Social Impact Social Media

ladowntownnews.com   I met Mark Horvath some years ago at a networking event for the Social Media Club of L.A. He is funny, smart, approachable and helpful. Most people at the event seemed to know him.  He talked very passionately about what a difference the organization made for him. For 10 years beginning in 1995 Mark, a former Hollywood executive, had been homeless. By 2005 he regained his footing, had a job and bought a home. In 2008 he lost his job and his home, as a result of our economic downturn. Mark was only months from being homeless again when he started InvisiblePeople.TV - literally traveling the country documenting the stories of the homeless. In a visit to the Social Media Club LA he talked about how he wandered into a SMCLA meeting to get something to eat. He was struck by the impact and accessibility of social media and immediately engaged in the organization. He talked about his experience of homeless. He went on the make his case that the homeless are la

treepeople.org Andy Lipkis began planting smog-tolerant trees with a group of fellow campers in the San Bernadino Forest in 1970 at age 15 and hasn't looked back. At age 17 he raised $10,000 to purchase 8,000 seedlings and he and family members also founded a nonprofit called  California Conservation Project. Over the years this eventually evolved into TreePeople. With a dedicated staff,  Andy still at the helm, and an army of volunteers the organization is on a mission to create what they call   Functioning Community Forest s throughout the greater LA area and anywhere around the country and the world their volunteers can touch including a project delivering over 8,000 fruit bearing trees to Africa. The initiative was not only good for the environment but also provided nutritious food sources to many in need. TreePeople’s Forestry program includes both Urban and Mountain Forestry. The Urban Forestry program empowers underserved communities with the inspiration, education, an

Herkimer ARC in Herkimer New York started as a summer camp with 20 children and teens, with a range of disabilities including autism, enrolled. It started in 1969 with parents asking "Who will care for our children and what will they do when they reach the age of 21?" In addition to its beginnings as a summer came an activity center was established in 1972. Soon after in 1973, the first vocational training center and workshop was opened. And in 1974 they welcomed residents to the agency's initial residential home. Services now include a day treatment program, Herkimer ARC’s Transportation Service, vocational workshop and ARC’s Career Connections and ARC’s Goodwill store and donation center. Today ARC’s clients with developmental, psychological, and physical disabilities the opportunity to choose attending individualized classes, working in a supported vocational setting or the community, participating in programming at a Senior Center and/or volunteeri

Mouse- A New York City-based non-profit, founded in 1997  by Andrew Rasiej a local entrepreneur, has taken on the mission of providing at risk and underserved youth with the skills essential for their academic and career success. The Mouse Squad program trains students to become digital media and technology experts in their schools. The Mouse programs strive to enhance learning by improving students’ use of technology.  Not only do children improve in digital media and technology skills they also gain self-esteem. mouse.org Mouse Squad and Mouse Corps. provide will real world experience in technology use in academics and through real world internships. They provide services via nearly 400 sites in states including New York, California, Illinois and Texas. Their track record speaks for itself. Since 1997 more than 170,000 students have participated in Mouse programs. School principals where students have participated in Mouse programs report 70% improvement in school atten

linkedin.com This is the first video I have published on my blog. It is a short film by my friend Gayla Kraetsch Hartsough called SLAP. SLAP is about two guys and a conversation about all things that make us want to slap. With every slap we dig deeper into understanding why our politics, race and the environment might not ever be solved. Watch at  https://vimeo.com/79864531

brightest.io According to Earth Uprising scientists predict we have less than 12 years to act to avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change. Through their organization youth activists from all around the world are uniting  to demand a better future for themselves and future generations. Earth Uprising is a nonprofit made up of a team of young people out to save the planet. Based on the legitimate premise that the young will bear the greatest impacts of climate change the organization has harnessed young climate activists across the globe to take action and demand a better future. To learn more, participate and support their efforts visit https://earthuprising.org #naturalworld #climatechange #sustainability

dan.org What and where is the Nemo's Garden project?  It is an experimental alternative farming underwater biosphere off the coast of Italy started by Sergio Gamberini founder of the Ocean Reef Group in Vista California.  In the summer of 2012, Sergio was enjoying a seaside vacation on the Italian Riviera. Resting in between dives, he enjoyed strolling along the edge of the sea chatting with friends. One day, the conversation veered to his other passion: gardening. He wondered if it would be possible to create the perfect environment to grow basil and was struck by an unusual idea- would it be possible to grow basil underwater? The answer is yes. Plants including basil, strawberries and tomatoes are grown in underwater biospheres They are also experimenting with green beans, peas, zucchini, flowers and a variety of herbs. The goal is to provide an underwater farming alternative without pests or pesticides as a benefit to areas where crops are currently difficult to

oneearth.org Omar Tello, now 64, planted a rainforest from scratch in Ecuador.    38 years ago he bought 7 hectares of land that had been completely cleared. Over time, he converted the pasture into a pristine forest. In the beginning, he spent each afternoon and evening removing the pasture grass with a machete, and then he planted trees and shrubs that he had brought from other parts of the forest that were being cut down. Early on, crickets would eat his baby trees, so one by one, he would get rid of them by hand. It took him 15 years to restore the soil. Then he began training others to do the same-- that resulted in formation of the nonprofit Humans for Abundance . They have a network of "restorers" with projects in environmental #conservation , #restoration and #agroecology . You can explore the work they do and donate to support the projects you are most passionate about. Visit them on Facebook or follow on Instagram @humansforabundance #environment #s

Discarded electronics create 50 million tons of global waste each year.  Rwandan-based #Wastezon is doing it's part. So far the mobile app has helped send 460 tons to electronics recyclers in Rwanda alone.  The result is a great positive impact on turning recycled plastic into creative new products. To learn more, meet their team and ask them questions visit https://wastezon.com or follow them on Facebook and Twitter #recycledmaterials #recycling #sustainability