Frank Stoltze
February 26, 2008
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Governor Schwarzenegger today signed an executive order creating a cabinet-level position devoted to encouraging volunteerism in the state. He called it the first of its kind in the country and an effort to harness California's "people power." KPCC's Frank Stoltze was at Cal State Northridge for the announcement.
Frank Stoltze: Several hundred students and volunteers with organizations like Americorps and the California Conservation Corps gathered to hear the governor. It felt like a pep rally, with San Francisco activist and motivational speaker Lateefah Simon warming up the crowd.
Lateefah Simon: This is an historic day! We are putting a cabinet position at top of this state. We are showing the country what can be done in terms of service. So when I say "Ain't no power like the power of the people," I want you to repeat after me. Ain't no power like the power of the people.
[Sound of crowd chanting: "Ain't no power like the power of the people!"]
Stoltze: The idea of a cabinet secretary for volunteerism came from First Lady Maria Shriver. She promotes service at every opportunity.
Maria Shriver: It's about allowing yourself to be a transforming agent. And it's about really what Gandhi said. Because both my parents believed that we the people could be and should be the change that we want to see in this world.
Stoltze: Her father, Sargent Shriver, helped President Kennedy start the Peace Corps. Governor Schwarzenegger recalled meeting his future father-in-law for the first time 31 years ago.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: You come in there and you think that you look studly with the muscles, right? (audience laughs) And all of a sudden Maria's father says to me, "So what do you do?" I say, "I can lift 500 pounds on the bench press." (audience cheers) So he says, "No, I'm not talking about for yourself; I'm talking about for other people." And I was stuck.
Stoltze: Schwarzenegger said that ever since, he's been inspired to serve. He said he was also particularly moved by the number of volunteers who showed up to help with last year's wildfires and the recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay – too many to even organize. The governor added that more Californians need to act that way.
Schwarzenegger: Yes, government has its job to do. But government cannot do it all.
Stoltze: That may be especially true as the governor proposes deep service cuts to address a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall. His new Secretary of Service and Volunteering is Karen Baker. She moves up from heading his commission on volunteering. Baker's new office will act as a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities around the state, though it's unclear how much staff she'll get. She'll also raise private money for volunteerism efforts, and Baker said she'll seek to motivate and inspire.
Karen Baker: All of you, look at each other. This is history. You are at the place, you're at the place where this is being born. And you are now all our ambassadors.
Stoltze: Baker asked everyone in the room to encourage their families and friends to volunteer. Todd Temper is a junior at Cal State Northridge.
Todd Temper: I think what the governor said is great. And I think what he is trying to do with the state of California is really good. I've been a volunteer myself in numerous areas, including working with hospitals, working with Alzheimer's patients, working with children.
Stoltze: Samar Alhinnawi, a senior political science major, said she's also volunteered.
Samar Alhinnawi: I'm actually going to go online right now and see if I can get any job position with him.
Stoltze: But wait a minute. He just asked all of us to volunteer our time.
Alhinnawi: Yeah, but I need a job position. I need something to pay the bills. I'm graduating; it's different now. (laughs)
Stoltze: Maria Shriver said there won't be a shortage of volunteer opportunities for Alhinnawi when she's ready to serve again. Shriver said there's a list of 30,000 volunteer positions on the state's Web site:
californiavolunteers.org.
Duncan McIntosh/Office of Gov. Schwarzenegger
