As the United States presidential election approaches, I've been thinking a lot about democracy and voting. Even when voter turnout increases in a given election year, I'm usually disappointed that half of the eligible population stays home on election day. It's particularly frustrating to know that for the last 30 years, voters have been disproportionately of higher income, older, or more partisan in their interests than non-voters, and that because of that, politicians don't conduct outreach to many communities.
By Flickr user faeryboots
Even though I work for a nonprofit (and one that supports other nonprofits), I'd never really considered the role that the sector could play in increasing voter engagement. Then I heard from the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network (NVEN), and I started to consider what organizations in the sector can do to reduce barriers to participation.
Because of confusing lobbying rules, many nonprofit professionals might think their organization can't get involved in voting or elections. Not only is this not true, but the reality is nonprofits can play a significant role in promoting democracy. On the Why Nonprofits? page of the NonprofitVote.org website, the Network points out, "Any map of the nonprofit sector reveals its highest density among underrepresented populations with a history of lower voter participation." Nonprofits can build democracy by providing calls to action, educating voters, and helping to reduce barriers to participation.
What you want to steer clear of, as Put wrote last week, is doing anything with the goal of affecting the outcome of the election.
To help you figure out the rules, and get ideas for how your organization can help, the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network is giving away complimentary 501(c)(3) " Nonprofits Help America Vote" kits, including their Nonprofits, Voting and Elections guide to nonpartisan activities for charities.
This entry is by Hannah, who most recently wrote about our culture of consumerism for the Idealist in NYC blog.
250,000 Americans don’t know they’re HIV positive, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now I don’t know how you feel, but this is shocking to me. After years and years of prevention education, from films to campaigns, what are we doing wrong?
By Flickr user jonrawlinson
I used to work as a HIV tester and educator, particularly with substance abusers, and one thing is clear: there’s still a lot of work to do. You see, the CDC statistic wasn’t talking about my former clients but rather, those who aren’t traditionally considered high-risk. The facts are telling. The number of African-American women becoming infected is rising. Sexually transmitted diseases are rampant among youth.
When it comes to awareness, it can’t be denied that “new” risk groups call for new methods and strategies.
Pos or Not is a great example of adapting to the times. A variation of HotorNot.com, a website where you rate people’s attractiveness, Pos or Not instead challenges you to identify those living with HIV. The game, aimed towards the hip, Wii-playing generation, was developed by college students for the mtvU network. The site features real people with real stories—from 20-year old Florentina to 52-year-old Maggie—challenging you to confront the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Once you’re done, you can type in your zip code to find a testing site near you.
Over in India, another stigma is being challenged—condom use. Currently, there are 2.5 million people in India living with HIV, and reasons for low condom use range from lack of education to cost. With funding provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the BBC World Service Trust has created a new ringtone to help tackle the taboos associated with prophylactics. Instead of Bollywood melodies streaming from cell phones, the a capella refrain “condom, condom” can now be heard. It’s a catchy song, and the commercial is great, too.
If you want to get involved, there’s definitely no shortage of people, organizations, and groups around the globe dedicated to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.
This entry is by Celeste, who most recently wrote about her love for the C train on the Idealist in NYC blog.
Some of the most creative, passionate, world-changing people I know happen to be teens and younger adults. Apparently Changemakers (a project of Ashoka), Youth Venture, and Staples agree with me!
Photo from the competition's website
Are you between the ages of 12 and 24, and cooking up a project that will make your community better? These three groups have teamed up to identify and support innovative ways young people are making positive change in their communities. You can enter the Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition to receive feedback, find supporters, win prizes, and even secure up to US$1,000 in funding to advance your project.
I just perused the entries that have already been submitted, and competition looks fierce, from The SOLD Project, which is "using film to stop child prostitution before it begins; to Baby's First Home, a residential program for homeless teen mothers and their children; to SeniorLink, a project out of Bucks County, PA that installs computer stations in nursing homes. Why not join their ranks and enter today?
Oh, and you don't have to be within the 12-24 age bracket to get involved. If you register on Changemakers.net—which bills itself as "the world's first global online 'open source' community that competes to surface the best social solutions, and then collaborates to refine, enrich, and implement those solutions"—you can nominate your favorite younger changemaker to win. But hurry: the deadline for this particular competition is October 15!
This entry is by Julia, who has been working with fabulous interns to launch Generation Idealist, a resource center for people in this very age range. Email feedback to julia@idealist.org.
By Flickr user treesftf
Each week we bring you a roundup of what you can find on our site related to a specific country, region, or city. Today we spotlight the Republic of Cameroon.
I searched Idealist today, and found 295 organizations that are based in Cameroon. Their diverse missions involve human rights, the environment, support for orphans, sports in rural development, and much more.
There are currently 117 opportunities listed to volunteer in Cameroon. Whether you're an accountant, a scientist who knows something about water filters, a computer technician, or a caregiver, there's probably a project with which you can get involved.
And I had no idea that more than 300 people in Cameroon have made personal profiles on Idealist. Make your own profile through your Control Panel, and then connect with them to learn more!
Would you like to help make more connections among people, organizations, and resources in Cameroon through the Idealist network? Start or join an Idealist Group or visit our Spread Idealist page to get started.
This Spotlight was written by Julia, an editor of this blog and of Idealist in NYC.
45 percent of you emerging leaders have asked for more education to help you prepare to take on executive roles.
At our spring fair in Washington, DC
You need skills! Management, finance, marketing and communications, policy analysis and leadership, research and counseling skills. You can take a workshop here and there...or you can dive in fully and go back to school. Part-time, full-time, online, joint degrees: schools know you want all these options and more, and they offer them.
The Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good will introduce you to distinctive public-interest grad schools from all over the country and world. In September our grad fairs team, Chris and Jung, will tour the Northeast and Toronto:
New York (Sept. 10 – Changed venue at Columbia!)
Boston (Sept. 15)
Toronto (Sept. 18)
Washington, D.C. (Sept. 19)
Philadelphia (Sept. 22)
They'll continue on throughout North America through November.
Chris and Jung want you to meet the hundreds of admissions staff who will tour with them, representing schools like: public health, social work, education, divinity, public administration, nonprofit and business management, law, communications, and more.
You'll meet admissions staff who are genuinely kind people – people who can shepherd you through the application processes and answer your questions. Most fairs will have a panel discussion or two, to allow you to hear advice about admissions, financial aid, and more.
If you won't get to a fair this fall, check out our new online public service graduate education resource center.
This entry is by Amy, who blogs frequently at The New Service, which features resources and news for those seeking careers and/or pursuing education in the nonprofit field.
Every year, Oxfam coordinates its Fast for a World Harvest to raise awareness about hunger issues around the world. During the Fast, participants fast for a day or a meal, donating their food money to Oxfam. The event usually takes place on the day before Thanksgiving in the United States, but this year Oxfam is coordinating the Fast on World Food Day—October 16th—to encourage even more people to participate. Click here to learn how you can get involved.
This is a great time for individuals or groups to volunteer to host Hunger Banquets. These interactive events help to illustrate global hunger issues, and are easy to organize thanks to the scripts and materials provided by Oxfam. We've hosted these moving events at several of our conferences, and think they are a great way to teach about this issue beyond just reading about it. More information here: www.oxfamamerica.org/fast
This entry is by Douglas, who recently produced a podcast titled Freeing the Internet: Outdoors and Online with NYCwireless.
Today and tomorrow, 500 leaders from public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors will come together in New York City to call on the next President of the United States to "enact a new era of voluntary service and civic engagement in America, an era in which all Americans will work together to solve our greatest and most persistent societal challenges" at the Service Nation Summit.
Senators Barack Obama and John McCain (presidential nominees of the two major parties) will speak back-to-back Thursday night at Columbia University, moderated by PBS Newshour Senior Correspondent and Political Editor Judy Woodruff and TIME Managing Editor Rick Stengel (here's an article on the campaign by Stengel). The forum will be broadcast live on CNN at 8 pm EDT and will take place live before an audience of September 11th family members, military veterans, Columbia University students, and other key stake holders. Submit your own questions to ask Senators McCain or Obama about national service on the Service Nation web site.
The aim of the summit will be to lay out a policy blue print for solving tough social problems through expanding national and community service. Among the hundred or so speakers on Friday will be Senator Hillary Clinton, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Just in time for the summit, thought leaders from NYU Wagner, National Peace Corps Association, and the Brookings Institution have been voicing their ideas on how to make national and international service stronger in the next administration. To read more about the presidential candidates's support of national service go here.
The Service Nation campaign is a coalition of 110 organizations (including Idealist.org) that has been organized by Be the Change Inc. and founded by City Year's founder Alan Khazei. The initiative will come to a service project near you on September 27 with over 1000 events in communities across the country on the Service Nation Day of Action. Check out the Service Nation web site for a project to participate in, or to register your project!
Also, check out the Service Nation page on Facebook and follow Service Nation news through BetheChangeInc on Twitter.
This entry is by Amy, who is on the road with the Idealist.org graduate school fairs.
By Flickr user B Tal
If you're in or around New York City, join us on September 27 for our first-ever Youth Action Fair, co-sponsored by DoSomething.org and Children for Children.
The Youth Action Fair will be an interactive experience, allowing young people to connect with diverse opportunities to get involved in their community and take action on issues that matter to them. The day will also include an appearance by recording artist Lil Mama!
If your organization seeks to engage enthusiastic young volunteers in service, offers tools and resources for inspired teens, or runs programs in youth development or social entrepreneurship, the Youth Action Fair is the place to connect with hundreds of teens who are ready to change the world. To get a table at the event, please register your organization here by September 24.
If you're a teen who wants to volunteer or find tools, resources, and programs for your inspired ideas, the Youth Action Fair is the place to connect your inspiration with your way to take action. Join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry, take steps to reduce your carbon footprint, or register to vote. Sign up for one-time or long-term volunteer opportunities. Learn how to develop your own projects. Apply for grants. And much more! Youth attendees should register here.
Click here for more information and to register. Hope to see you there!
Over the past few weeks hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike have destroyed homes and left people dead in the Caribbean and along the Gulf Coast of the United States. But the small nation of Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been hit the hardest and is still in desperate need of assistance. Thousands of people are in emergency shelters, there’s a dangerous food shortage, its largest city (Gonaïves) is under water, and hundreds are dead. The aftermath has been compared to Katrina.
Hurricane Ike image courtesy of CoreBurn
Here’s how you can help out with relief efforts:
Earlier this week, the Radical Tech blog described how the web 2.0 community is responding to hurricane season, using tools from Flickr to Twitter to Ning. Check out the new Hurricane Information Center: http://www.hurricanes08.org/
Know of any more resources?
Celeste, who co-produces our podcast series, wrote this entry today in lieu of a regularly scheduled "Spotlight on a Country," which will resume next week.
Image of Fold It game via gedankenstuecke
Several months ago, we wrote about video games that deal with social issues as well as a word game to address world hunger. Here are a couple more interesting games to add to the growing list.
Foldit is a computer game in which players solve puzzles to determine the folding structures of proteins. Why? "The more we know about how certain proteins fold, the better new proteins we can design to combat the disease-related proteins and cure the diseases." The information gathered in the game could lead to scientists finding cures for HIV/AIDS, cancer, and Alzheimer's.
ICED (I Can End Deportation) is another computer game in which players act as immigrant teens trying to navigate the complex system of immigration policy in the United States, and avoiding getting detained or deported. Created by the nonprofit Breakthrough, the game aims to educate players about the human rights implications of immigration laws.
Finally, take a look at our NYC blog today, which features a profile of Suzanne Seggerman, founder of Games for Change.
Has anyone played any of these games?
This entry is by Joanna, who most recently wrote about ReServe, an organization that places older adult volunteers at organizations around New York.
That's Lisa with her teammates!
As a Content & Support Associate here at Idealist, Lisa W. reviews organizations' profiles and provides general support to Idealist users. Here's a tip from Lisa to help you make the most of Idealist:
If you're interested in offering your services as a volunteer or as a speaker or simply wish to connect with other members of the Idealist community, you can create a profile that is searchable and viewable by visitors to Idealist.
To create a profile, login to your member account, click on the "Personal Profiles" tab and then on the "Add New" link next to the type of profile you wish to create. Fill in the requested information about your interests, skills, location, and any other information you wish to include, and click "Submit."
Now organizations that are looking for volunteers or speakers can search for your profile and contact you. You can also contact other members who have published a profile to the site.
To start making connections, click on the "Find" tab on the homepage. Select to search for profiles by the categories "Volunteers", "Speakers", or "People on Idealist". Once you find a profile of someone who you would like to contact, click on the "Send this user a message" link directly under their name and you'll be able to compose a message which will be delivered to their Idealist mailbox.
Find people to collaborate with on your next project, campaign, event, or simply get in touch with people who have similar interests as you and turn your intentions into action.
Do you use new technologies to share ideas, plan and implement ideas, and advance the goals of your community? If so, you might want to check out the 2008 Digital Media and Learning Competition, because this year's theme is Participatory Learning.
People between the ages of 18-25 should check out the Young Innovator Awards; according to the website, "the aim of this category is to encourage young innovators to think boldly about 'what comes next' in participatory learning and to contribute to making it happen. These awards are designed to support young innovators in bringing their most visionary ideas from the 'garage' stage to implementation." Winners will get financial support for their project for one year, and they will also have the opportunity to complete an internship with a sponsoring organization. Awards will range from $5,000 to $30,000. Up to $240,000 will be awarded in total.
Others should read up on the Innovation in Participatory Learning awards, which are "designed to support the most promising and dynamic projects that enable and enhance innovative participatory learning." These will be larger-scale projects, and awards will range from $30,000 to $250,000. Up to $1.8 million will be awarded in total.
The deadline for both competitions is October 15, 2008. Get all the info here.
Posted by Blog Editor.
From Flickr user foundphotoslj
I’m a lousy cook. I can’t make simple things like scrambled eggs and rice, and I’ve even been known to burn water (I frequently forget about the pan on the stove). Cooking is just one of those skills my family didn't pass down to me. But I want to learn. Really.
I’ve recently found out about two websites where I can go to solve this problem of mine: School of Everything and Instructables. School of Everything is a UK-based site that gathers all of those Craigslist postings, bulletin board ads and flyers for teachers in one digital place. Here, you can connect both online and in person with passionate teachers in your local area, so that learning is a personal and meaningful choice. With topics ranging from circus clowning to salsa dancing to web design, there’s something for everyone. For all you Scrabble fanatics out there, you can even learn how to become a better player. Currently, a majority of teachers are British locals as the site is only a couple of years old. But don’t worry – it’s still growing.
Instructables, on the other hand, is based around the same concept minus the face-to-face aspect. Dubbing itself “the world's biggest show and tell,” Instructables hosts submissions are from all over the globe. Categories range from arts to technology, and there’s a seemingly endless wealth of knowledge to choose from. With the guidance of step-by-step photos or videos, you can learn how to make such things as homemade travel games, prescription swimming goggles, cardboard chairs, and a DIY USB hardrive. Or find out how to effectively host a park clean-up in San Francisco. Now I know where to go when I finally muster up the energy to make my own Taiwanese bubble tea.
If you’re of the belief that learning doesn’t always have to take place in a standard classroom, take a listen to our podcast about Learn-a-Palooza DC. Follow Idealist staff member Julia Smith as she traverses around this day-long knowledge sharing festival with recorder in hand, interviewing participants and sharing her keen insights. Who knows? The idea might just work in your own neighborhood.
This entry is by Celeste, who recently blogged about Games for Change.
By Flickr user Jacob Bøtter
If you'd like to blog about your graduate school experiences for the Idealist.org community, please check out this Grad School Bloggers volunteer opportunity. We've extended the application deadline to September 26.
Posted by Staff Editor
My dad works in urban forestry, so when I was a kid, Earth Day and Arbor Day did not go unnoticed. My sister and I pitched in at tree plantings and press conferences, smiling cutely in our oversized "Plant a Tree: Cool the Globe" t-shirts. We'd get soil under our fingernails and we'd be a little achy the next day, but it was worth it (and not just because we got to skip school). When you drive down a street and see "your" tree growing tall and strong, and you know the rest of the community gets to share the shade, you feel responsibility, ownership, and just plain happy.
Courtesy of Flickr user Pathfinder Linden
So when I saw that OneWebDay is billed as "Earth Day for the internet," I perked up and paid closer attention. According to this press release, today, Sept. 22, "communities across the country are holding events to learn about and advocate for that marvel of modern infrastructure, the Internet." The idea is to take the internet into our own hands, to strengthen its infrastructure, make sure it is accessible, and celebrate its many uses.
When you think about it, the internet really is amazing. My grandparents can dial up their old WebTV connection and hear news from their family on the other side of the country. My dad can market his documentary about elm trees to entirely new audiences. Every day (ahem, before I go to work at a website), I can access news articles and blog updates from Uganda and South Africa, then email friends in those countries to see how they are affected. I can sign petitions, conduct surveys, spread the word about political campaigns...and that's just the personal stuff. I'm barely scratching the surface of what is possible.
Of course we still have a long way to go. Not everyone can access the internet so freely or easily.
So if you're one of the lucky ones like me, why not celebrate and also work to make the internet more open and easy to reach? On the OneWebDay site, you can see a list of events taking place all over the world today, from Tunisia, where participants will choose their favorite Ramadan e-card, to London, where there will be a get-together in a bar to discuss current internet issues, to San Francisco, CA, where volunteers will work to increase Internet and technology access within public housing developments and low income neighborhoods. It's not too late to get involved!
And as someone whose perspective has changed with the opportunity to work on Idealist's blogs and podcasts, I'm a sucker for the Stories page. Over the past 100 days, people from all over the world have been answering the question, "How has the internet changed your life or your community?" Awards will be given today to the best stories.
Happy OneWebDay!
This entry by Julia, who also helps to edit the Idealist in NYC blog.
Color-coded bins denoting plastic, paper and glass can frequently be seen decorating curbsides across the United States. In Buenos Aires, this system of recycling doesn’t work.
By Flickr user frankh
Instead, walk down any street in the Argentine capital and you will find cartoneros, a group of mainly immigrant families who sift through trash day after day and take the waste to recycling facilities. The loosely organized concept of cartoneros began in 2001 in response to the country’s economic crisis, as means of survival. Only recently has the government incorporated them into its waste management plans.
Whether you agree with the practice or not, it can’t be denied that cartoneros have saved unnecessary landfill space. In this context it works – at least for now. It also makes me think: how are other countries adapting its recycling efforts to their culture?
Japan is taking a bite out of waste by recycling, of all things, dentures! Recognizing that dentures contain many precious metals, the Japan Denture Recycle Association donates half its proceeds to UNICEF and the other half to local government welfare offices. Couple this with the fact that many Japanese don prosthetic devices, and you’ve got a lot of people smiling. Who knew that grandpa’s teeth could be used for a good cause?
Over in Senegal, recycling is both an effort to help the environment and in poorer areas, help people in need. Old rice bags are filled with hay for use as a mattress, tin cans are modified into toys and sheet metal is transformed into suitcases. But perhaps the most interesting of all, fruit peels are used to make local perfume. I’m now starting to see my discarded orange peels each morning in a whole new light.
Know about any innovative recycling going on in your neighborhood, city or country? Spread the word by leaving a comment below!
This entry is by Celeste, who most recently wrote about her utter lack of cooking prowess.
At the end of July, we posted on the Idealist blog that we had launched a Twitter profile at twitter.com/idealist_org.
Screen shot from yesterday, when we were inching closer and closer to 500!
In the two months since we starting twittering, we've finally broken the 500 follower mark! We're also following over 700 other idealists, social activists, philanthropists, nonprofits and thinkers.
Keep up the great tweets and if you haven't followed us, please do!
Scott S. wrote this update.
On October 16 in New York City, a couple of Idealist staff members will be joining a one-day conference put on by All Day Buffet. Called The Feast, it will “gather 150 of the world’s leading creative mavericks, entrepreneurs, revolutionaries, radicals, and innovators together to inspire action to change the world.” There are still some spots left, so register now!
There’s quite an array of speakers lined up for the day. One is “eco-model” Summer Rayne Oakes, an entomologist and environmental scientist who advocates for sustainability through fashion and the mainstream media. Another speaker will be Dale Jones, the CEO of PlayPumps International, which provides clean water to sub-Saharan Africa through a system that allows children to play on a merry-go-round at the same time that they are pumping clean water for their community.
We hope to see more smart, creative, entrepreneurial spirits (like you?) there!
Click here for more information about the conference. And if you or your nonprofit would like to attend, you can use the discount code “FIFTY” for $50 off the cost of registration.
This entry is by Joanna, who recently reminded New Yorkers of the approaching voter registration deadline.
By Flickr user ruurmo
Each week we bring you a roundup of what you can find on our site related to a specific country, region, or city. Today we spotlight Venezuela.
Searching Idealist today, I found 429 organizations (listed in English and Spanish) based in Venezuela that work on biodiversity, sustainable development, empowering women, disease prevention, involving universities in social change, and much, much more.
There are currently 14 opportunities listed to volunteer in Venezuela. You could travel with a mobile classroom, assist medical professionals in a hospital, do construction and renovations using ecologically-friendly building materials, or help run an intercultural exchange program.
482 Venezuelans have made personal profiles on Idealist, and they have already started 8 local Idealist Groups.
Would you like to help make more connections among people, organizations, and resources in Venezuela through the Idealist network? Join Construyendo Puentes en Venezuela or visit our Spread Idealist page to get started.
This Spotlight was written by Joanna.
A past Idealist grad fair
Hey, West Coast! In the coming weeks my colleagues Chris, Jung, and I are visiting five cities on our tour of Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good: San Francisco (September 30), Los Angeles (October 1), Portland (October 4), Seattle (October 7) and Vancouver, BC (October 10).
We hope to meet you at one of them! No, really, I mean it. Here's why we love meeting you at our events:
First, we love to hear what you are doing with your life—and how you'll use grad school to advance your efforts to create a better world.
We love when you ask which of the 60 to 120 grad schools to stop and chat with...or when you ask questions like, "Why go to a panel discussion?" Well, we'll say, because you'll hear about admissions, financial aid, the best time to go back to school, and overlooked opportunities.
"Will the admissions staff on the panel only talk about their own schools?" you ask. The answer is no: Good panelists know to make their comments as relevant as possible to all prospective students.
Finally, we love meeting you because we know and love our admissions community (the admissions staff who join us at many fairs throughout the fall season)—and we are genuinely excited to introduce you to them. Did you know that many admissions professionals are graduates of their programs? And that they have been practicing professionals in the field? When they read your application, they see what you have accomplished and they understand why those experiences might make you a successful candidate.
What kinds of schools come? Schools are mostly professional masters degree programs (many do have Ph.D. programs) and include specializations in public health, social work, education, divinity, public administration, nonprofit and business management, law, communications, and more.
Next stops on our tour: the Midwest (October 20-23), and the South (October 27-November 3).
If you won't get to attend a fair this fall, check out our new online Public Service Graduate Education Resource Center.
This entry was written by Amy, who also blogs at The New Service.
By Flickr user jonathanhstrauss
Usually, I get back from a conference, unload the 2-3 inch thick stack of business cards I've amassed, begin wading through my overflowing inbox, promise myself I'll get to the business cards once I'm caught up, and then stare guiltily at the pile for the next few weeks (or months). Sure, I follow up with the folks I need to; but I haven't been so good at having a deliberate, conscious plan for the rest of the stack.
I figured I'd see what the experts do. I found two articles that provide a good list/overview of how to follow-up with folks you've met—after a conference, a dinner, or just serendipitously. None of it is rocket science, but it was a good reminder of how the process can be (read: should be) intentional.
Here are the two posts that propose relatively simple plans that I think (just maybe) I can work with:
Beth's Blog: "It's Harvest Time for Networking and Tomatoes"
Lifehack: "Post Conference Follow-Up Hacks"
What works for you?
Every other week, we'll bring you career advice as part of this new blog feature, "Career Corner." This entry was written by Meg, co-author of the Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers.
By Flickr user ieshraq
Back in 1996 when the internet was taking off, our founder Ami Dar changed our website name from "Contact.org" to "Idealist.org." The name signifies both somebody who believes in idealism, and of course, a literal place for good ideas. Clever, right? (Don’t worry if you didn’t get it at first. It took me a little while to figure it out myself.)
Now, there are all sorts of sites out there geared towards idealists. And quite a few with the word "idea" in its title, just like us. In the spirit of helping good ideas travel, I thought I’d highlight two cool websites that appreciate the entrepreneurial mind.
Imagine my surprise when, while browsing the internet the other day, I came across a site that has the same name as we do. Maintained by Hong Kong designer Bernat Cuni, Idealist is literally a listing of inventions that people can vote and give feedback on. I started poking around and found some good ideas geared toward making the world a better place. Some highlights: a bike that folds up like a 1950s-style bowling bag; hangers made out of plastic bottles; and a bench with a seat that flips like a page in a book when it gets dirty. And my personal favorite, an energy-efficient floating gym.
Ideablob is another site that encourages creativity, doing so by awarding one innovative business idea each month $10,000. I wrote about it when it first launched last fall, and it’s striking how many ideas since then are do-gooder in nature. There are currently hundreds in the "Non-Profit" category alone, ranging from philanthropic weddings to nonprofit wishlists to music for the deaf. Most of the grand-prize winners over the past few months, too, have all had a socially conscious bent. July’s winner, for example, was an idea for an organic food vending machine.
Have a world-changing project you’re itching to get off the ground? Or need some nudging? Try joining or starting an Idealist Group, an online space where you can connect with others and grow your idea.
This entry is by Celeste, who co-produces our podcasts.
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