"It takes a village." "A thousand points of light." You may have heard these sound bites voiced by both conservative and liberal politicians. They are calls to action for citizens to get involved in local organizations that are doing so many great things to sustain our communities and help raise tomorrow's leaders. Character Education experts agree.

Promoting good character at school or at home is most effective when there is support and involvement by the community: youth groups, local government, businesses, spiritual centers, civic groups, police enforcement, sports teams, homeless shelters, neighbors, etc. Community organizations focus on doing good works and helping others, so they offer a lot of ways to put positive values into action. They also give participants a sense of belonging, a chance to make new friends, and many opportunities to develop skills.

Do you know what's going on in your neighborhood? Open a local newspaper, or find community message boards or Blogs on the Internet. Look for events posted in your supermarket or coffee shop. If you have children, get them involved with you. Participating in a positive activity and putting your focus on others is incredibly rewarding, and a lot of fun!