Mike Brooks conceived, built, and continues to expand the most ambitious initiative in Iowa to engage young people in their communities: The 10,000 Hours Show (10K). The idea: host a concert by a nationally recognized performing artist for which the only admission requirement is ten hours of service to local non-profits. Tickets cannot be purchased. In three years, 10K has recognized or recruited 71,705 volunteer hours, performed by more than 3,500 young Iowans. Using an all-volunteer staff, 10K has produced concerts featuring Ben Folds, Guster, and Cake.
Originally started through the community-building non-profit incubator The James Gang (co-founded by Jesse Elliot and Dave Strackany), 10K has continued expand. 10K now comprises individual communities as a locally run partnership between colleges, universities, and local United Ways. Plans for future development calls for launches next year in central Iowa; eastern Iowa; Madison, Wisconsin; and East Lansing, Michigan. Mike has not only helped lead the development of a new and innovative community impact initiative, he also has made it a replicable model project young people across the country can utilize. I0K seeks to mobilize young people to help meet immediate community needs and to develop the next generation of active community leaders.
10K consists of a year-round effort by young people to get other young people involved in service. 10K volunteer staff follow the “three R’s: Recruiting (finding young people who don’t volunteer and signing them up to earn a concert ticket); Rewarding (finding those who already serve their communities and signing them up to say 'thanks'); and Retaining (contacting those who volunteer toward the concert efforts and urging them to keep it up)." At classrooms, outside the cafeteria, on campus, in the dorms, and at Greek houses, 10K volunteer staff makes thousands of contacts to encourage their peers to give back to their communities. While a student at The University of Iowa, Mike founded a non-profit called The James Gang, a social entrepreneurial center focused on developing community through developing creativity. 10K evolved out of one of the organization's initiatives, the thought-starter of Mike and his colleague Jacek Pruski as they brainstormed over a lunch of sweet and sour chicken.
Mike has dedicated himself to work in service of the community. He gave up full rides to top-tier law schools and works well past the nine-to-five days on an Americorp VISTA salary (at the poverty line). But he believes that the power of empowering others through community service will transform our communities and the individuals who live in them. He eschews all praise, noting that all that he has accomplished has come about through a supportive community, incredible peers, and a dedicated family. At age 25, Mike Brooks shows that the conscience, passion, and idealism of past generations live on in spirit in our youth today.
To learn more about Mike and his cause, and how you can make a difference, please visit: www.10000hours.org .
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