The talent development profession is nothing if not generous. At TechKnowledge 2019, attendees partnered with Make-A-Wish Southern Florida to grant an eight-year-old boy’s wish to attend and take part in the Bobsled & Skeleton World Cup in Lake Placid, New York. More recently, ATD introduced the ATD Talent Development for Good Award (to be given out this evening), which recognizes an organization that has leveraged talent development to improve the lives of others or to better its communities or society more broadly.
It is in this spirit that ATD21 provides a new community service project offering: TD for Good. There are three ways you can take part. The activities are in Hall A of the convention center.
Paintfest. This fun and rewarding activity is for the Foundation for Hospital Art, a nonprofit established in 1984 that seeks to make the hospital a more soothing place for patients, their families, other visitors, and staff. Artistic talent is not required—ATD21 attendees can simply follow the colored dots to paint in pre-drawn designs. Paintfest is an opportunity to network and offers a relaxing break in the day. The completed paintings are donated to hospitals around the world.
Letter writing. A second activity is the Letters Against Isolation campaign. Initiated by Shreya and Saffron, two Illinois teens, the premise is to help spread joy to seniors in homes while improving their mental and physical health. The organization now works with facilities in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Israel. ATD21 attendees can write as many letters as they would like and can focus on any message. That said, because these are meant to brighten the senior recipients’ days, attendees are encouraged to be cheerful and creative.
Food kit assembly. A third activity helps provide food through the Granite Education Foundation for those who go without. ATD21 attendees are invited to support the Salt Lake County district and assist assembling food kits that will be distributed to school food pantries and be handed out to students b teachers and social workers.
