Rosita Cortez, Founder, Social Media 4 Nonprofits

I did not understand what Poke Me on Facebook was used for until Rosita Cortez wrote so succinctly about Poke Me on her blog.  The one thing nonprofits find most difficult about social media is they don’t understand it.  Not understanding it is an obstacle many people find difficult about social media and information technology and my reason for using Rosita’s blog to help me unravel social media.

I can not say how many times I have been asked what Poke Me on Facebook is used for. So, imagine my surprise when I learned it has a very useful purpose.  Rather than blogging about Poke Me and other issues that you may need answers to; why don’t I direct you to Rosita Cortez’s site, Social Media 4 Nonprofits, to learn what Poke Me and many other social media issues are used for.

]]> http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/09/05/what-is-poke-me-used-for-on-facebook/feed/ 0 http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/31/40-yearsnyc-lincoln-center-out-of-doors/ http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/31/40-yearsnyc-lincoln-center-out-of-doors/#comments Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:05:30 +0000 Velma McKenzie-Orr http://nonprofitpal.com/?p=2006

L-R: Supporter, Mical Whitaker, Susan Scheftel, James Magnuson, Shirley J. Radcliff, Bill Bragin

New York – Lincoln Center and Everyman Communities are celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, July 28-August 15, 2010. The 40^th year of this free summer festival launched with a talk about its birth from Everyman-Community Street Theater to Lincoln Center Out of Doors.  A reception and  one-act performance of Jim Magnuson’s  play, No Snakes in This Grass, directed by Mical Whitaker followed along with the world premiere of Ethel Fair: The Songwriters. Lincoln Center Out of Doors has grown into one of the largest free performance festivals in the U.S.

Everyman-Community Street Theater was birth by actress Geraldine Fitzgerald, Brother Jonathan Ringkamp, Hazel Joan Bryant and Mical Whitaker 40 years ago “to perform and give voice to new theatrical concepts, political and societal ideas for and by the people.” Fitzgerald convinced Lincoln Center to showcase the work of Everyman companies, operating in each of New York city’s five boroughs,  during a weeklong free festival.

Whitaker, the only surviving founder of Everyman-Community Street Theater, shared his recollection of the 1960’s and 1970’s when his “Harlem based East River Players flourished as one of the city’s important African American theater voices” and  Everyman-Community’s Harlem troupe.  Susan Scheftel, Fitzgerald’s daughter, amused the audience with accounts of her mother’s unwillingness to accept anything but yes when she proposed the project to Lincoln Center.

Richard Allen Center for Culture and Art (RACCA), Shirley J. Radcliffe, Executive producer honored the birth of Lincoln Center Out of Doors as the Everyman-Community Street Theater Festival with one-act of Magnuson’s play from the Civil Rights era, set in the Garden of Eden.

Embrace My Facebook

New York –  How should New Yorkers, friends and users all over the planet celebrate being one of Facebook’s 500 million users–when this new milestone is announced? How do you mark being part of an unprecedented social network in human socialization and interaction?  How would you mark–being one of Facebook’s 500 million users?

Embrace Facebook

I’m celebrating by continuing to embrace Facebook for helping find my friends Liz and Annette; connecting me to family members I didn’t know I had; friends, co-workers and classmates whom I never expected to see or hear from again and making a place to say what’s on your mind during sleepless nights at 3:O’clock in the morning.  I’m embracing Facebook for helping build an audience for my blog, www.nonprofitpal.com and creating a platform to market my book Abraham Lincoln’s Savannah: Damage Control to 40 Acres and A Mule when it’s completed.

Participate In A Facebook Celebration Event

I’m celebrating Facebook for inviting me to its official NYC 500 million users’ celebration when the omission of my name  is recognized; for a new post about the world’s largest social network and for helping me continue to accomplish my goal of life long learning.

]]> http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/16/how-to-celebrate-being-one-of-facebooks-500-million-users/feed/ 1 http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/14/facebook-co-founder-developing-jumo/ http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/14/facebook-co-founder-developing-jumo/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:11:15 +0000 Velma McKenzie-Orr http://nonprofitpal.com/?p=1712

Chris Hughes, Facebook co-founder and Jumo developer

New York – New Yorker Chris Hughes is inviting public input for his new nonprofit startup website, Jumo.  Hughes, one of the co-founders of Facebook and President Obama’s “Internet man” for his 2008 social networking presidential campaign, describes Jumo as a global platform to  connect everyday individuals to  issues and organizations relevant to them; to foster lasting relationships and meaningful action to speed the pace of global change.

Hughes’ global startup is also hiring developers for its New York, NY location.  “Candidates with a longstanding interest in global development issues (i.e. global health, good governance, education, free-flowing capital markets, etc.) are strongly preferred.”

"We Are All Witnesses" to the rise of a strategic athlete, businessman and nonprofit advocate.

New York – LeBron James’ announcement of his free agent decision to join the Miami Heat confirmed Nike’s LeBron slogan.  “We Are All Witnesses”–to the rise of the strategic athlete.

With this one decision LeBron took a pay cut, created a charitable gift, projected to raise $2.5 million for the Boys and Girls Club of America, got the University of Phoenix to donate five scholarships to his foundation, improved his chance of becoming a championship winning player, helped position his new team to become an American basketball dynasty, realized a dream of playing on the same team with two Olympic team mates and primed himself to withstand the mean spirited tirade of a hateful owner,  fans and all whom determined he owes them his ability and earned  opportunity to decide where he will work.

While LeBron’s decision was being analyzed, criticized, second guessed and used to hype ratings  before it was announced.  More than one hundred National Basketball Association players, unrestricted free agent, were grappling with and hopeful for a contract commensurate with their abilities and contributions.  If they were to write open letters vilifying owners, coaches and teams, for doing  what is a legitimate part of the industry, not re-signing them, they are likely to be punished with fines and suspension.

LeBron’s right to work for the company of his choosing is undisputable; as are employers rights to choose their employees.  Coach Mike Brown didn’t try to incite hate for the Cavaliers after he was rewarded with being fired for coaching the team to the NBA’s best  record two years in a row.  Players, coaches, businesses and nonprofits can all use LeBron’s experience as a reason to create and/or update their strategic planning.

]]> http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/10/lebron-james-rise-of-the-strategic-athlete/feed/ 0 http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/05/robert-l-johnson-launch-clubcharity-com/ http://nonprofitpal.com/2010/07/05/robert-l-johnson-launch-clubcharity-com/#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:41:42 +0000 Velma McKenzie-Orr http://nonprofitpal.com/?p=1418 New York – Celebrity charitable gifts can now be bid on by everyone. Robert L. Johnson, Founder & Chairman of the RLJ Companies, launched ClubCharity.com as a resource for entrepreneurs, shoppers, and fans to find rare collectibles, exclusive one of a kind items and exciting experiences donated by some of the world’s most famous celebrities–for the sole purpose of giving back and helping those in need. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Johnson’s online auction platform offers for bid charitable gifts like lunch with Chaka Khan; Tom Hanks’ autographed 2004, Plug-In hybrid Prius; the gorgeous white flowing gown Holly Robinson Peete wore to renew her vows to husband Rodney Peete; and charitable gift packages, like 2 golf spots at Michael Bolton’s Golf Tournament, 2 tickets to his concert with Dave Mason and the After Party.  Johnson founded Black Enterprise Television (BET) before starting the RLJ Companies and ClubCharity.com in affiliation with CharityBids.org, whose principals are renowned for their global non-profit fundraising and expertise.

Pepsi is “looking for people, businesses and nonprofits with ideas that will have a positive impact,” in six categories: health, art and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods and education.  Pepsi announced a new category June  8, for one month, devoted exclusively to ideas to help Refresh the Gulf.

Crowdsourcing

Pepsi’s Refresh Project used crowdsourcing to get more funding ideas. Oprah’s  My Own Show used it to get more show ideas for her soon to be unveiled OWN network.  Jeff Howe explains crowdsourcing, a term he coined,  in his YouTube video.  Crowdsourcing allows companies to get more people involved in helping to identify great ideas.  Individuals use crowdsourcing to get more people involved in voting for their submitted ideas.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Key Strategies

The keys to winning Pepsi’s Refresh grants are crowdsourcing and virtual communities.  If you do not have a virtual community to  crowdsource your requests for votes to;  you need to start one to increase your chance of winning.  Virtual communities are made up of Facebook, Twitter and Myspace friends, emails,  websites, blogs and any other online contacts you have, like LinkedIn.  Through virtual communities you  develop and build rapport with large numbers of people, with common interest, who will respond to your request to go to Pepsi’s Refresh site and vote for your idea.  An active virtual community, one that you participate in, can make your good idea a grant recipient or you the host of your OWN show.

By Adria Richards. Super Meetup, WordPress NYC sponsored Word Camp, November 2009

Meetup’s 6.1 million members include Mashable, the world’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news, with more than 25 million monthly page views.   More than 350 persons have indicated an interest in meeting up with Mashable, June 30, for its Social Media Day, at the Mean Fiddler in Manhattan.  Mashable Social Media day celebrates the revolution of media becoming a social dialogue.  It  is also an opportunity for a MashMeet to socialize with the Mashable community.

Techs and geeks are not the only ones meeting up in Manhattan.  Porche lovers meetup, people interested in Manhattan’s real estate market, inventors association, business network, speed dating, tribal style belly dance, soccer pickup, new and expectant mothers and Manhattan Millionaires Group also meetup.  If you can’t find a Meetup around your interest in Manhattan, or anywhere in the world, start one at Meetup.com.

The one word you need to know to instantly create a website and blog.

Go to wordpress.com and create your website/blog = weblog in seconds.  When you know more, WordPress gives you more options at wordpress.org.  That’s it, GO!

Really, that is it.  WordPress and the WordPress community has  already posted answers to all your questions.  If you need help finding the answers, post your questions in comments.

35th Pastoral Anniversary Benefit Tribute Gala features Legendary Gospel Singer Tramaine Hawkins

More and more churches are using technology to spread the word about their missions.  Grace Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, NY use the technology Power of  The Pew to create and maintain its website,  stream services,  stay in touch with congregants, share the ministries of the church and announce the celebration of the 35th Pastoral Anniversary of the Rev. Dr. W.  Franklyn Richardson.

Members use information technology and social media to schedule meetings and invite family, friends and the community to join them for two weeks of anniversary activities which includes the grand opening of  their third housing tower, adding another 133 units of  affordable housing in Mt. Vernon;  community night service and a black tie benefit gala, featuring legendary gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins, in honor of  Dr. Richardson on April 16th for 35 years of servant leadership at Grace.

The gala, an anniversary issue of the church’s magazine Inside Grace and other activities will benefit two institutions created by Dr. Richardson:  Grace Community Development Corporation and Grace Educational Trust.  A complete schedule of anniversary events and gala tickets are available at www.gracechurchtoday.org.