Control Panel
Millions of neighbors are pitching in. Join them.
Neighbors who volunteered
Last year, neighbors gave 4.99 billion hours — about 13,671,233 hours/day • 9,494 hours/min.
What this means
People everywhere are helping — coaching kids, packing food, checking on seniors, cleaning parks. You can start with just one hour.
Source:
https://www.americorps.gov/newsroom/press-release/more-757-million-people-volunteered-america-americorps-reports
People working in nonprofits
That’s about 1 in 10 private-sector jobs in the U.S.
What this means
Helping is a career path too — from health and education to the arts and the environment.
Source:
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/nonprofits-accounted-for-12-8-million-jobs-9-9-percent-of-private-sector-employment-in-2022.htm
Ways to help today
Real volunteer listings you can sign up for right now.
What this means
There’s something for every schedule — one-time shifts, remote help, weekend projects, and more.
Source:
https://www.idealist.org/en/careers/how-to-get-started-volunteering
Local governments that need you
Cities, counties, schools & special districts — with boards & commissions neighbors can join.
What this means
Every community has seats for everyday people — arts boards, parks boards, housing committees, and more.
Source:
https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/regional-economist/2024/march/local-governments-us-number-type
Want to lead locally?
Type your city & state and we’ll open a quick Google search for boards & commissions applications.
Examples (open in new tab):
https://www.houstontx.gov/boards/
https://oca.harriscountytx.gov/Boards-And-Commissions
Reading and Repair
This Mind & Life article introduces a study led by social psychologist Rémi Thériault (NYU). The idea is simple: reading clear, thoughtful nonfiction for about 10 minutes a day may help people understand others and work well together. Participants read for 10 weeks. The team looks at changes in care for others, how we speak with people who see things differently, and whether readers feel more connected. Books are picked for easy reading and helpful themes, using both expert review and AI tools. Earlier work from the team suggests that reading plus reflection can be a welcoming first step. The public is invited to suggest book titles for future rounds.
Mental Health America of Greater Houston
When people understand symptoms early and know where to go, recovery is faster and outcomes improve. MHA of Greater Houston builds community capacity—training schools and providers, linking families to help, and shaping policies that make care affordable, accessible, and stigma-free.