Manish Kalra, Recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Manish KalraIn 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to recognize the important role of volunteers in maintaining America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

Our neighbor Manish Kalra recently won the PVSA Gold Medal under this program. We talked to him about his ideas around volunteering and how you might get more involved too. 

Q:  Congratulations on winning the PVSA Gold Medal. Could you please tell us about the organization that recommended you for the award? 

A:  Project Management Institute nominated me for this award. It recognizes the service and dedication to the institution of project management to create better outcomes for businesses, community and society. From ensuring supplier diversity, to securing leadership roles for our BIPOC members, to forging meaningful relationships with our community partners, we are proud to have done a lot of work in the field of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to create a culture where everyone feels valued.

Q:  You are a fulltime IT professional at Fairview Health, President/CEO of PMI Minnesota and serve on multiple boards. Please tell us your secret in finding time to volunteer.

A:  I think If you believe strongly in something, the universe will make ways to manifest time for it. I don’t believe in the concept of finding time. It is about finding the right thing to do, at the right time.

Q:  What did it mean to you to win the PVSA Gold Medal? 

A: It was an honor and an absolute privilege to win the PVSA award. More than the win itself, I am very excited about the buzz it generated, and the awareness it brought towards the power of volunteering and its impact on the community.

Q:  Where do you volunteer? 

A: I started volunteering at The Aliveness Project , as a Chef, cooking meals for HIV+ /LGBTQ+ people of our community. I love to cook, so even though it felt like a lot of work some days (and my hands hurt), it was always a good feeling at the end of the day. I am currently on the board of Twin Cities Quorum, One Heartland and PMI Minnesota. I am also the Leader of our cross-cultural leadership network (ERG) at Fairview, where we work to create an inclusive culture and opportunities for growth for our BIPOC employees.

Q:  Very impressive – thank you! What would you tell people who either don’t know how to get started on volunteering or feel they’re too busy to volunteer?

A:  I would call them to peruse their passions. Think about your interests and what makes you happy. If you like animals, start giving some time to the Animal Humane Society. If you enjoy time with children, volunteer for a kid’s camp. If you are interested in LGBTQ equity, look for organizations that serve the community. If you follow your passions, volunteering opportunities will come easy.

Q:  To stay inspired, how may we follow your news? 

A:  Please do - I am active on social media – Facebook and LinkedIn.