On one postcard, somebody admits that they’re tired of hearing about global warming despite being an environmentalist. On a different card, someone reveals that they like to jump on their roommate’s bed. On another, a person confidently broadcasts their belief that they will one day change the world.
Postcard via pattista
These confessions and more can be found on PostSecret, an ongoing art project where people write down and illustrate secrets they’ve never revealed, then mail them to a stranger who posts them on his blog. Believing in the power that comes with releasing your most hidden thoughts, PostSecret connects people to the hopes, dreams, embarrassing habits, taboo desires and pain of strangers. Founder Frank Warren has already collected over 2,500 pieces of art from around the world, and uses the project to support the National Hopeline Network, a suicide prevention hotline.
This fall, PostSecret will be teaming up with FOUND, a magazine whose publishers collect remnants of daily existence – from poetry on napkins to doodles on scraps of paper – and share their hilarious and heartbreaking discoveries with the world. PostSecret and FOUND will be co-hosting events full of finds, secrets, and even arm-wrestling. A portion of the proceeds from the FOUND vs. PostSecret collaboration will be donated to Hopeline and local charities.
By giving us a rare glimpse into people’s lives, both PostSecret and FOUND take an inventive and creative approach to building community. Check out our list of Idealist Groups and more to see how others are contributing to society in innovative, and sometimes secretive, ways.
Some might say that neighborhood one-upmanship has been a fact of life for as long as humans have lived in community. From the first man who ever built a cooking fire just a little bit bigger than his neighbor’s cooking fire to the family who bought an SUV just a little flashier than the family down the street, people have always felt this need to pay attention to what their neighbors are up to and see if they can do just a little bit better.
Photo by sky_mitch
It seems that several communities, however, have tapped into this natural human phenomenon and spun it into community-wide efforts to combat climate change such as those underway in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, the village of Ashton Hayes in Cheshire, England, and the Riverside area of Stirling, Scotland. Many individuals in these communities were already making personal choices to reduce their “carbon footprint” (the amount of carbon dioxide their activities emit into the atmosphere). But these individuals soon realized that by banding together as an entire community they could not only make a bigger impact, they could create a sort of positive peer pressure which would help to sustain the level of commitment amongst community members. This same friendly competition could help to garner support for larger infrastructural changes like recycling programs, alternative sources of energy and increased public transportation.
Want to measure your own carbon footprint? Visit CarbonCounter.org to find out how. And for more information about how you can turn your personal interest in combating climate change into a community-wide effort, search “climate change” in Idealist’s Organizations database.
Every day thousands of people come to Idealist.org to search for nonprofit jobs. Many of them (maybe you, dear reader?) are looking for more than just a job – they’re looking for work that is personally meaningful and satisfying and that makes a difference in the world. In short -they’re looking for their life’s work.
This search for personal fulfillment is what led Tom Finnegan to start the Life's Work Center in San Francisco in 2000. LWC offers group counseling sessions with the mission of helping “people find more than just a job: right livelihood, their calling or sense of mission, a life’s work.”
After refining this counseling program for seven years, Tom realized that the organization had reached a significant limit. As long as people had to physically come to him in San Francisco to participate, he would not be able to extend the organization’s mission to nearly as many people as he wanted to. A long standing vision of utilizing the web in order to share the program led Tom to create the Life's Workers of the World Idealist Group. Tom hopes this group will be a place where helpful resources and tools will be made available to anyone, and where members can exchange encouragement and inspiration as they search for their life’s work. Do you have a story or a question you’d like to share? Join the group and let the encouragement begin!
Does Tom’s story have you thinking about how you can use the internet to extend the reach or your organization’s mission or deepen the impact of a project you’re involved in? Why not start your own Idealist Group?
In the first Idealist Careers Podcast, our own Amy Potthast talks with Chris Asch, co-founder of the U.S. Public Service Academy. Recently featured in Time Magazine, Chris discusses the mission of the USPSA-- the first national civilian university in the United States-- to develop and educate future leaders in public service.
Many young people in the US don't currently consider public service a viable career option. Chris and Amy begin by discussing the challenges that lead to this perspective, then discuss the similarities between this university and military academies. They also touch upon issues of funding, maintaining a diverse student body and the challenges of working with politicians.
Click here to listen, or here for more information on subscribing to Idealist.org podcasts.
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that we here at Idealist work hard everyday to connect you with meaningful opportunities to help build a better world. Interested in helping us help others? We have a number of internships available in the US this fall.
Want to add your handprint to our Wall of Fame?
In our New York City office:
• Community Outreach Intern – Idealist Group Support
• Arabic Language Intern
• Chinese Language Intern
• Portuguese Language Intern
In our Portland, Oregon office:
• Volunteer Resource Center Intern
• Nonprofit Careers Intern
• Mid-Career Transitions Research Intern
• Nonprofit Career Fair Outreach Intern
• Membership Outreach Intern
• Nonprofit HS/CC Careers Internship
Take a look at these postings and follow the application instructions if you're interested in joining us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our sister site Idealistas.org has just launched a contest to engage our users in Latin America and Spain in exploring the synergistic relationship between photography and activism. The contest, called Concurso de Fotografía: Imágenes para el cambio social, will feature photographs that express how connections among ideas, people, and/or resources can lead to positive social change. Click here to learn how you can participate!
Our friends at Idealistas aren't the only ones who recognize the power of the image. Organizations made up of activists and artists are using photography to promote awareness about social justice issues, to empower communities, and to affect change. The Photovoice method puts cameras in the hands of people to document concerns and realities in their own communities. "What experts think is important may not match what people at the grassroots think is important," says Caroline C. Wang, who helped develop Photovoice. The Critical Exposure program takes a similar concept to public schools in five U.S. cities, empowering students to advocate for change in their school systems while learning valuable documentary photography skills.
A new Idealist Group called Photography for Social Change uses another approach. On the group's website, Collective Lens, user-submitted photographs and photo essays are linked to organizations that work on social justice issues related to the content of the photographs.
Are you a shutterbug, or a fan of another online photography tool or community committed to changing the world? Leave a comment below and spread the word!
If you're a young person or someone who works with youth then you know that kids often have the most creative perspectives about the world around them and innovative ideas about how to make the world a better place. Luckily for all of us, today's youth have more opportunities than ever to share their ideas and their vision with the world.
Photo by Listen Up!
Young people who want to share their stories can find support, resources, and a network of other young storytellers at Listen Up!, a site for young video producers which aims to “achieve an authentic youth voice in mass media." At Listen Up! you'll find youth produced videos on topics like teen pregnancy, military recruitment, and immigration.
Combining storytelling and action, Quantum Shift TV's Be the Change! Share the Story! School Video Contest gives student groups in the U.S. and Canada the opportunity to share progress on their chosen social and environmental projects through a series of short videos. Besides doing great work in their communities, sharing their experiences, and learning from other groups, students are in the running to win up to $50,000 in prizes for their school!
Are you a young person with bold ideas about how to change the world? Why not create an Idealist Group to share your idea and connect with others who want to help make it a reality? Also, make sure to check out Idealist's Kids and Teens section to find resources, project ideas, and organizations that can help you get started.
After traveling, ever wonder what to do with the leftover pesos that waste space in your pockets? The yen you have sitting in your drawer? The rupees laying at the bottom of your purse?
Photo by Freelancer1
UNICEF has a solution. Since 1987, the global children’s fund has partnered with twelve international airlines, such as American and Finnair, to support the Change for Good program. The concept is simple—travelers donate unused foreign currency to support UNICEF initiatives around the world – and the results are far reaching as a little change can go a long way. Sixty cents, for example, provides a sachet of oral re-hydration salts and one dollar enables a rapid HIV test. Meanwhile, Airline Ambassadors International, a nonprofit started by flight attendants to provide humanitarian assistance, links airline employees, students, medical professionals, families and retirees to opportunities to serve as “Ambassadors of Goodwill” in their home communities and abroad.
Pilots are also proving that they are more than just a friendly voice over the loudspeaker announcing your destination. Angel Flight, Inc. is an Oklahoma-based nonprofit that connects volunteer pilots with those that have an immediate medical need for free air transportation. Similar programs under the same name exist in other parts of the US, Europe, Australia and Canada. Lighthawk is another organization comprised of charitable captains, but with a focus on environmental concerns. Collaborating with more than 200 partners, Lighthawk’s missions have helped illuminate numerous issues, from illegal logging to endangered wildlife.
If the prospect of using the sky for good has taken flight in your mind, check out our list of Idealist Groups and more for some inspiration.
The answer: Their very first Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good! We are excited to kick off our third season of graduate degree fairs in these two lovely cities. We'll be in Philadelphia tomorrow and Toronto on Thursday.
Our graduate fairs are free and open to the public. They are for anyone who is passionate about a social cause or global issue, and is looking for a graduate education to prepare them to make a difference. Curious about how divinity can be a vehicle for social activism? Thinking about starting your own social enterprise? Come meet representatives from a variety of graduate programs including divinity and nonprofit management and business administration. Aspiring, new and mid-career nonprofit and public service professionals (including interns, volunteers, and folks considering a shift into the nonprofit world from another sector) are encouraged to attend.
Next week we'll be in Boston, Washington, DC, and New York. We'll continue on to 14 more cities after that! As we travel, we'll be sending postcards from the road, so check back on the blog for updates.
Spread the word to your colleagues, friends and networks. We look forward to meeting you at one of our fairs!
Thank you!
When you see the word Craigslist, what comes to mind? For many people, the phrase conjures up the memory of a treasured old couch that's found a new home, or the hilarious (and perhaps painful) story of a former roommate.
For many residents of San Francisco, CA and greater New York City, the term Craigslist has taken on a whole new meaning over the past month. The 2007 Craigslist Foundation Nonprofit Boot Camp took place in those locations, uniting nonprofit professionals for a marathon day of skills trainings, networking and workshops.
Four representatives of Idealist headed to the Brooklyn Academy of Music this past Saturday for the New York event. The tagline of the Craigslist Foundation is "helping people help," and by the looks of the bustling exhibit hall, spirited informal conversations and well-organized structured sessions, they've been doing exactly that. Our team was energized by the opportunity not only to connect with so many of our own users face to face, but also to participate in such workshops as "Generational Changes in Nonprofit Leadership" (facilitated by the Building Movement Project staff) and "Social Entrepreneurship 101" (with representatives from StartingBloc, Make the Road by Walking, College Summit and Witness).
Best of all, Craigslist Foundation has created an online space where Boot Camp attendees can stay in touch with one another virtually. If you have suggestions for future programming, comments about the day, or want to track down someone you met in New York or San Francisco, visit Boot Camp on Going.com to sign up. And if you couldn't make it to New York or San Francisco, you can still join the community.
Looking for a creative way to engage new members in your group or organization? How about a scavenger hunt? We've noticed the scavenger hunt phenomenon catching on among some Idealist Groups.
Photo by miguelb
Last weekend in Seattle, the members of the Secret Order of Do-Gooders (S.O.D.S) embarked on a super secret mission – a scavenger hunt to gather items needed by local charities. The scavenger hunt was a fun way for the Do-Gooders to get to know each other and make a difference for some great community organizations.
In New York, the Green Edge Collaborative will host an event which will combine the fun of scavenger hunting with another one of life's greatest pleasures – food! Participants in the Eco-Eatery Tour will comb Manhattan in search of eco-friendly goodies before coming together for a picnic.
Have you ever participated in a socially conscious or community oriented scavenger hunt? Leave a comment and tell us about it!
Ever hosted an event and wished you had the perfect documentary to show? Wanted a brochure on a certain issue but didn't know where to find it? Had an itch to share an illuminating article you wrote?
Photo by The_Gut
Our Materials and Products database can help in situations like those. As a directory that lists almost 7,000 resources, free and for purchase, it'd be hard not to discover something in your area of interest. A quick search yields a variety of subjects, from a primer for nonprofits on accessing the media to art by Michigan prisoners. With materials in English, Spanish and French as well as eleven types of media to choose from, including the almost extinct audio cassette, there's something for almost everyone.
The database includes resources from around the globe, so it's also a great way to get educated about how different cultures tackle issues and engage their communities. You can find out how elder abuse is being confronted in New Zealand, or read about at-risk children in Brazil. Check out how the artists and artisans of Mexico are working to give a voice to the oppressed, or how an alliance in India addresses disaster reconstruction. If this array doesn't entice you to take a look, maybe the prospect of getting free seeds to increase the number of butterflies will.
The list includes gems of wisdom punctuated with a few wild cards—like this band clinic finale concert from 1989. Go ahead. Give it a peek. And if you have something to share, please send it our way to help support the community of Idealist users making the world a better place.
From September 21st to 23rd, thousands of people in more than 35 countries will come together for what the Global Mala Project website bills as "the largest unified worldwide yoga event dedicated to positive change in the history of the planet." In yoga, a mala is a series of 108 Sun Salutations performed in a row, allowing practitioners to build strength, increase flexibility, and focus on their breathing. The Global Mala Project hopes to inspire participants to "breathe the change you want to envision in the world!"
Photo by judepics
Participating studios from South Africa to Toronto will host workshops, speakers, meditation sessions, and other events while raising money for the causes of their choice. The Global Mala Project is specifically encouraging donations to such organizations as Trees for the Future, YouthAIDS, The Global Fund, and War Child International Network.
If you're a devoted yogi or a newcomer who has always been curious about the benefits of this practice, why not check out the Global Mala Project's World Map and see what's happening in a city near you? And if you can't participate this weekend, you can always search Idealist for yoga-related opportunities.
If you work in or interact with the wide and wonderful world of Human Resources, check out our newest resource: the Nonprofit Human Resources Center, a space packed with tools and tips to help professionals like you.
Photo by sridgway
In the Human Resources (HR) Center, you can find background information on HR models, learn how to coordinate HR events and trainings, and join or start a local HR group. You can also subscribe to our new e-newsletter, the Idealist.org Nonprofit Human Resources Monitor, and post questions and answers to our online forum.
In a great example of collaboration, the managers of our HR and Volunteer Management programs teamed up to design a page encouraging joint efforts between professionals in their respective fields. Click here to see it.
We hope you find this resource to be useful and dynamic, and would love to hear your ideas and feedback. Kudos to Idealist's HR Programs Manager, Rose, and our Advisory Board for bringing this project to fruition!
The idea to walk 1,000 miles came to Iain Purdie after listening to an early 1990's hit, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)," by the Scottish band The Proclaimers. He wanted to fall down at his ex-girlfriend's door and let her know how much he still cared. But when it became apparent that wasn't going to happen, what started out as a big romantic gesture turned into something more.
Sporting a Newcastle United shirt, and at times, the ever-stylish flip-flops with socks, Iain has been trekking through towns in Europe since late July. The purpose of his walk is to raise money for the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, a Vietnam-based nonprofit that works with street children in Hanoi. Iain started his journey in Monaco and will end at St. James' Park in England in early October.
In our latest Idealist Community Podcast episode we catch up with Iain while he’s in Switzerland. The former web programmer’s energy and passion come through as he details his own connection to Blue Dragon; what exactly motivated him to embark on such a seemingly crazy quest; and the joys of massaging his feet in unexpected places. Throughout the walk he’s had incredible support—including a chance encounter in Bratislava—proving that community knows no borders.
Iain has just over a week left before he returns home, so be sure to check out what he's up to and show your support. And stay tuned for the next episode; we'll bring you the second in this two-part miniseries when we talk with Val Moran, an Australian grandmother who's walking, you guessed it, 1,000 miles.
That's the question Britt Bravo is asking this week on her Have Fun * Do Good blog. Britt, a champion of the BlogHer-sphere, is collecting anecdotes and examples from fun-loving nonprofit organizations. If you've found a great way to make nonprofit work fun for yourself, your colleagues, or your constituents, or if you have an example of a creative nonprofit campaign, click here to learn how to share it with the world. Hurry - entries are due by 8:00 p.m. ET this Friday!
Idealist staff: working hard, or hardly working?
Here's one of our own favorite traditions: We’re a global organization, with about 60 staff members spread among our four offices in New York City, Buenos Aires, Portland, and Washington, DC. Working across time zones and languages and continents can be challenging, so we try to find simple and cheap ways to bring people together. Our favorite example is “Ideavision,” where we’ll close our email boxes and set aside our to-do lists for a moment and don our lip-synching rock star hats. We choose a song (Bohemian Rhapsody was a recent favorite) and “produce” a music video. As you can probably imagine, we've learned a lot about one another's hidden talents in the process!
After she rounds up all the entries, Britt will select seven favorites to highlight during a blog carnival next week. According to its website, the Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants will be "a collection of the best advice and resources that consultants and other support organizations are offering to nonprofits through their blogs each week." We're looking forward to seeing the results.
What blogs do you find fun and useful? Leave a comment below and let us know. And if you're looking for more support for your own organization, you may want to take a look at our Nonprofit FAQ or our Consultant Directory.
While searching through our list of volunteer opportunities recently, we came across One Brick, a volunteer-run nonprofit which invites participants to combine the act of volunteering with the fun of social networking. According to their website, the folks at One Brick aim to "provide non-profits with the much-needed labor to carry out their visions. At the same time we also foster an environment in which to meet new people, both socially and professionally."
Photo by Dano
It works like this: volunteers sign up for the service projects they're interested in whenever they want. After spending a few hours pulling weeds in a community garden, packing books at a public library, or sorting goods at a food bank, all the participants get together at a local restaurant or cafe to relax and talk. It seems that One Brick has devised an appealing formula: according to their website, One Brick facilitated more than 33,700 volunteer hours in 2006.
One Brick currently has chapters in Chicago, New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, DC, and is looking to expand to additional cities. If there isn't a chapter near you, don't fret. Organizations who need volunteers on either a case-by-case or continuing basis can search through more than 71,000 volunteer profiles on Idealist, and eager volunteers can search through over 11,000 opportunities here.
By now, most people have heard of the three Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), right? Well, these days dealing with trash isn't just about recycling newspapers and plastic bottles. Here on Idealist.org , we're seeing more and more innovation when it comes to reducing waste and making good use of resources.
From Trash for Teaching to Pedals for Progress, our organizations database reveals many examples of how nonprofits are helping people to reduce waste in almost every part of their life. In Buffalo, New York, Buffalo ReUse promotes an alternative to demolishing vacant buildings: they deconstruct buildings piece by piece in order to ensure that everything from sinks to siding can be reused. In addition to keeping usable materials out of landfills, the organization helps to strengthen the city's economy by selling recycled building materials at their retail store; providing start-to-finish assistance to anyone considering a deconstruction project; and conducting job training and leadership development sessions for young people. Across the pond, the U.K.'s Emmaus Greenwich offers a place for homeless people to live and work in a supportive community refurbishing furniture and other household goods. The group saves more than 10,000 tons of waste from landfills every year!
You can get involved by searching our listings of opportunities from around the world. If you're lucky enough to be in Portland, Oregon this October, you might want to check out this event at The ReBuilding Center of Our United Villages. If you're looking for a related internship, check out this one at Sustainable Community Initiatives in Edmonston, Maryland. And of course, you can always start an Idealist Group and work with others in your community to turn one person's trash into someone else's treasure.
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