadelphia area’s MLK Day of Service. The event is now the longest and largest King Day of Service event in the country, engaging over 145,000 volunteers with over 1,800 community projects. In the past, the organization has hosted events with former Vice President Joe Biden, Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, and Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
On this chilly MLK Day, take a minute to check out our Q&A with Campbell Bird, Vice President of Global Citizen, to learn more about the organization and its year-round volunteering opportunities.
Tell us about Global Citizen and the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.
Global Citizen is a volunteer service and civic engagement capacity-building organization. We were originally founded to create a space for diverse populations to serve together on King Day, with the goal of breaking down barriers, building understanding, and fostering ongoing, diverse partnerships. We still do exactly that, but we also serve partners all year round, primarily through promoting and recruiting for events and programs all throughout the Philadelphia area.
Who do you aim to serve in the Philadelphia area?
We aim to serve everyone. The goal of Global Citizen is to become the first place people turn to for volunteer/community needs. Whether that be large nonprofits or small volunteer groups. Any and everyone interested in supporting their local community are our people.
How did you become involved in Global Citizen?
I joined Global Citizen in November of 2013 after hosting several King Day of Service projects while working in schools. I had so much fun engaging my students in service that I wanted to do that full time.
What is your favorite part about working at Global Citizen?
Working here, I've seen how important it is for an organization to create spaces for people to meet, serve, and partner with each other. It's how we've helped organizations strengthen their impact and how we ourselves have grown as an organization. Watching it happen in real-time during a service project or other event is just amazing.
What advice do you have for young Philadelphians looking to get more involved in volunteering?
Come talk to us! We'd love to help you find more ways to serve!