Pro Bono and Obama
In his first six months in office, President Obama has spoken at length about service, social innovation and professional responsibility. They are some of the core means for achieving his domestic agenda. He sees them as part of how we address issues in our society on a systemic basis.Service is about volunteering, but it is also about a mindset where one is giving of himself to help the collective.
Social innovation is about the notion that government can't solve problems alone and that we cannot continue do things the same way while expecting different results. The President sees innovation in the nonprofit sector as critical to an effective government and society.
Finally, professional responsibility was a major theme of criticism surrounding the Wall Street melt down and executive compensation. While the President believes in capitalism, he also feels that business professionals must hold themselves accountable to more than just the short-term bottom line.
Pro bono service is the intersection of these three priorities we've seen President Obama espouse. Pro bono allows business professions to provide social innovators with their skilled service while also constructing an ethic of professional social responsibility in these careers.
By inspiring the adoption of the pro bono ethic and investing in the infrastructure of its field, the President can find a rare synergy where one single effort can have a tremendous multiplier effect.
Barack Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope," provides a catchy title. It has a taste of bravery mixed with confidence. You'll find nothing Pollyanna about this. I would possibly not support everything he says, but he's our president, and for me, he inspires trust. Which can do more for just a nation than any number of backroom deals. Hope gives us energy, and energy sustains us through trying times. Boy, we've had them. I'm from West Texas, and I did not vote for Bush. When McCain ran against Obama, I was a citizen of Arizona, but I gave audacious hope a chance. The fight for progress and laying the foundations of prosperity is not over. I've seen the quips of those who don't think Obama can do it. But step back a second. Would anyone have most of us fail in order to tarnish the star of an incumbent for whom they did not vote? Keeping our priorities straight, let's work together with this president and build our future.