StartSomeGood News: lacrosse camp for minority girls and a website to tackle the fossil fuel industry
Brand New Good! StartSomeGood’s newest campaigns:
Orlando First Stick Lacrosse started off their campaign with a ton of momentum, tipping almost immediately after launching. This program teaches at-risk & minority girls in Orlando to play lacrosse. They’re raising funds to buy equipment for a pilot program this summer. The city of Orlando will allow a 6-week pilot program during the girls’ regular summer camp, but to make the project work, each girl will need her own equipment.
Help inspire youth to identify their greatness and pursue their dreams. Inner Hero is a no-cost program for 4th through 7th graders that focuses on self-awareness, individuality, conflict management, and positive thinking. Reaching a $2,500 tipping point would enable the program to operate 4 times per week until the end of 2013.
The Perot Museum of Nature has generously donated a Digitalis Alpha 2+ planetarium projection system to Nomad Domes for use in Kenya to help children understand, and inspire them to preserve, the amazing night skies in East Africa. The $8,000 tipping point will cover shipping costs to Kenya and training for the Amateur Astronomy Society of Kenya staff members so children across East Africa can begin to explore the beautiful Kenyan skies.
350 Australia is a grassroots global movement working to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Following Bill McKibben’s widely successful “Do the Maths” tour, they’re ready to tackle the fossil fuel industry head on by launching the “Go Fossil Free” website. This will provide tools for individuals, universities, and institutions to switch from banks that are funding fossil fuel projects in Australia. Just $10,000 will help initiate this project to preserve the Australian landscape.
GET Local Ireland creates local employment and delivers quality local Irish food to empower communities to become more resilient and sustainable. They’re currently developing the boabox system. The biabox will allow people to order fresh, local, and fairly priced food online and have it delivered to their doorsteps. This will also make it easier for local producers to enter the marketplace and create sustainable employment. They’re looking to recruit and train 3 ambassadors and support and train 6 new local food producers.
A group of filmmakers, photographers, and sociologists aim to empower Tibetans through digital storytelling. Via digital channels, Tibetans will be able to record and share the increasing challenges and dramatic changes they face on a daily basis. These films can help ignite social change! Through Their Eyes seeks $9,100 to run the first digital storytelling workshop and purchase 5 cameras and 2 laptops to train up to 20 participants in the first year.
There are many children growing up in the UK who learned English as a second language and therefore face an achievement gap when compared to their English fluent counterparts. SmartNative aims to combat these educational struggles bilingual children face in the UK. Campaign funds raised will enable them to launch an interactive website to aid schoolteachers in improving the academic performance of bilingual children.
Uncle Jack Charles is one of the most well known and loved Indigenous Australian Actors. Stolen from his family at a young age as part of an experiment to merge Aboriginals into white society, he struggled with addiction and abuse in his life and was able to overcome great odds. He is now a greatly respected Aboriginal Elder and role model. Leonie Rhodes is an artist seeking $1,000 for materials and studio rent to make the first original piece of her ‘Significantly Small’ collection. It will be a highly detailed sculpture of Jack Charles that will help share his story and highlight and bring awareness to prejudice issues that still exist in Australia.
Shawn D. Ross
I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.
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What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.
StartSomeGood News
Brand New Good! Recently Launched Campaigns…
Marine plastic pollution is killing marine life and polluting our beaches. Upcycle the Gyres Society (UGS) aims to combat this by harvesting oceanic plastic garbage and converting it into clean fuels. They will create ENVIROLENE® higher mixed alcohol fuel and products such as textiles and 3D printer stock. Reaching the tipping point goal of $6,690 would allow UGS to attend the Marine Litter Conference in Berlin and the Blue Economy Congress in Madrid and put a deposit down on a machine to convert pollution into a solution—clean fuels.
The Enterprise Learning Projects (ELP) is working with remote Australian Aboriginal communities to develop inclusive, creative, and sustainable enterprise initiatives. Established in late 2012, ELP is working to fill the support gap in these remote communities. Working with local entrepreneurs, ELP helps to develop online marketing plans and assist them in selling their products. When the $7,500 tipping point goal is reached, they will be able to set up and manage an online store and develop a marketing strategy to promote the store throughout Australia.
The Media, The Public, and the Human Cost of War—this project is raising funds for a poll of the UK public to discover estimates of Iraqi deaths since the ‘Shock and Awe’ campaign was launched 10 years ago in the US and UK. The numbers gathered would be shared with journalists, bloggers, and activists to allow voices not paid for by corporate interests to be heard and support a healthy democratic check on power. The tipping point goal of $1,200 will pay for a reputable national polling agency in the UK to conduct their recommended poll of public opinion.
Let’s Celebrate! Recently Tipped Campaigns…
In their second project, Crowdsourced Travel raised $10,215 to repay a loan that was taken out to complete printing the Positive Light photography book after a sponsor pulled out. Using photography to promote social justice in Bangladesh, Crowdsourced Travel partnered with Drik and created a Bangladesh-based print run of Positive Light. All funds raised to Shine Positive Light on Bangladesh are going directly to Drik to pay the remainder of the printing costs and cover shipping cost to overseas warehouses.
Shawn D. Ross
I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.
This Week in Social Entrepreneurship
- Are you ready to mingle with representatives from organizations like Catchafire, The Future Project, Reboot, The White Roof Project, NY+acumen, and GOOD? All of these NY based organizations are either hiring or looking for volunteers. New Yorkers, this is your chance to network with some great organizations on Thursday, March 21 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Join Be Social Change and Green Spaces as they host the Made in NY Happy Hour. Just $15 gets you in the door and includes food and drinks.
- The world’s biggest social enterprise event, The Social Enterprise Exchange is happening at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Center in Glasgow on Thursday, March 21. There is still time for you to book a spot as a supplier, exhibitor, or as a delegate to attend this amazing event. There will be a plethora of high-profile speakers, master classes, workshops, and engaging discussions throughout the day. Come share your passions, meet new global contacts, and be inspired by all the social impact happening around the world.
- If you’re in LA, come join Philanthro LA @ Cat and Fiddle in Hollywood for a #SocEnt Mixer on Tuesday, March 19 starting at 6:30 pm. Enjoy happy hour all evening as Unlikely Heroes, a non-profit dedicated to the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation, is featured and Philanthro celebrates its 6-year anniversary.
- Lyel Resner, Co-Founder at Startup Box South Bronx, is teaching Doing Well & Doing Good: Opportunities in Social Innovation through Skillshare on Monday, March 18. Participants will learn about some of the leading players working in the social innovation space and how to find a job in this highly sought after field. This class is for anyone looking for meaningful work while still being able to pay off those pesky student loans.
- West coasters, check out Right From the Start, an interactive panel discussion, on March 19 at HUB San Francisco beginning at 6:30pm. Free for HUB members and only $10 for non-members, this event will include conversations and breakout sessions with experienced social entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem builders.
- Are you an undergraduate in the greater Boston area looking for a boot camp focused on social venture creation and developing career-relevant changemaker skills? Ashoka’s Youth Venture Be A Changemaker Boot camp is a day-long boot camp where you are invited to present your venture ideas, connect with prospective mentors, and learn about Philips’ organization management strategies and career opportunities. As a participant, you will have access to training, support, and resources, including fellowship opportunities and loan capital of up to $1,000 to start a venture. All of this happens April 3, 2013 and space is limited so register today.
- TheSustainable Innovation Competition is still open for last minute entries. The deadline is 5pm today. This is a call for entries to indentify new solutions to help improve the environmental sustainability of commercial building envelope performance. Now is your change to pitch your innovation to the UK’s leading commercial property owners and investors. Full details are available here.
Shawn D. Ross
I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites: sdrinspire.tumblr.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.
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Do you have a social entrepreneurship news story or an event you’d like to see on the StartSomeGood Blog? Email the details to Nicole or find her on Twitter @nricchio and she’ll be happy to review it.
SocEnt Book Club Review: ‘Madlands’ by Anna Rose
Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic
by Anna Rose
I’ll admit it. I started reading this book with a bit of scepticism. Not because I disagree with the concept of climate change—far from it—but because I wasn’t sure how a book about the journey to change someone’s mind could in any way be meshed coherently with climate theory.
My first impressions of the book were good. The writing style was fluid and the different terms were explained in an understandable, non-patronizing way (which is a problem for a lot of reads in this general genre). I wasn’t prepared for the semi-autobiographical nature of the book, though perhaps I should have been. It was nice to break from climate theory every now and then, though I felt a lot of it was used as filler, but again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing! In fact, a number of instances (such as planning a wedding using Google docs) had me actually chuckling, and let me engage with the author.
The use of graphs (which I had been looking forward to) was meshed into the book fairly well. Due to the flow of writing, the graphs were often on different pages to the place they had been referenced from—usually also after the story had moved forward slightly. I felt that while they were visually pleasing as a method to break the text, they could have—for the most part—all been put in an index in the back of the book. I did find myself actually studying the graphs and charts, however, which shows how engaging (okay okay, and simple enough for even me to understand) they were.
I just want to talk very briefly about who this book is aimed at. Primarily because I’m not sure of the answer myself. In a lot of ways, the book seems to appeal to a wide variety of people, all of which can be huddled together under the wide heading of ‘people interested in climate change, whether they believe in it or not’. Do I think the book was trying to target too wide an audience? Not really—its seeming determination to have a wide appeal is probably the reason the flow of writing was made to be so accessible (and the more scientific terms were explained so well).
Overall, I really liked this book. The writing style was nice, the facts were put forward in a very interesting way, and for the most part, the different elements of data, journey, and biography were weaved together in a complementary, coherent manner. As I mentioned before, I don’t feel as though I could describe an ‘ideal reader’ for this title, but I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is interested in both Climate Change and the people who are passionate about what it’s doing to our planet.
Sara Slack
A self confessed tea-and-book addict, I’ve always been a ‘Jack of all Trades’. My hobbies range from cycling, to woodworking and participating within the theatre. My passion for the written word led not only to postgraduate degree in English, but also to becoming the volunteer director of the non-profit publishing house Inspired Quill. I love my day job (shockhorror!), where I work as the Marketing Manager for the ethical investment Platform ‘Ethex’, here in the UK. (I also hold the belief that ‘to-do’ lists breed when you’re not looking).
StartSomeGood News
Breaking Heels is focused on creating an adjustable height high heel and funding demand-reduction programs to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation in addition to funding scholarships for survivors. The shoe is designed to have an adjustable height shoe allowing the wearer to go from a short to a high heel with a simple flip of the heel. With the funds raised, Breaking Heels will be able to launch this high heel shoe line and, if fully funded, will be able to complete patenting and create injection molds for the height adjustable shoes.
Building Girls Work Crew, a paid, hands-on construction experience for twenty 17 to 24-year-old girls in Portland, Oregon, is looking to officially launch on August 28th this year. This campaign is seeking funding for just three of those 20 girls to learn practical construction skills, preparing them for serious careers in construction. They will also receive lessons on credit and banking, nutrition, fitness, and life navigational skills. Just $1,000 supports one young lady through this program and toward a sustainable life for herself and her family.
Reading a Human Right seeks to promote a reading culture in all age groups, specifically children, in Tshabalala, Bulawayo, and Zimbabwe. With the campaign funds, Reading a Human Right will purchase books for Inhlathi high school, Maphisa primary school, Tshabalala public library, and Alliance preschool. More access to books will set the groundwork to alleviate crime, poverty, and increase education and self sufficiency to develop these impoverished communities.
Cultured Pearls Empowerment Group for Girls is a character development organization whose overall mission is to produce contributing young women for society. Young women in the program are matched with a mentor who has overcome similar life obstacles and provides the necessary, first-hand experience and encouragement. With the funds raised through Help us CULTIVATE more PEARLS, 30 girls will be able to enroll in the program for 10 weeks free of charge.
The GeekHub is a school-based team of IT professionals in central Ukraine with a goal to teach talented youth the skills needed to launch their careers in software development. GeekHub seeks funding to purchase two projectors that will be used to increase teaching efficiency by allowing the teachers to hook their computers to the projectors. This will allow them to explain the material, show the code examples, and help students see illustrations and examples on a big screen.
Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Rescue Centre:The Australian black cockatoo is having a tough time surviving, as the film, On a Wing and a Prayer, explains. This campaign will help fund the purchase of that acclaimed ABC film as an educational tool for 2,000 schools along with a downloadable study guide. Education is the key to saving this bird from the brink of extinction and the key to survival for the Black Cockatoo.
Wecyclers has tipped! Wecyclers was founded by recent graduates from MIT and Harvard. Embarking upon their professional careers, they are using their knowledge and connections from school to lay the groundwork for the launch of Wecyclers this August in Lagos, Nigeria. Wecyclers tackles urban waste crises by encouraging households to recycle using SMA-based incentive programs paired with convenient collection services. Thanks to its great supporters, Wecyclers will now be able to create a pilot recycling program for at least 200 households for 5 months. With three days still left in this campaign, there is still time to help Wecyclers expand this program to reach more than 200 households.
Making a fantastic and exciting late surge, Community Youth Mapping (The Center for Collaborative Change) was able to finish up successfully, surpassing its $2,500 tipping point. CYM, established in Newark, New Jersey in 2009, includes youth in essential community development while also building their interest and capacity to be our future civic leaders. Through exit surveys, CYM has found that 64% have an increased interest in the well-being of their neighborhood, 86% improved their communication skills, and 90% increased their knowledge of healthy food access. The campaign funds raised will allow CYM 2012 to hire a staff of three to supervise youth for six weeks and develop the curriculum.
Shawn D. Ross
I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me on twitter @shawndross and visit my websites: www.sdrinspire.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com
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Social entrepreneurs, have all these new and successful campaigns inspired you to start your own good? Do you have a social enterprise, a non-profit, or an amazing idea that needs some momentum to take off? Visit our site to find out how to start your own campaign today. Still have questions? We have answers—check out our FAQ section.
StartSomeGood News
From September through December this year, Coders4Africa will be leading 30 African developers in the creation of five different mobile and web applications that will directly impact the communities they live in. This holistic application suite will cover education, agriculture, social need, business, and healthcare. This project-based training is designed to treat each software developer (trainee) as a potential employee or entrepreneur. This project needs 30 coders to conquer the last digital frontier that is Africa and the campaign is raising funds to hire professional trainers and purchase hardware and training tools necessary to get this initiative off the ground.
Let Our Light Shine is a website that will serve as a portal for information that the handicapped need to get support, training, education, and employment. It will also provide training for companies looking to hire handicapped people to work in the office or remotely. Let Our Light Shine is running this campaign to fund its official launch. Funds raised will go directly towards the employee salaries, all of which will be handicapped individuals. Let Our Light Shine needs to hire researchers, a programmer, and a social media manager for a minimum of two to three months.
Wecyclers is setting out to tackle urban waste crises by encouraging households to recycle and offering convenient collection services. Wecyclers using an SMS-based incentive program that rewards people for recycling via redeemable points. It also offers collection services via its fleet of bicycle-powered collection vehicles. Wecyclers wants to run a pilot program in Lagos, Nigeria and then expand to other low-income cities throughout the developing world. When Wecyclers reachers its tipping point goal, it will be able to run this program for at least 200 households for five months.
Zimba uses a simple and low-cost device that automatically treats water at handpumps so that water treatment in villages is cheap and easy. Zimba’s mission is to create a future where every family has access to safe water. Zimba has already run a successful pilot in Bangladesh, serving 86 families and is now looking to scale to reach more families—1,000 t be exact. One Zimba dosers serves 100 people, or 20 families so every $10 of support that it receives will provide safe drinking water for one family.
The CORE Academy is designed to help children build motivation through four important elements: Confidence, Ownership, Relevance, and Engagement. This motivation is developed outdoors, through martial arts, outdoor education, community service, and creative expression. CORE Academy raised funds to build a cabin for activities and purchase the recreation materials needed for the Academy to get officially up and running. Thanks to some generous backers, CORE Academy just wrapped up a successful campaign and will therefore be able to build a cabin for its campers to enjoy!
The Inner Harbor Project a youth camp running this Summer to teach urban youth how to use qualitative research as a tool for social change in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The goal of this project is to hopefully stir dialogue between youth and policy makers about constructive ways to decrease crime in the Inner Harbor and build it into a more inclusive space. With still a few more weeks left, Launch the Inner Harbor Project soared past its tipping point goal which will allow the funding of individual student projects and is now halfway towards its total funding goal which will cover other various expenses.
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Social entrepreneurs, have these campaigns inspired you to start your own good? Do you have a social enterprise, a non-profit, or an amazing idea that needs some momentum to take off? Visit our site to find out how to start your own campaign today. Still have questions? We have answers—check out our FAQ section.
SocEnt Book Club—Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic
The month of July brings with it not only a new book, but a new reviewer as well! My name’s Sara, and I’m your reviewer for this month’s SocEnt Book Club read along.
Madlands: A Journey To Change The Mind Of A Climate Sceptic, by Anna Rose, tells the (true) story of a twenty-something environmentalist and a retired right-wing finance minister. The novel outlines Anna and Nick’s journey around the world as they challenge one another’s views about climate change, provoking each other to confront previous assumptions about our responsibilities as individuals in a rapidly changing world.
This novel is written in first-person, from Anna’s point of view, and (at a very brief first glance) even includes some tables and data she presented to Nick sometime along their journey. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how all the facts and figures integrate within the narrative of the book.
If you have any interest in climate change or our responsibility toward our planet (from either side of the fence, even!), please pick up a copy of this book, read along, and let us know your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook. My brief flick-through the pages has revealed some very interesting paragraphs (I’m not cheating, I promise!), and I have a gut feeling that the contents of this book could cause some lively debate, so don’t miss out!
About the Author: Anna Rose is the co-founder of the Australia Youth Climate Coalition, a movement of over 70,000 young people working to solve climate change. She is joint recipient of the 2009 Environment Minister’s Young Environmentalist of the Year Award, and a Fellow of the International Youth Foundation. The Sydney Morning Herald named her one of Sydney’s most influential people (2009), and one of the top five most powerful grassroots organizers in New South Wales (2011).
Book Availability:
Sara Slack
A self confessed tea-and-book addict, I’ve always been a ‘Jack of all Trades’. My hobbies range from cycling, to woodworking and participating within the theatre. My passion for the written word led not only to postgraduate degree in English, but also to becoming the volunteer director of the non-profit publishing house Inspired Quill. I love my day job (shockhorror!), where I work as the Marketing Manager for the ethical investment Platform ‘Ethex’, here in the UK. (I also hold the belief that ‘to-do’ lists breed when you’re not looking).
