Social Impact Social Media

Some time ago, watching the documentary Urban Fruit by Roman Zenz I was fascinated by the story of Rishi Kumar a highly educated engineer by training who gave up a promising career in information technology to choose a different path. Along with his mother they had transformed their once wasteful and nonproductive meticulously landscaped yard into a productive bio diverse urban farm which uses about 1/3 the water it took to keep their lawn green.  They have done so while creating healthy organic food in abundance. In fact more than enough for themselves, their extended family of relatives and friends and untamed wildlife not limited to rare butterflies, hummingbirds, mosquito fish, dragonflies and raccoons that struggle to eke out good diets due to urban sprawl. This project has grown into a mission of education on the how-to's and benefits of urban farming and creating bio diverse mini ecosystems that give back to our environment as opposed to simply taking.  ...

Kiss The Ground is a Los Angeles based nonprofit started six years ago by restaurateur Ryland Engelhart sitting in his living room with friends including Co-Founder Finian Makepeace. Kiss The Ground’s goal is to change agricultural and farming using soil-nourishing techniques focusing on ecosystem regeneration to build and restore healthy soil, water, atmosphere and communities. Their fundamental premise is fighting and reversing climate change based on “soil carbon sequestering,” a process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in soil. This works as a contributing solution to reducing atmosphere greenhouse gases. Soil regeneration is nothing new. It has been used by many indigenous cultures and communities around the world for centuries. In these communities they have long used farming practices built on a regenerative stewardship relationship with the earth. A core mission of Kiss the Ground is to bring these practices and this thinking into mainstrea...

It all started when Jessica Maddin was inspired to send an email to the CEO of 24 Hour Fitness and within 10 days had received an unbelievable amount of donated goods. Since December 2013 Jessica’s Hope Project has shipped nearly 2,000 nutrition-based care packages to deployed troops. They are raising money to cover shipping of more care packages and keep the momentum going. The nonprofit says that according to data from the U.S. Marine Corps, “The average deployed individual loses 50 pounds per deployment.” The mission of the Jessica’s Hope Project is to keep this from happening by providing protein bars, muscle milk and vitamin supplements to as many military individuals as possible to maintain their physical well-being and mental sharpness. In many locations where troops are deployed there are very few, if any, food options other than MRE’S (made ready to eat) which were not designed to be the daily sole nutritional source for 2000 daily calories – and apparently the...

The Arroyo Food co-op of Pasadena, CA has 500 members. With a newly leased space in Pasadena the co-op will provide organic, sustainable, and locally sourced products along with humanely raised meats, fair trade items and non-GMO produce. The co-op is taking over the space of a former local community market. With visions of  additional features such as   a deli, coffee bar, and community space being considered  the co-op will also be filling a local community void.  To fulfill its has launched a capital campaign. Loans from existing members will provide the bulk of the approximately $70,000 needed to refurbish and renovate the site and $251,000 for operational expenses—mostly inventory—but extra members and donors will be needed. Here's an opportunity for you for a new way to give back;  join the co-op or make a donation to help provide member families and the local community with locally produced, sustainable, fair  trade, non-GMO and organ...