Channel G Blog

Let’s keep the #socialchange movement rolling! Support #nonprofits & #media with a...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:13:33 -0800

Let’s keep the #socialchange movement rolling! Support #nonprofits & #media with a tax-deduct donation to Channel G http://t.co/DsqAeHan

Submission extended for the Intern’l Water & Film Events! 5 Categories Including ones for...

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:40:22 -0800

Submission extended for the Intern’l Water & Film Events! 5 Categories Including ones for Youth! http://t.co/B8GQfYoe #water #film #contest

Simple advice from @WaterAidAmerica If it’s broke, create sustainable methods to fix it!...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:33:13 -0800

Simple advice from @WaterAidAmerica If it’s broke, create sustainable methods to fix it! http://t.co/TGuG7doh #water #nytimes #india

If it's broke...FIX IT!

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:13:05 -0800

The incredible work of WaterAid was recognized in a NYTimes opinion piece yesterday, part of the rad NYTimes Fixes series, which explores creative solutions to the world’s social problems. Yay, solutions!

According to research cited in the article, there are pumps and wells in many poor communities around the world, including India and Africa, but the pumps have fallen into disrepair and the local communities are not equipped with the technical know-how and resources to fix them.

Photo credit/caption: WaterAid/Marco Betti Shanti Devi and Ram Sakhi fixing a handpump in the Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, India.

In comes WaterAid! They developed a comprehensive plan whereby they train local community members to be pump and well mechanics. In addition, WaterAid sets up and secures the infrastructure between communities and the state, who pays for the repairs, so that once WaterAid leaves, the repair process will be self-sustaining.

WaterAid’s efforts are also opening up new career paths for women from the lowest caste in Indian society. The training centers have 27 women working to be mechanics!

While the system surely isn’t without its problems, its great to see groups and communities working to fix what they already have instead of just building more pumps, which is needed, but only part of the solution.

The cream of the cream- Forbes Top 30 Social Entrepreneurs http://t.co/b902TVfu #socent #biz...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:28:16 -0800

The cream of the cream- Forbes Top 30 Social Entrepreneurs http://t.co/b902TVfu #socent #biz #socialchange

“Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes - one for peace...

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:18:53 -0800

“Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes - one for peace and one for science.”
John F. Kennedy

11 Key Takeaways from the Global Water Crisis Symposium by Innov8Social

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:28:03 -0800

Great article by Neetal Parekh, J.D. of Innov8Social who attended our Global Water Crisis Symposium on November 5, 2011. The rest of Parekh’s blog is pretty rad too.

11 Key Takeaways from the Global Water Crisis Symposium

by. Innova8Social

On a rainy Saturday afternoon in early November 2011, an eclectic group of individuals and institutions committed to supporting and exploring social entrepreneur filmmaking and global water issues gathered on a sprawling estate tucked away in the hills of Los Altos.

I didn’t know what to expect from the Global Water Crisis Symposium but was intrigued by its call to social innovation action. As I learned through the course of the engaging afternoon and evening, the symposium was a precursor to and fundraiser for the Social Change Film Festival & Institute, planned to take place in April 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

1. Think beyond your idea of a social innovator. The conference helped show a new face of social innovation. That of social-minded artists looking to find new avenues, audiences, and forms for their art and observations of world issues. Global Symposium panelist Charles Hambleton of the Academy-award winning documentary “The Cove”, was representative of the deep impact that social filmmakers can make as social innovators.

2. Social entrepreneurs know that risk means opportunity. If a product-based business is risky, there is equal (if not greater) risk in committing time and resources into creating an issue-based film. But as I am quickly noticing, social entrepreneurs see every risk as an opportunity for learning and growth—-whether the venture is embraced in success or sinks to the ocean floor, risk is the truest catalyst for humble, deliberate learning. Stories of filmmakers and social innovators—-such as Michael Nash (creator/director of “Climate Refugees” and “Fuel)— on panels at the Symposium carried this theme to new heights, and depths.

3. When in doubt, there is probably a consultant who can help. A number of speakers and panelists at the Global Water symposium mentioned their roles as consultants. Consulting firms such as Cause & Affect have worked with clients to reframe issues and find unique ways of achieving success. Sometimes when we hit a wall with our social innovation ideas, we may feel like we can’t afford to invest in outside consulting; and I am noticing that if we are truly serious about our work, these situations might be exactly the time to seek outside assistance. Answers only matter when they respond to questions we actually have.

4. There are groups dedicated to helping social filmmakers.While I have heard of accelerator & incubator programs for social innovators and fellowships for social entrepreneurs, at the Global Water Symposium I learned about groups like the Fledging Fund that are dedicated to assisting budding social filmmakers make their films, and their mark.

5. Social entrepreneurs are only beginning to tap the potential of online video. It is an unprecedented time for film. Overhead costs can be kept low while distribution can be maximized using free online platforms like YouTube. Instead of reaching limited audiences, films can reach millions. And hearing about the revolutionary work of Social Change Films, the organizer of theGlobal Water Symposium, exemplified the efforts to continue to explore the potential and reach of film through online video.

6. Social film is effective when it tells a compelling story. The importance of story-telling was emphasized at the Social Media for Nonprofits SF conference and was reiterated here. One of the creators of the television series “Heroes”, Tim Kringwas on-hand at the Global Water Symposium was to relay how effective storytelling was a central premise for his multimedia endeavor “Conspiracy for Good” involving gamification, film, and a compelling good v. evil narrative.

7. Global water issues tend to disproportionately affect women and girls. The film “Carbon for Water” was screened at the Symposium. The film relayed how lack of clean water impacts livelihoods in rural Kenya, and through its interviews and images it showed how women and girls are particularly affected by the clean water crisis. Since fetching water falls under the traditional duties of women, the burden of travelling long distances to find resources to locate and distill water often falls on women and girls.

8. The externalities of not having clean water include deforestation, lack of education and health issues. In Kenya, as “Carbon for Water” portrayed, many Kenyan women walk far distances to forests, collect wood, and then use the wood to burn fires to boil the water. The process accelerates the rate of deforestation, leaves women potentially vulnerable in secluded wooded areas, and precludes many girls from attending school, simply because fetching wood often takes the much of the day.

9. Seek creative ways to tell a story. Compelling stories can be told in words, images, sounds, film, architecture. They can be told chronologically or through flashbacks, using third person narrative voice or through interviews. Though storytelling is a key tip to relaying a social need and social innovation, the way a story is told may be as telling as the story itself.

10. Scalability is a huge factor in determining economic viability of a water crisis solution. A panelist fromBluePlanetNetwork spoke about the need for thinking of ways to bring ideas to scale in light of the organization’s goal of enabling safe drinking water for 200,000,000 people in the next 20 years. While local efforts may alleviate localized water problems—-making a broader impact requires scaling solutions to meet diverse communities and to serve multiple needs.

11. Youth can do anything. While we attended the Symposium, a parallel youth track with few high school students took interviews throughout the day and then worked with established filmmakers to edit the footage to create a brief documentary. It was an impressive effort, and a reminder that youth—-with their ability to embrace new technology and their genuine curiosity—- are often the ultimate change agents.

Children & Nature Network as Panelist!

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:35:31 -0700

This Nov 5th at The Global Water Crisis Symposium, Avery Clearly from the Children & Nature Network is joining a panel on youth engagement & environmentalism.

Don’t miss this chance to learn and create new ways to inspire our youngest and most important environmentalists!

We will also be featuring a youth filmmaking workshop that will run parallel to the symposium.

The symposium features other thought leaders from the nonprofit and media worlds.

Please join us on Nov 5 in Los Altos Hills, CA (Silicon Valley).

RSVP: http://watersymposiumscffi.eventbrite.com/

More event info: http://watersymposium.socialchangefilmfestival.org/

On #Nov5 Global Action Day please join us in Silicon Valley for The Global #Water Crisis Symposium...

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:52:41 -0700

On #Nov5 Global Action Day please join us in Silicon Valley for The Global #Water Crisis Symposium & Reception! http://t.co/tzSBgJ6o #socent

50 Fellowships for Social Innovators (including Deadlines)

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:00:00 -0700

50 Fellowships for Social Innovators (including Deadlines)

EnviroKidz @NaturesPath is offering $20K in grants to local non-profits doing good!...

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:34:34 -0700

EnviroKidz @NaturesPath is offering $20K in grants to local non-profits doing good! http://t.co/VftxLJPH #socent #organic #nonprofits

Photo

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:05:57 -0700

Four Arguments for #OccupyWallStreet

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:28:34 -0700

Four Arguments for #OccupyWallStreet

Why #OccupyWallStreet is more than a hashtag- Its a revolution.

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:42:00 -0700

Why #OccupyWallStreet is more than a hashtag- Its a revolution.:

Pretty much a MUST READ for anyone remotely interested in the power of media & its relationship with social movements.

6 Ways To Earn More Exposure on Tumblr

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:08:29 -0700

6 Ways To Earn More Exposure on Tumblr:

Some words to blog by.

This quick slide from Mashable provides six interesting/creative/useful tips for better Tumblr blogging.

5 Content Lessons for Non-Profits on Tumblr

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:04:20 -0700

5 Content Lessons for Non-Profits on Tumblr

Get New Book Twitter for Good FREE for 24 hours

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:41:00 -0700

Yep. That about sums it up.

From 12am Tuesday Sept 6 to 12am Wednesday Sept 7 you can get Claire Diaz Ortiz’s new book “Twitter for Good” for free!

Ortiz’s book examines organizations, nonprofits, and companies that are using Twitter in innovative ways to connect communities, organize campaigns, and change the world!

Go to Barnes and Noble and Amazon to get your free digital copy.

Check out Ortiz’s book video trailer for a sneak peek:

Citizen Media Competition- 19 Days Left!

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:10:15 -0700

Have a brilliant idea about how to democratize the global media landscape by boosting citizen participation in media production or increasing media access?

Then submit your idea to Changemakers’s Citizen Media: A Global Innovation Challenge!

The FOUR best solutions will not only get to see their innovative ideas gain currency, but they will also be awarded $5,000! Other great ideas will be considered for an Ashoka Fellowship, which comes with a three year living stipend, international recognition, and access to Ashoka expansive network.

SF BART caused a stir when it decided to censor cell service for political purposes. Is pol...

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:05:40 -0700

SF BART caused a stir when it decided to censor cell service for political purposes. Is pol #censorship ever OK? http://t.co/cnmxzmo

One, two, all eyes on YOU! Help Your Org Focus on its Supporters

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:47:50 -0700

In an insightful new article “Me Marketing vs. You Marketing” Chris Forbes explains that organizations should focus more on the readers and less on the organization.

According to Forbes, organizations, especially nonprofits, focus to much on themselves. Their webpages, communications, and marketing materials sound like “me, me, me!!!” Thinking about our own communications I was like, “Dang! Forbes is right on.”

So how do nonprofits balance the need to publicize their work, mission, goals, and activities without sounded too self-centered? Forbes suggests writing the first draft of materials, website copy, etc with the first word as “you.”

I haven’t had a chance to try it out, but it sounds like a great idea. People are definitely most interested in issues and topics that are relevant to their lives and putting them at the center of organization communications is an excellent way to connect.

Top on My To Do List: Test out ‘You’ Marketing.

Let your supporters be the lead and they will be more likely to follow!