April is Bursting with Opportunities to Get Involved Celebrate the change in season by getting out of the house and into a youth-related service project. April presents a multitude of opportunities for young people and adults to get involved. A former top-ranking White House official and half of the famous political consulting team of Carville and Begala, Paul Begala is currently Research Professor of Governments at Georgetown University. Begala wrote a humorous article recently in Esquire on the materialism of many Baby Boomers and the contrasting altruism of today's college students. We asked him to discuss this viewpoint based on his experiences teaching at the University of Texas and Georgetown.
Students believe in the power of community service to bring about positive results.
In April 2000, students at the Harvard University Institute of Politics conducted a comprehensive study of college student involvement in the political process. When it comes to teens, some organizations seem to fare better than others at attracting volunteers. One of the secrets, apparently, is to listen to what the young people want to do. It's the season when we're all mindful of the importance of giving - and of the need to make children aware of the value of thinking about others. Anyone walking through the streets of major cities knows the sight of homeless people becomes increasingly prevalent during these cold winter months.