This is an article that was published in the Champaign-Urbana News Gazette editorial page for National Volunteer Week in 2005. It's as applicable, if not more so, today than it was then.

Americans may be split over the Stimulus Plan, political candidates, and what is and isn’t politically correct, but there’s hope for unity on the topic of the country’s social problems. Why? A movement of altruistic American heroes, representing a myriad of political viewpoints, has been joining forces and quietly transforming the nation’s cities and neighborhoods for two decades now. A little like Bruce Wayne of Batman fame, they’re swooping in and rescuing cities and neighborhoods from chronic poverty, housing shortages, crime, youth issues, and neighborhood decay. Despite differences in race, ethnicity, or religion they’re joining forces and succeeding!  

Why do we so seldom hear about these selfless superheroes? Actually, you may have. Five of them created the nationwide Amber Alert child abduction prevention program, just eight years ago. A Champaign superhero, Tamara Cibis, launched Matthew House, a highly effective youth project that has rescued over 900 kids and saved Illinois taxpayers millions in welfare and incarceration costs. And another, Brenda Eheart, has developed Generations of Hope, a unique community of unrelated “grandparents”, kids, and parents that touts an amazing 89% adoption rate of special needs foster children. Each social invention is but one of many shining examples across the nation. 

Where’s the publicity and celebration for these civic heroes? Partly it’s absent because the founders avoid the personal limelight, but social cures seldom draw mass media attention like social crises can. The latter is unfortunate because what is occurring is unprecedented and sparks real hope. 

It’s also encouraging that these ideas are now replicating into hundreds of towns and cities. It’s a trend that prompts thousands of Americans to come out of the woodwork and volunteer. And other democracies benefit, too, as they adopt tried and tested solutions that really work. All the while, the humble superhero remains oblivious to their larger impact. Few realize how they’re breathing new life into democracy and civic culture by bringing people together. They’re like “civic glue” for communities.

The cynics predict that the U.S. will remain divided into red and blue states for decades, but maybe not. This new confederation of ordinary Americans, a red and blue mix of heroes that could easily disagree on a host of political topics, proves they can unify around one common cause. Their political differences take second place to helping others. They’re simply unwilling to sit back and wait for large institutions to stumble onto better ways to help those in need. The process is too slow and there are too many lives at stake.

The bonus for all of us in these altruistic endeavors is the healing power of unity they unleash. Each hero challenges us to rally around a cause and forget our dissimilarities. And by building a bridge, they create hope for more agreement. Scandals, trials, and politics tend to divide us. But during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, we can remember to emulate the power these individuals have to unite us by waving the white flag for those less fortunate. Thankfully, volunteerism is one aspect of American culture where we can agree.