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Every Monday we ask people from across the state what three things they think we can all do to improve things in Michigan. Today, we here from Neel Hajra, President and CEO of Nonprofit Enterprise at Work Inc.

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Neel Hajra is the President and CEO of Nonprofit Enterprise at Work Inc. His first idea is to volunteer for a non-profit.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize just how important the 40,000 non-profits in Michigan are to the health of the state. Non-profits are involved from everything from the social safety net, to culture and the environment, faith-based organizations, and as the state undergoes more economic stress non-profits are the ones who have to step up.” He recognizes that in this time of economic downturn we may have a little less cash, but that we might have some time to give.

Also, the benefits from volunteering need not be solely altruistic, “I think anyone I’ve talked to who’s volunteered has discovered that it gives them a chance to meet cool people. Learn about good causes, and if they join boards of directors, it actually is a way for them to develop their professional networks, and their skills.”

Neel singles out non-profits for volunteering because “they represent private organizations that work toward the public good. And so there’s a network of non-profits for every issue in this state, and they’re already out there doing good work.” He also points out that volunteering has maximum flexibility; you can “tailor your volunteering experience to the time you have, and the end result is that communities will end up a better place.”

Neel’s second idea is for Michigander’s to throw a block party.

“A strong state starts with strong communities, and really that starts at the neighborhood level. Only good things happen when you meet your neighbors, get to know them better, and who wouldn’t like inviting ten people over for a grill out?” Neel believes “…in the long-term it’s not just the policies at the state level that will take us to a better place, it’s the bonds we create at the local and neighborhood levels, and creating those bonds are really what are going to drive us forward as a state.”

Third, Neel says the time is right for ‘staycations.’

“It would be great if everyone in Michigan actually planned a vacation in Michigan. It’s a way to keep some money in the state in support of our very important tourist economy. And also I’m always surprised talking to lifetime Michiganders who haven’t seen the Sleeping Bear Dunes, or haven’t enjoyed the beauty of the Upper Peninsula, or who haven’t even seen the great white beaches of Grand Haven.”

The theme running through all of these ideas is that a great state is made by many small but meaningful actions. “We don’t all have to be fiery public figures to get things done, it takes every single one of us making small commitments to keep moving the state forward… they’re all things we can actually enjoy and benefit from, and at the same time they’ll add up to a tremendous impact on the state in which we live.”