On Saturday, one of our volunteers took photos of the members of their team (1 of 4 teams that we had out) during our monthly S3RVE Day initiative. Three things that I absolutely LOVE about these fantastic photos.

1. The sunlight coming in through the front door. I’d like to think there’s something symbolic about that sunlight in the act of serving someone in need, indiscriminately, without strings attached and without expecting a ‘thanks’ or anything else in return. Often, the people that we serve are living in isolation due to being estranged from family or to suffering from mental illness, or for whatever reason. We’ve seen the light flood in to people’s homes – and into their very lives! – in the act of serving.
2. The smiles on the faces of the volunteers. It’s something I notice EVERY time we leave a S3RVE Day – the smiles on the faces of the volunteers. For sure, we see it on the faces of the people we serve and maybe we even expect it there (or at least we hope for it.) But it’s the smiles on the volunteers that really animate the ethos of Serve the City, because they are a sign that our vision of compassion-in-action has really captured the heart of the smiler. And if they’re not careful, it might just become contagious and lead to more indiscriminate acts of intentional kindness. That’s how habits get formed and we can’t have that, now, can we. *wink*
3. The t-shirts that are being worn backwards by at least 3 of the volunteers. I noticed that Tony (the shorter man in glasses) had put his shirt on backwards before everyone left the restaurant and spread out to our respective service projects. What I’m not sure about is whether the others put their t-shirts on backwards as an act of solidarity with Tony or if maybe it was an effort to make sure Tony didn’t get embarrassed to realize that he had his shirt on backwards. Of course, it could be that the other two ladies also mistakenly put their shirts on without taking notice of where the tag was. Who knows. Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying it: there’s just something winsome about wearing clothes backwards. And in this case, I think it goes together quite well with the smiles and the sunlight.

Brandon

So what are you waiting for? Let’s S3RVE!

We’re happy to announce that the Active Citizens of Europe award for 2011 has gone to … Serve the City! Congratulations, not only to all of the European Serve the City initiatives, but also to all of the volunteers of Serve the City in Dublin who’ve come out to serve in 2011. It’s exciting to know that we are a part of something bigger happening across Europe! CLICK HERE to see the VolontEurope website and HERE (PDF) to read the winners’ profiles.

The awards ceremony will take place this Friday (21st of October) in Edinburgh as part of the Volonteurope Conference. The Founder of Serve the City, Carlton Deal, will be there with his wife Shannon to accept the award on behalf of all the Serve the City initiatives across Europe.

One of our favourite new ventures in Dublin city is a little project coming together in Smithfield called Third Space Cafe. Here’s the big idea:

In any given modern day city, you have two broad categories of ‘space’ for citizens – residential/ recreational (where we LIVE and PLAY) and business (where we WORK). The idea of a ‘THIRD’ space in the city is defined as a space for people to connect socially with a view towards ‘creative, cultural, and community activity.’ In some ways, a ‘third space’ is like a public green space: you don’t have to pay to be there, you can pursue a hobby or interest of some kind, you can be as social or as alone as you want, etc.

In other ways, it’s like a quality cafe business:  there’s tasty, inexpensive coffee and food on offer, it’s got a cozy environment to immerse yourself in a good book or have stimulating conversation with others, etc.

However, it’s not simply a business. There’s no pressure to BUY and the staff will be happy to see you if you’ve just dropped in for a chat. It operates on the basis that if the place is good for people then that will be good for business too.

And it’s certainly not a public green space, as necessary and helpful as those are. It will be an enjoyable place to be when the weather is not cooperating and the unwritten ‘rules of social engagement’ will allow for people to strike up good conversation over a common interest in a safe, appropriate way.

In fact, connecting socially with others in the community will be encouraged and opportunity will be explicitly provided to join others in creating works of art and poetry, in problem-solving local issues and meeting needs in the local community, and in meeting new like-minded friends.

It’s not meant for economic prosperity (like a business) and it’s not dependent on tax revenue (like a council-run community centre).  Instead, it’s meant for the relational (and dare I say ‘spiritual’) prosperity of our city and it’s dependent on the neighbourly involvement and communal ownership of local citizens.

At the end of the day, the investment goal of Third Space Cafe will find its success in the thriving of hope in the city.  And that’s an investment goal that Serve the City will always be ready to promote and champion!  (Be sure to also have a look at the Fair-Play Cafe in Ringsend for another example of a ‘third space’ bringing hope to it’s local community.)

Third Space opens in early November.
CLICK HERE to visit the Third Space website and consider investing in the project.  
Also be sure to visit Third Space on Facebook and Twitter.