In Oakland on July 13, Gov. Newsom signed AB 179 — the state’s new housing budget trailer bill that cuts red tape, modernizes how California finances affordable housing, and lowers the cost of building a unit by up to $70,000.

The legislation builds on the governor’s efforts that have reversed decades of inaction on housing and homelessness — creating more homes and the largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in more than 15 years. 

Oakland is the first pro-housing city in the Bay Area, and it’s not slowing down. Oakland is cutting through bureaucracy, unlocking new financing, and clearing the path for more affordable homes to get built faster.

Special thanks to East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBADC), State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk Silva, and California Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez.

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Volunteer work can pay off for Black Americans by letting them experience personal fulfillment as they reach out, interact with, and help others in need. The charity work they engage in, whether it’s leadership, mentorship, or organizational roles, can also help them build their professional portfolio.

All those positive impacts, combined with the potential health and wellness benefits of volunteering, can help explain why many Americans engage in charitable work.

Per the latest U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps’ biennial civic engagement survey, over 75.7 million Americans 16 years+ formally volunteered through an organization from September 2022 to September 2023. They dedicated 4.99 billion hours, which had an economic value of over $167.2 billion.

What Are the Primary Types of Volunteer Work?

There are several primary types of volunteer work, usually categorized based on commitment structure and type of volunteer services rendered. Three of the most common categories include: formal, informal, and skills-based volunteering.

Formal Volunteering

Formal volunteering involves partnering with a trustworthy, reputable, and licensed volunteer organization. It’s a highly structured approach, requiring dedicated commitment from volunteers and their chosen charitable nonprofit organization.

Formal charity workers can engage in opportunities that involve volunteering overseas, interstate, or locally. They undergo training, adhere to specific guidelines, and usually work on scheduled shifts.

Informal Volunteering

Informal volunteer opportunities are casual, flexible, and unstructured acts of kindness. They present themselves outside of formal organizational structures, directly benefiting recipients. They can be sudden and random or scheduled.

Skills-Based Volunteering

Skills-based volunteering gives professionals the chance to leverage their specialized trade, expertise, or talents to help individuals or organizations. With their help, nonprofits can save money and use the funds to support more charitable work.

What Are Examples of Volunteer Work?

A popular and common example of volunteer work is a food bank. Volunteers here can play various roles, including:

• Cooks
• Servers
• Sorters
• Inspectors
• Drivers

Being a food bank volunteer is a type of formal volunteering. The food bank, in turn, is the nonprofit charitable organization that volunteers work with.

You can also find volunteer work in many other sectors, from childcare to healthcare, as noted by Involvement Volunteers International. Nonprofits also offer opportunities in community and education outreach programs.

As for informal volunteering, it can be something as simple yet impactful as running errands (e.g., mowing the lawn or picking up groceries) for a neighbor who’s older or has an injury or disability. It can also involve organizing a neighborhood cleanup or checking in on home-bound community members.

Members of the Black community interested in sharing their expertise may explore skills-based volunteering, too. One example is providing pro-bono legal counsel. Another is offering medical services at a community clinic in an underserved neighborhood.

How Does Volunteer Work Pay Off for Members of the Black Community?

An article published by the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute in April 2026 noted that America is home to 1.9 million nonprofits. It also cited data from a 2025 Urban Institute research, which stated that 75% of these organizations say volunteers are integral to their operations, with 23% even being completely dependent on volunteers.

All those figures underscore the value of volunteer work, which not only benefits the recipients of the charitable service but also those who provide it. Here’s how volunteers from Black communities can reap the fruits of their philanthropic work.

Personal Fulfillment

Volunteer work gives Black Americans a way to experience personal fulfillment because it ties them to kinship networks. Such social connections and interactions can provide a profound sense of intrinsic joy, something brought about by the act of supporting neighbors and those in need while also advocating for equity.

There’s also a sense of fulfillment in being able to empower the next generation through volunteering services. Members of the Black community, for instance, can commit their time to skills-based volunteer work, which lets them pass down knowledge, share skills, and foster cultural pride.

Volunteering also comes with potential health benefits. As explained by the University of Kentucky, giving back can make people feel better, as it supports physical, mental, and emotional health. It noted the findings of studies that show a connection between regular volunteering and:

• Lower rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness
• Higher life satisfaction and self-esteem
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced inflammation
• Improved heart health

Career Advancement and Portfolio Building

Volunteer work can open doors to career-advancing and skill-building opportunities. As members of the black community experience fulfillment and joy in helping others, they can also:

• Gain hands-on experience in tasks or activities like project management and leadership
• Close representation gaps, particularly in high-impact industries where there’s an underrepresentation of people of color
• Forge vital connections (career, social, or networking)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Are Volunteers Needed the Most?

The urgent need for volunteers often arises in areas that require crisis response and food security.

Natural disasters, for instance, often fuel the demand for volunteers, as they can cause sudden, widespread, and devastating effects that can overwhelm local professional responders and emergency services. They create an emergency need for extra hands to carry out tasks like food and water distribution, staffing emergency shelters, and search and rescue operations.

Areas with a high rate of food insecurity also welcome volunteers with open arms. In these scenarios, volunteers often assist with food preparation, packaging, sorting, and distribution.

What Is the Best Volunteering Activity?

There’s no “single” best volunteering activity, as it’s highly subjective and depends on a person’s specific interests, unique skills, and individual capacity.

In many cases, the most impactful and rewarding choices are those that align with someone’s passions, such as helping out at food banks or caring for animals at a shelter. It can also be sharing skills and knowledge through mentoring and leadership programs.

Consider Participating in Volunteer Work

While most volunteer work may not be lucrative, Black Americans who decide to participate in it often find it very rewarding and fulfilling. Giving back alone can already make you feel better, but it can also be a great way to develop and hone skills that can help advance your career or build your professional portfolio.

Read other informative guides like this or stay in the loop of the latest events in the Black community by checking out our most recent posts.

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Operational issues are best resolved through a structured process that identifies the root cause, prioritizes the most urgent problems, improves communication, and tracks results over time. Businesses that respond quickly and make informed decisions can reduce costly disruptions, improve productivity, and create more reliable operations.

Minutes before an important client presentation, a company’s ordering system crashes, employees scramble to find missing information, and deadlines begin slipping one after another.

Operational challenges can arise without warning, but organizations that rely on clear processes, strong teamwork, and continuous improvement are far better prepared to solve problems before they become larger setbacks.

Why Is Identifying the Root Cause Important?

Addressing an operational issue without understanding its cause often leads to the problem recurring.

The underlying cause could involve:

• Outdated procedures
• Poor communication
• Inadequate training
• Inefficient workflows

Identifying the root cause allows businesses to solve problems permanently. Techniques like the following help uncover the factors that contributed to the issue:

• Process mapping
• Employee interviews
• Performance reviews
• Root cause analysis
• Equipment and system checks
• Workflow audits

After identifying the true source of the problem, organizations can install targeted improvements that create more efficient operations.

Learning From Past Mistakes

Taking the time to investigate major issues also helps organizations learn from mistakes. Each resolved problem becomes an opportunity to:

• Refine processes
• Update procedures
• Improve employee training
• Reduce the likelihood of similar disruptions
• Identify recurring operational trends

How Do Outdated Systems Create Operational Problems?

Outdated systems can slow daily operations and make it harder for employees to complete their work efficiently. Older software may not integrate with newer applications. Aging hardware can fail frequently, disrupting productivity and delaying important projects.

Legacy systems also create challenges when businesses grow. As customer demands increase and workflows become more complex, older technology often struggles to keep pace. This can result in:

• Manual data entry
• Inconsistent reporting
• Duplicated work
• Greater risk of human error

Modernizing technology allows organizations to streamline processes while improving visibility into day-to-day operations. Many businesses are also adopting software testing with AI assistants to:

• Identify defects earlier
• Automate repetitive testing tasks
• Evaluate updates before they affect production environments
• Verify that existing features continue working after updates
• Support faster and more reliable software releases

Testing new systems before implementation helps prevent unexpected disruptions.

Improve Communication Across Teams

Strong communication keeps daily operations moving efficiently and reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes. When departments work in isolation or rely on inconsistent updates, projects can fall behind schedule.

Information may be overlooked. Employees may duplicate work without realizing it.

Creating clear communication channels helps everyone understand priorities, responsibilities, and deadlines. Teams should establish consistent methods for:

• Sharing project updates
• Reporting operational concerns
• Documenting decisions

That way, important information remains accessible.

Businesses can strengthen collaboration through practices such as:

• Holding regular cross-departmental meetings
• Using shared project management platforms
• Clearly defining roles and responsibilities
• Documenting workflow changes and procedures
• Encouraging employees to report potential issues early
• Sharing performance updates with relevant teams

Open communication also creates opportunities for continuous improvement. Employees working closest to day-to-day operations often recognize inefficiencies before managers do. Their feedback is valuable when refining processes.

Business Process Improvement: Leadership And Decision Making

Effective leadership plays a significant role in preventing operational issues from escalating. Leaders who make informed decisions promptly can:

• Direct resources where they are needed
• Resolve obstacles
• Keep projects moving forward

Slow or inconsistent decision making often leads to confusion, delayed work, and lower productivity throughout the organization.

Good decision-making depends on accurate information rather than assumptions. Reviewing operational data and evaluating potential risks before implementing changes helps organizations choose long-term solutions.

Using Accountability and Collaboration For Operation Optimization Techniques

Strong leaders also create an environment where accountability and collaboration are valued. The following encourages teams to solve problems proactively instead of waiting for issues to become larger operational setbacks:

• Setting clear expectations
• Communicating priorities
• Recognizing employee contributions
• Responding quickly to emerging challenges

Have a Backup Plan

Planning for unexpected disruptions helps businesses recover while keeping essential services running. A well-developed backup plan defines priorities in advance. Teams can concentrate on restoring critical operations. They won’t have to worry about making urgent decisions during a crisis.

Every continuity plan should identify the resources and functions the organization cannot afford to lose for an extended period. This may include:

• Customer support systems
• Financial records
• Production equipment
• Essential business applications

Defining acceptable recovery time frames also helps guide investments in efficiency strategies.

A well-prepared backup plan often includes:

• Secondary work locations for critical teams
• Backup internet and communication options
• Alternative transportation or delivery arrangements
• Emergency contact lists for employees and vendors
• Recovery priorities for essential business functions
• Periodic reviews to account for organizational changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Operational Scalability Important for Expanding Businesses?

Operational scalability enables a business to handle increasing workloads, customer volumes, and revenue. They don’t have to sacrifice efficiency or service quality.

As organizations expand, they often face greater demands on:

• Employees
• Technology
• Supply chains
• Internal processes

Scalable operations help accommodate that growth while reducing delays, bottlenecks, and unnecessary costs.

Businesses that plan for scalability are also better prepared to:

• Introduce new products
• Open additional locations
• Enter new markets
• Increase transaction volumes
• Integrate new technologies more efficiently

How Can Benchmarking Help Improve Operational Performance?

Benchmarking helps improve operational performance by comparing a company’s processes, productivity, and results against industry standards or top-performing organizations. These comparisons can:

• Reveal inefficiencies
• Uncover opportunities for improvement
• Highlight proven practices

Businesses should treat benchmarking as an ongoing process. Reviewing key performance indicators regularly allows leaders to measure progress.

They can set realistic goals. Plus, they can make informed decisions that improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall operational performance over time.

How Can Better Scheduling Improve Operational Performance?

Better scheduling improves operational performance by ensuring everything is available when it is needed most. Well-planned schedules:

• Reduce delays
• Prevent staffing shortages
• Improve workflow
• Help teams complete tasks more efficiently

Managers should review schedules regularly to account for:

• Seasonal demand
• Employee availability
• Production deadlines
• Unexpected disruptions

Flexible scheduling helps maintain productivity, supports better customer service, and adapts quickly as priorities shift.

Resolve Operational Issues Today

Operational issues can be a huge problem for businesses. Figuring out the cause and standardizing your processes can make things a lot easier.

Are you looking for more ways to optimize your business? Make sure you check out some of our other posts today.

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