Earlier this week I asked why we were not talking about Laura Ling and Euna Lee; two American journalists detained in North Korea. At the time, it appeared that Current was eliminating any recognition of the situation. This may no longer be the case. A recent tweet made it’s way to News//Current that may make such a claim null and void. Granted there was never a response, but the tweet as of this morning was still up.
If you don’t know Cara Lisa Powers, Founder of By Any Media Necessary and Co-Director of Press Pass TV, then you will – and you should. Cara’s passion for accessible, fair and transparent media is undeniable; and she’s holding others accountable for their actions. She’s not just forcing change, but is a force!
As news and information is shared with the public through more community centric channels, traditional “big” media is walking a fine line. While some are openly collaborating with community media and citizen journalists, others are yet to do so.
The result: an unfortunate portrayal of situations and communities as well as lacking credits to the appropriate (and original) sources of reporting. The Boston Globe is guilty of this and this issue cropped up again past this week when NBC reported a story that had been previously broken by Press Pass TV; NBC Steals story from Kids.
Part of the mission here at Press Pass TV is to use the news as a source of empowerment, community building and to inspire people to action. We were happy to feature Darrin Howell, Cassie Grice and their neighbors in their dialogue about solutions to keep their children and their neighborhood safe. The story featured here on Channel 7 does none of those things, and instead perpetuates a lot of the hopelessness and fear we see young people already feeling about their communities.
As literacy, news and access to information shifts daily, Cara works to build a space that ensures there are opportunities to empower others to better leverage media to advocate, educate and promote social change for their communities and themselves.
Cara’s passion and commitment is an inspiration – she makes it known that we’re not simply going to sit back and let media and communities be exploited, but rather continue to strive (and demand) fair collaboration, transparency and change!
Learn more about Cara Lisa Powers, By Any Media Neceassary and Press Pass TV.
For those of you who know me, know of my full on crush with sustainable fashion, colorful items and flowy finds. Needless to say my day was totally made when I stumbled upon, {labudde} during my ongoing quest to create a socially conscious, and cute, wardrobe (thank goodness for Etsy).
[Photo from {labudde} via Etsy]
I strive to make sustainable clothing and accessories in a number of ways. I work with eco friendly and natural fabrics, like wool, raw silk, and bamboo jersey. I also scour thrift stores, vintage stores, and antique stores for secondhand fabric, cool vintage buttons. It is amazing how many beautiful fabrics are trapped in unwear-ably-unstylish clothing in thrift stores, just waiting to be discovered and reconstructed.
Jenny’s passion for eco chic fashion is founded on sustainability, wearability, affordability and craftsmanship. Sassy clothes with a conscience – who doesn’t love that. Yes, expect several {labudde} pieces in my spring and summer waredrobe. Learn more about Jenny and be sure to visit her new blog labuddesigns.
Help, I’m looking for interns. Not just any interns, but really, really intelligent, innovative and fun ones! Do you want to be one or do you know someone savvy who should be? Then let please contact me at vanessa <dot> rhinesmith <at> gmail <dot> com.
Interns Needed for Health Social Media Startup
WEGO Health seeks passionate, super-sharp interns to work in our Boston office. You’ll contribute meaningfully to a variety of community, editorial and market-research projects that support and grow our community of health activists – leaders across dozens of health and wellness areas.
WEGO Health interns are major players who make big contributions. Our atmosphere is relaxed, our hierarchy flat. This is a great place to grow and learn.
Please be:
• A great writer and researcher
• Passionate about and fluent in social media tools (i.e., blogs, facebook, twitter, etc.)
• Have a deep personal interest in health and wellness topics
• Full of positive attitude and high energy
• Known for your sense of humor
• Able to bring a laptop to the office
You must work at least 12-16 hours per week for course credit (or just an amazing resume line!); this is an unpaid internship.
About WEGO Health:
WEGO Health is an exciting new company exploring ways to give consumers a voice in health care. Learn more at http://www.wegohealth.com/about-us.html
Location: Downtown Crossing
*Prefer undergraduate students, but not restricted to (especially if you make a compelling case).
This evening we came across a new gift option from Heifer International: Fund a Project. While I’ve always loved the mission of Heifer, this takes it to a new level that resonates in a very tangible way. You pick the project that you want to invest in.
We chose Zambia – Rural Community Development Project in an ode to friends that we cherish.
This five year effort will improve the lives of many families living in poverty in Zambia. These families are displaced mineworkers, facing high unemployment rates and food shortages. Through the work of this project, Heifer will not only provide the lifesaving livestock these families need but also provide them with valuable agroecology skills and training in marketing and sustainable agriculture.
My husband and I have been proactively seeking out gifts with meaning. We desire to give gifts that are more than simply “stuff”, but have an intentionality to them that truly speaks to the recipient and relationship all while promoting social good in a sustainable way.
