Obama launches USAService.org for MLK Day

The incoming Obama administration announced a few days ago that it was launching USAService.org, a portal designed to help people plan service events to coincide with MLK day this year. According to the about page:

In 1994, Congress transformed the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service to further commemorate a man who lived his life in service to others. As a tribute to that legacy and the very real needs of our nation, the President-elect and Vice President-elect have launched a national organizing effort on the eve of their Inauguration to engage Americans in service. This national day of service will fall on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2009 and, unlike past calls to service, President-elect Obama is calling on all Americans to do more than just offer a single day of service to their cities, towns and neighborhoods.  He is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face.

I'm all for days of service when their purpose is to inspire longer-term commitments. I think though that the Obama administration is going to have to be very smart about finding partners for ongoing service activities. One day to demonstrate the collective commitment of the American people is one thing; channeling people's energy to opportunities where they are doing work they find fulfilling and at the same time having a demonstrable impact is incredibly difficult. Organizing around the presidential campaign had a clear end goal and intermediate metrics (number of doors knocked on, number of phone calls made) that kept volunteers grounded. That's harder to replicate than it seems.

All that said, I think its great that even before he officially takes office, Obama is continuing to find opportunities to channel the energy and passion of the people who put him there to social good.