WHAT one organization is doing to help care
by Mandy Hewitt
Who really cares about social issues and helping other people, fighting for a cause, or getting up off the couch for something other than a second glass of tea? Sam Davidson and the people at CoolPeopleCare Incorporated believe that cool people do, and who doesn’t want to be cool?
It was at a Washington, D.C. rally when Sam Davidson, president and co-founder of CoolPeopleCare and a Samford alum, first saw the words, “cool people care.”
“I thought it was a brilliant message that the world needed to hear. After a few conversations, a friend (who had a design and marketing background) and I decided to provide the resource that is known today as CoolPeopleCare.org,” Davidson said. And so began the venue aimed at doing exactly what it claims: to help people care.
After you find something to care about, what’s the next step? How do we put our passions into action? These are the questions CoolPeopleCare seeks to answer. “After looking around, we found a lack of resources for those of us who wanted to make a difference,” Davidson said. “We want to be an online resource that is getting more and more people involved in the world of social change, many for the first time. We want to bring people into the social change conversation, on their terms, so that they see the impact of their small and dedicated actions. Then, they’ll be more likely to give more and take those bigger, more meaningful, steps.” Therefore, Davidson said, “CoolPeopleCare is simply a resource for people who want to live a more caring lifestyle. To that end, we offer content and products on our Web site that make that easier.”
CoolPeopleCare.org is an excellent resource for getting involved in the community. The site includes everything from a listing of volunteer opportunities in 44 major U.S. cities—which Davidson says is in the process of growing—to simple suggestions of how you can make a difference in your hometown. Through thought-provoking articles, an online store and helpful Web links, CoolPeoleCare.org zeroes in on making service opportunities accessible to anyone who wants to make a difference.
“To me,” says Davidson, “making a difference can’t be a one-time event. It’s a way of life and we’ve got to incorporate that better.” CoolPeopleCare truly looks to encourage people to make the small changes that will have enormous impacts. Davidson recently co-authored a book called New Day Revolution with Stephen Moseley, the other co-founder of CoolPeopleCare, Inc. The book is aimed at a similar goal as the Web site: giving easy tips to make people who care aware of day-to-day opportunities.
“I think the next generation has the inspiration and drive to change the world like never before,” Davidson said. “They’re just looking for the ‘how.’ We think we can provide that ‘how’ like never before to more and more people.”
Because college students are a part of that generation, he offers them a few words of advice:
1. Learn what you like. Chances are, that major won’t land you your first job. So study what you like. Make sure you learn how to read and write well, as those skills are in demand and employable anywhere. Take as many classes outside of your major as possible.
2. Life is more than the classes you take. Leave campus. Explore Birmingham. Visit a different part of town. Play an intramural. Experience these four years – don’t just make it through them.
3. Dream big. No matter how old you are or where you come from, the need for big dreamers will continue to grow. If you’ve got a vision for something truly great, begin putting it into action.
CoolPeopleCare, Inc. is redefining what it means to be cool. “If we could get the message out that ‘cool’ isn’t defined by the car you drive, the soft drink you choose or the shirt you wear, but rather by the ways in which you care, we could change the world by mobilizing new and more people for community change,” Davidson said. So what do you care about? Do you care? Sam Davidson, Stephen Moseley and CoolPeopleCare, Inc. care about getting people to care. After all, caring is cool.Discussion Questions:
- Have you ever wanted to help but didn't know where to start?
- What are your passions for others and are you doing anything about it?
- What keeps you from acting on your passions?
- Why do you think we hesitate to do what we know is right?
Suggestions for Further Reading:
coolpeoplecare.org
newdayrevolution.com
gabedixonband.com
New Day Revolution by Stephen Moseley and Sam Davidson
