The Building Bridges Coalition, a project of the Brookings Institution’s Initiative on International Volunteering and Service, is a consortium of leading international volunteer organizations, universities and colleges, corporations, and government agencies working collaboratively to double the number of international volunteers serving abroad by 2010.

The Building Bridges Coalition is committed to increasing the number of volunteers from 50,000 to 100,000 by 2010.

The Building Bridges Coalition is one of three key components of the Brookings Institution’s Initiative on International Volunteering and Service. The Public Policy Group, co-chaired by Senator Harris Wofford and John Bridgeland, focuses on policy development and education, and advances recommendations that include doubling the Peace Corps and creating a Global Fellowship to sponsor individual volunteers. The Research and Impacts Group, led by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis and Brookings Fellow David Caprara, focuses on assessing the status and impacts of international volunteering and service and promoting effective practices.

Building Bridges Coalition Chairman

• Steven Rosenthal, Executive Director, Cross-Cultural Solutions

Managing Director

• Paul Joss, President, Engedi Enteprises LLC

Steering Committee

• Laurie Belton, Executive Director, WorldTeach
• David Caprara, Director, Brookings Institution’s Initiative on International Volunteering & Service
• Matt Clausen, Vice President, Partners of the Americas
• Jack Hawkins, Director, Volunteers for Prosperity
• Cassie Hayes, Director, Partnerships, Cross-Cultural Solutions
• Kristie Latulippe, The Brookings Institution, Initiative on International Volunteering and Service
• Jim Lindsay, Executive Director, Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
• Amanda Moore McBride, Ph.D, Research Director, Center for Social Development, Washington University in St. Louis
• Diane Melley, Director, IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, Business Integration and On Demand Community
• Kevin F. Quigley, Ph.D., President, National Peace Corps Association
• Katherine A. Stahl, Executive Director, American University Career Center
• Ed Wilson, Executive Director, Earthwatch
• Senator Harris Wofford, Former CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service

BBC Workgroups

• Effective Practices: Erin Barnhart, Action Without Borders/Idealist.org
• Campus Engagement: Katherine Stahl, American University
• Corporate Engagement: Diane Melley, IBM
• Public Awareness: Kimberly Haley-Coleman, GlobeAware
• Technology Advisory: Paul Joss

Doubling Cohort Tracking Survey

• 2008 survey results (PDF)