Another GOTV volunteer opportunity

I like everything that John Legend does, so naturally I'm a fan of this video:



The NAACP has set up an online phone banking program so that anyone can help the NAACP get out the vote. Check it out here.

I don't know who you would be calling, but the tutorial makes their online program look very easy to use:

This is Why I'm Volunteering for Boxer & Obama. Will you join us? Only FOUR days left!

At 4:50pm on Thursday evening I was sitting in the office building where I work, less than two miles from the site of the Giants v Rangers game. I had one eye on the internet coverage of the game, and the other on the phone because I was excitedly waiting for President Obama to call me.



OK ... maybe Obama wasn't going to personally dial my number, and maybe I was not the only Democratic Party Youth Leader waiting for their phone to ring. But I was still kind of freaking out:)

After listening to President Obama’s remarks, and some follow up commentary from the College Democrats of America and the Democratic National Committee’s Youth Council, I put the Youth Leaders call on hold, and dialed into a 5pm call for the Democratic Party’s California Team with Obama and Senator Barbara Boxer.

Obama talked about why he supports Senator Boxer, and encouraged us all to volunteer in the few remaining days before the election. Obama has visited California several times this year to support Senator Boxer's re-election campaign. Jill Biden and Michelle were here recently, too.



Here's a Barbara Boxer campaign radio spot featuring Obama:



In addition to hearing from Obama on the Thursday night calls, I really enjoyed hearing from Senator Boxer. She has been my favorite senator since I started paying close attention to politics after the Twin Towers fell during my second year at Pace Law School. Following my graduation from law school I moved from New York to San Francisco, where I got to be one of Senator Boxer's constituents:)

Two years later I made the cross-country move again, from San Francisco to Washington, DC because I dreamed of working for Senator Boxer on international marine debris issues. It took 4 months, a job at a coffee shop and another at a call center, plus 2 internships and probably a hundred informational interviews, but I actually secured a job working for Senator Boxer!


photo: Co-worker Kelly & I, June 2008

While I later left Senator Boxer's employ to run a voter registration drive that I thought might benefit the Obama Presidential Campaign, I will always be loyal to Senator Boxer.

That's why I've been down at the San Francisco Democratic Party campaign office a few evenings after work recently, calling fellow San Francisco Democrats to remind them to vote, and that's why I'm going door to door in San Francisco neighborhoods this weekend with Organizing for America, to remind people to vote on Tuesday.

I need to know that I am doing everything that I can to make sure that Obama has the allies that he needs in Congress, like Senator Boxer. As MoveOn.org said in a recent email: "Do you really need clean socks that bad?" HA. No, my dirty socks can wait until Nov 3.


photo: West LA volunteers

If you feel similarly, then what can you do? LOTS.

1.) Join up with Organizing for America to make phone calls to Democrats who voted for the first time in Nov 2008. We need to make sure that they go back to the polls on Tuesday. Even making 10 minutes worth of calls will help. (Note that when you click on the link here, you'll be taken to the California OFA page. If you live in a different state then go to the top right-hand corner of the page and change your location.)

2.) If you can volunteer in person (either at an OFA office making phone calls, or canvassing your city's neighborhoods) then google "Organizing for America" plus your state's name to find your local OFA office. For example, here's the California page. Then call the office, or stop by to find out how you can help. This is not a time to be shy!

3.) Of course you can donate money if you want. The Boxer Store is having a sale!

4.) I voted early via absentee ballot. I typed up how I voted, and shared it in a "note" on Facebook. Based on what I've read (and the positive feedback I've received from friends) it seems like this personal contact really works.

5.) Finally, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE on Nov 2. Make sure your family members, friends, co-workers, professors, neighbors, etc vote! If you can take the day off from work then Organizing for America could really use your help. Again, find your local OFA office to find out where your help is most needed on Election Day.

THANK YOU for anything that you can do.



GO TEAM BOXER:) Go Obama! GO VOLUNTEERS!!! United together, we CAN do this.

Ready for a Carbon Cleanse? Join a (free) Support & Education Group.

Next group session starts on January 3. Sign up here.

More general info about the No Impact Experiment here. For the No Impact Man back story see this Ecorazzi post.



If you are a member of a university community, then you can bring the No Impact Experiment to your campus. Need some inspiration? Check out this SUPER AWESOME journal that belongs to a student who has already participated in the No Impact Experiment on his campus.

Election Day Reminders from the Music World

A single vote WILL make a difference.

I have received (and continue to receive) a deluge of election-related emails. But I thought that this one - which I received from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund this AM - was particularly worth a re-print.

Please vote in this election.



Dear Nicole,

Dirtier air. More dirty energy. Greater dependence on our enemies' oil. Fewer new jobs.

That could be the result of the 2010 midterm elections - if you don't vote on November 2nd.

Up and down the ballot, in hundreds of electoral contests in all 50 states, our health, security and economy are threatened by anti-environmental, anti-science and anti-climate candidates.

Many of these contests will be extremely, extremely close. An unprecedented number of congressional races have been rated "toss-ups." But if enough of us show up at the polls, we can stop the wave of climate deniers who threaten to take over our state and federal governments.

The danger is more widespread than you think:

* Not a single one of the 37 Republican Senate candidates supports action against global warming - even though clean energy reforms could bring more than 1.9 million new jobs by 2020.

* A number of congressional candidates who voted for the landmark climate law -- The American Clean Energy and Security Act-- are threatened in races that could be decided by a handful of votes.

* More than 750 congressional and state legislative candidates have signed on to support the anti-climate agenda of Americans for Prosperity -- a corporate front group funded by the oil billionaire Koch brothers.

Close-minded anti-environmentalists don't represent the will of the people. Numerous polls and studies have overwhelmingly showed that the majority of Americans support policies to keep our air and water clean, our food safe and to transition our nation to clean energy.

But the other side has benefited from an unprecedented deluge of money from oil and coal interests and the shadowy front groups they help support. Hundreds of anti-environmental candidates who have turned their back on science could be elected if people like you don't turn out to vote.

Your vote, and the vote of millions of others like you, is our best defense from this attack. And every single vote will make a difference. Remember how close things were in 2000? Many races this year are likely to be won by small margins and recounts. Our nation is depending on you on November 2nd. Make a plan, and cast your vote at your nearest polling place.



Thanks for supporting environmental sanity in these deeply troubling times.

Sincerely,


Peter Lehner
Executive Director
NRDC Action Fund



Not sure if you know who the "clean energy" candidates are? Check out the League of Conservation Voter's endorsements here. For state specific info, click on "State LCVs" on the top right hand corner of the page.

Living without $ by choice in the UK.

Meet Mark Boyle, the Moneyless Man.

I learned about Mark in this recent Mother Jones post. Here's an excerpt:

Boyle lives in rural England in a trailer he spotted on Freecycle.org. He feeds himself by growing everything from barley to potatoes, foraging wild edibles like berries and nettles, and occasionally dumpster-diving for luxuries like margarine and bread. He cooks with a wood stove fashioned from large restaurant olive cans; brushes his teeth with his own mixture of cuttlefish bones and fennel seed; and makes paper and ink from mushrooms. He barters labor for rent, Internet service, and whatever else he can't find, grow, or make.

His experience became the basis for his book, Moneyless Man: A Year of Freeconomic Living, which has just been released in the states.

The 2010 White House Science Fair

On Oct 18 middle school and high school students from across the country brought their award-winning science fair projects to the White House's State Dining Room.

The White House Science Fair is part of Obama’s Educate to Innovate program. Obama has made STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education a priority for his Administration.

Here's his press conference with the students:

This is the Story of our Mothers & Grandmothers who lived only 90 years ago.

Thanks to Laura Scalet, fellow HeadCount volunteer, for sharing this email forward with me today. I believe it was first circulated in 2004. I didn't make any alterations to the text; just added the film trailer.



Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.



The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.


photo: Lucy Burns

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.


photo: Dora Lewis

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.


photo: Alice Paul

So, refresh MY memory. Some women won't vote this year because - Why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?


photo: Mrs. Pauline Adams in the prison garb she wore while serving a 60 day sentence.

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.




photo: Miss Edith Ainge, of Jamestown,New York.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.


photo: (Berthe Arnold, CSU graduate)

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum. I want it shown on Bunco/Bingo night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.


photo: Conferring over ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution at National Woman's Party headquarters, Jackson Place, Washington, D.C. Left to right: Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, Anita Pollitzer, Alice Paul, Florence Boeckel, Mabel Vernon (standing, right).

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know. We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.


photo: Helena Hill Weed, Norwalk , Conn. Serving 3 day sentence in D.C. prison for carrying banner, 'Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.'

OUCH, people! Rep. Tom Perriello needs our help!

photo: Rep. Tom Perriello

Grabbed this from today's very awesome (and free) Politico Morning Energy e-newsletter:

FIRST LOOK - The Sierra Club today launches its latest television spot in defense of a vulnerable House Democrat, this time in Virginia's 5th district, where Rep. Tom Perriello is scrambling to make up ground on his GOP challenger, Robert Hurt. According to a poll taken earlier this month, Hurt's holding onto a six-point lead over the freshman lawmaker.

The six-figure ad buy will run in the district from now through the election. It is the latest in a recent spending-binge from the group, which late last week paid a combined $800K for ad buys backing a trio of other House Dems locked in difficult reelection battles. Today's ad is also the second from the group in defense of Perriello (the first one was done in partnership with LCV). If you're wondering, the spot says the incumbent likes jobs, clean energy and veterans. And Hurt? Not so much. No word on where either man comes down on puppies and the elderly. Watch it here:



HEAVY SPENDING - As of yesterday more than 20 groups had spent a combined $4.2 million on the contest, placing it seventh in the country in terms of outside-group spending on a House race, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports this morning in a look at the race.


YOU CAN HELP. Got this today from a friend:

Help LCV re-elect a great Environmental Champion, Rep. Tom Perriello!

LCV is organizing a canvass trip to Virginia’s 5th congressional district from Saturday, October 30th – Tuesday, November 2nd. Housing, transportation, and food will be provided.

Please volunteer for any part of the four days that you are available. Sign up here to help re-elect Tom Perriello.

Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.


Can't make it to Virginia? You can still help. Got this in an email today from Obama, via Mother Jones:

Right now, my Democratic allies in the House are preparing for the final days of this campaign. Your support to help them raise $1 million before Tuesday will determine how many doors they can knock on, how many phones they can dial, and how many Democratic voters they can get to the polls.

Contribute before Tuesday's deadline to fund our final get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of my great Democratic partners in the House. Your support will be matched by a group of generous Democrats.

After I made a contribution I was directed to this web page that has an inspiring video on it that includes behind-the-scenes coverage of young people who are working on the Perriello campaign. I hope we win!

Not your Average Business School Guides.

Received this info today via an email from the Aspen Institute:

Net Impact's annual Business as UNusual guide gives the inside scoop on what business programs are doing to prepare students for careers that make a positive impact on the world.

Each year, we ask current students to profile their program's curricula, activities, career services, and more. Now bigger and better than ever, Business as UNusual is the go-to guide for comparing each program's commitment to themes such as corporate responsibility, sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and more.

Download the free 2010 guide here. It looks fantastic!

Another great (and also free) resource for persons interested in alternative grad school reviews is Beyond Gray Pinstripes.

The Anatomy of a Chicken Nugget.

Maybe you'll care where your chicken nuggets come from, even though these American kids didn't.



This video reminds me of an image that I recently saw here on the Huffington Post, of mechanically separated chicken:



Still hungry?

The Obamas, John Legend & 35,000 Ohio State Students. Sun Oct 17.

Ah, my favorite story again:) Grabbed this from the OSU speech transcript:

Look, this is the same theory they have been peddling for years. And, Ohio, it is up to you to tell them we do not want what they are selling. We’ve been there before and we are not going back. (Applause.)

Let me -- I’ve been explaining to people around the country it’s as if they drove America’s car into the ditch. They drove it into the ditch, and it was a big ditch. And so I came along and Ted Strickland came along and we put on our boots and we went down into the ditch. And it was hot down there. And it was muddy. (Laughter.) There were bugs. (Laughter.)

But we said, that’s okay. Even though we didn’t drive it into the ditch, it’s still our responsibility to get that car out of the ditch. (Applause.)

And so we pushed and we pushed. And every once in a while, we’d look up. And up on the road, you’d see the Republicans standing there, fanning themselves. (Laughter.) Sipping on a Slurpee. (Laughter.) Having a latte. (Laughter.)

And we’d say, “Hey, why don’t you come down and help push a little bit, we need some help down here.” And they’d say, “No, that’s all right.” (Laughter.) They said, “But you need to push harder. You’re not pushing the right way.”

And we just kept on pushing. We kept on pushing. Finally we get this car up on level ground. It’s pointing in the right direction. We’re ready to move America forward. (Applause.) But the next thing we know, we get this tap on our shoulder, and we look back and who is it? It’s the Republicans. And they say, “We want the keys back.” (Laughter.) You can’t have the keys back. You don’t know how to drive! (Applause.)

Now, if you want, you can roll with us. (Laughter.) But you got to be in the back seat. (Applause.) I don’t know if you’ve noticed, if you want to take your car forward, you got to put it in what?

AUDIENCE: D!

THE PRESIDENT: In D. If you want to go backwards, it goes what?

AUDIENCE: R!

THE PRESIDENT: We don’t want to go backwards. We’re moving America forward. (Applause.)



Michelle & Barack's speeches:




John Legend's performance:

Whenever you vote, I vote.

Got an idea for your own "vote" promo video? The Vote Again 2010 video contest deadline has been extended to Fri, Oct 29. Submit here.

Jack Johnson & the Plastic Pollution Coalition.

Just stumbled upon this:

2010 Midterm Youth Debate set for Oct 31. Submit your Question by 8pm EST today.

The heads of the Democratic & Republican parties will answer the 7 questions Americans ages 13 - 35 choose as most important to them, to help them decide who and what they will vote for on Nov 2.

The parties' video responses will air side-by-side on Oct 31 here. The Democratic Party's response will come from Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, and the Republican Party's response will come from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

Have a question? You must submit your question by 8pm EST today (Wed Oct 20). The 7 questions posted on the website that get the highest number of votes will be posed to the parties.

The 2010 Midterm Youth Debate is produced by Anthony Tedesco of Portable Heroes, LLC.

While you're in the Voting Mood, please Vote for the Suhar Brothers

I met Blake, John and Zak Suhar when they were volunteering for Reverb at the Jack Johnson 2010 Alpine Valley & Rivers Edge shows. They helped out with the tour's All At Once booth and in the Village Green, and were so amazing.


photo: Jack Johnson Alpine Valley 2010 All At Once booth - Blake & John.

During the Alpine Valley show they offered to come help us out the following day, at the Rivers Edge show. They then drove 12 hours round-trip so that they could help us out at Rivers Edge, driving through the night on the return leg, so that Blake could be at work early the next AM. We were so lucky to have them with us for two shows.


photo: Jack Johnson Rivers Edge 2010 show Village Green - Zak, Blake, me, John.

Zak has entered he and his brothers in a National Outdoor Leadership School/Patagonia-sponsored competition to win their collective dream adventure trip. Please check out Zak's video submission, and then vote for them!

About the contest:




Zak's entry:




To vote for "The Suhar Dream Expedition" go here, click on the tab that says "View Entries", and then look for their video. Once you find their video, click on the thumbs up arrow on the upper right corner of the page, to cast your vote for the Suhar Brothers.

You can only vote for them once, and must vote by Oct 31.

George Clooney - Diplomacy works.

on Southern Sudan:



George Clooney references this website Sudan Now.


photo: from 2006

Jack Johnson. Making a Difference. Red Rocks 2008.

1% for the Planet made a 15 minute long film about their work. It came out this year. Here's the segment about Jack Johnson, a member of 1% for the Planet.

One Percent For the Planet | Jack Johnson from felt soul media on Vimeo.

best short video that I have ever seen.

... and if you've ever glanced through my blog before, then you know that I've seen a lot of short videos:)

In New York, the choice for Governor could not be clearer

Carl Paladino:



For more ridiculousness ... Anderson Cooper interviews Paladino.

Andrew Cuomo:



The 2nd news clip above features Paladino walking in the Columbus Day Parade wearing a red tie and carrying an Italian flag.

Err ... Paladino, put down the Italian flag.

The city's St. Patrick's Day parade has long banned gay and lesbian groups from marching under their own banners, but the Columbus Day Parade's chairman said that wasn't the case with his event. "We don't have an issue with gays," Lawrence Auriana said, adding that he didn't know of any gay Italian-American groups affiliated with his parade. "They've been with us since Roman times."

Unfortunately not every New Yorker feels the same way. Check out this open letter to Paladino, and then the response by members of his own party.

I serve as the Co-Chairman of the New York College Republican State Committee and "Im mad as hell." I have been a vocal supporter of Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, until this past weekend. Mr. Paladino told me this weekend that my lifestyle is not equally valid or successful. Yes, I am an openly gay male. The comments made by Mr. Paladino this weekend have deeply offended me, my community and everything I stand for. So I have a message for you, Mr. Paladino:

You have sent the message that my lifestyle and the lifestyles of millions of New Yorkers are immoral, invalid, unsuccessful and something that we should be ashamed of. Let me tell you what I am ASHAMED of. I am ashamed to have a candidate at the top of my partys ticket that would espouse views of hatred and bigotry toward the LGBTQ community or any other community. I am ashamed to have somebody who wants to serve in New Yorks highest office who believes that children should not be exposed to alternative lifestyles, as if being homosexual is a disease they could catch. I am ashamed to hear someone who desires to lead make divisive and offensive comments toward a community that has suffered unimaginable tragedies in the past weeks. And I am ashamed to hear a candidate truly believe that by making these comments he is not furthering bigotry, hate and violence toward the LGBTQ community.

Now let me tell you what I am PROUD of. I am a proud Openly Gay Male and a proud Republican. I am a proud organizer of the annual NYC Gay Pride March, a celebration of the gay culture and the many other cultures that we represent as a community. I am proud to be fighting for the lives of LGBTQteenagers, of whom we have lost nearly 10 to suicide in the past several weeks. I am proud to fight for the rights of my community and to stand up to hatred and violence, even amidst the utterly terrifying hate crimes that have occurred in my own city.

You, Mr. Paladino, have nothing to be proud of. It is truly sad that you believe your comments are not felt by the entire LGBTQ community; by those of us who have been shaken to the core by the recent violence against our community. You are unfit for the Governors Mansion, the government of this state, or a society based on principles of freedom and equality. You owe the LGBTQ citizens of this state and country an apology. YOU should be ASHAMED.

Kyle T. Collins
Co-Chairman, New York College Republican State Committee
Volunteer Coordinator, NYC Gay Pride March, Heritage of Pride, inc

Response:

In Response to the letter written to gubernatorial candidate, Carl Paladino, by the NYCRSC Co-Chairman, Kyle Collins: Mr.Collins is a respected and valued member of our organization.

... That being said, the view reflected in his letter are his own and in no way reflective of the College Republicans as a whole. Mr.Collins is entitled to his own viewpoints, and that is the beauty of the Republican Party. The 'big tent' which encompasses all of us does not reject people for individual aspects of their ideologies. The New York College Republicans presently have a strong relationship with the Paladino Campaign and will continue to maintain such a relationship.

Sandra Amidon
Chairwoman of the New York College Republican State Committee, Inc.

A Conversation with Obama @ George Washington University

Earlier this week I blogged about the Obama Youth Forum that took place today @ George Washington University. Just watched the archived footage here.

The last segment, in which President Obama walks around the room, attempting to shake the hands of all 250 guests, made me cry:

A Conversation with President Obama on MTV

Please vote on Nov 2. If you are not yet registered to vote, then do so ASAP. The deadline has passed in many states, and in others is quickly approaching - in California where I live, your voter registration form must be postmarked by Monday.

Yes, I love Taylor Swift. She Votes! :)

Excerpt from this 2008 People Magazine piece:

The 18-year-old country star waited in line in Sumner County, Tenn., for an hour and a half on the last day of the state's early voting period. "I wasn't going to be able to vote on Nov. 4 because I'm going to be in L.A.," she explains. "But there wasn't a chance I was going to let this slip away."

"The line wrapped around the building," she laughs, "but I can honestly tell you that it was worth the wait. I felt like I really accomplished something special. It's like exercising – you think about it and you're like, 'Wow, there's going to be a long line, there's going to be a lot of effort involved,' but afterwards you feel so good."

While she wouldn't tell People who she voted for, I stumbled upon this earlier tonight. Skip to 2:24 minutes.

Wind it back to 2008

Jack's 2008 Village Green @ UCSB. If you listen closely you'll hear someone speaking about voter registration in the background, at one point. I would like to think that's me:)



Obama's Celebratory Home State Ball, post the big win:

Obama on MTV :: Thurs 4pm PST

A Conversation with Obama

It'll be hour-long commercial-free program, live streaming from the Washington, DC event on MTV.com, BET.com, CMT.com and Tr3s.com

Thurs Oct 13
4pm EST/ 3pm CT (and tape-delayed at 4pm PST)

250 pre-selected young people over the age of 18 will be in the audience, able to ask questions of Obama.

Viewers can also ask questions via Twitter:
From now through the live show, Twitter users can submit questions for the town hall by using the hashtag "#ask" plus any specific issue of interest to them. So, if you'd like to ask President Obama about how he plans to create jobs, you'd tweet "#askjobs" and then your question.

The town hall will be hosted by MTV personality Sway Calloway, BET’s April Woodard, and CMT’s Katie Cook.

If you miss it, The show will also available on-demand 30 days after its initial airing.

Oklahaoma HS students' "Candidate Chats"

Totally love the story about two Oklahoma high school students, Luke Leifeste and Chinyere Agbai. Candidate Chats began as a summer project. The students thought that they'd be done with their youth-focused candidate interviews by the time that school started in August. It has since turned into a months-long endeavor that has earned them 375 fans on Facebook and nearly 900 views on their YouTube channel.

At the end of each interview Luke & Chinyere ask the candidates a youth culture question, to find out how in touch the candidates are with the youth. They asked if the candidates are on the side of Notorious B.I.G. or Tupac Shakur, and asked the candidates to pick between "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob." (That's a Twilight reference; I missed it.) The candidates' answers are hilarious. This one was my favorite:

Jay-Z: "Fight for what's right, fight for what you believe in." Vote on Nov 2.

This awesome new PSA featuring Jay-Z launched today.



Jay-Z made these remarks of his own accord at Bonnaroo 2010. This PSA was then conceived of by HeadCount's Executive Director, Andy Bernstein, who was there to witness Jay-Z's remarks in person. Lots of people got together to make this PSA happen, including Jay-Z's manager.

A message for Missouri Voters: Yes on Prop B for the Dogs

Help the campaign run this ad on TV:
If 5 people donate $25/each --> an ad on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” in Kansas City

If 53 people donate $75/each --> an ad on “Dancing With the Stars” in St. Louis

If 18 people donate $100/each --> an ad on “CSI” in Springfield

If 1 person donates $300 --> an ad on "The View" in St Louis

If 1 person donates $1,350 --> an ad on "The Today Show" in St. Louis

Sparkseed's Story : Supporting Young Social Entrepreneurs' Ventures

I love this video. Sparkseed is AMAZING.

Catalyst "Sparkseed" from Sharlene Yang on Vimeo.

If you're interested in learning more about the organization then leave a comment for me on this post and I'll get back to you. I'm the organization's Engagement Officer.

Obama: "The Surest Path to Success is to surround yourself with Brilliant Women."

This appeared on President Obama's Facebook wall this morning.



I like that Obama referenced the young women in the room so many times during his speech. This talk focuses on access to education & jobs, and private-public partnerships that Obama has coordinated to make this happen. Obama references initiatives Race to the Top, Change the Equation, Skills for America's Future (in partnership with the Aspen Institute), & the recent White House Council on Women & Girls' Women's Entrepreneurship Summit.

OK, I'm vegan but "Make Cheese Not War"

Feature film due out later this year. Found out about it via the Wild & Scenic Film Festival website.

In addition to seeing it at the Wild & Scenic Film Fest stop @ Clif Bar's HQ in Berkeley on Oct 28, you can catch it here, if you live in SF:

30 october 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
@ 18 reasons, 593 guerrero at 18th st.
west coast tour: young farmer mixer and screening
3 - 9pm

For other parts of the USA go here. Follow on Facebook here.

Acumen Fund now accepting apps for Class of 2011-2012 :: Apps due Nov 15

Grabbed this from an email I recently received from the Acumen Fund:

We are looking for young professionals who combine business skills and moral imagination with an unwavering dedication to solving the problems of poverty. Our Fellows are drawn from a pool of highly-talented, passionate people who come from all geographies, sectors, backgrounds, and ethnicities. Last year, we received applications from 70 countries.



Applications will be accepted online until 11:59 PM EST on Monday, November 15, 2010.

StartingBloc San Francisco Info Session : Tues Oct 19

Received this invite this afternoon, via email:

Join other social innovators and changemakers to learn more about the StartingBloc community on October 19, 2010 at The Hub SoMa in San Francisco.

StartingBloc educates, inspires and connects emerging leaders to create new solutions to global challenges. Through our Fellowship program, we unite social innovators across sectors to change the world in sustainable ways. Applications for the 2011 Fellowship Class are now open.



Meet the San Francisco Regional Board and other local fellows to learn more about this unique program.

Tuesday, October 19, 5:30-8pm
The Hub SOMA, 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
Register Online

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Questions: Contact SFBA Regional Board Co-Chairs Elayne & Grace @ sfregionalboard(@)gmail.com.

HA. Stay Covered. Vote on Nov 2.

Because Michelle asked me to.

I just received this email from Michelle Obama. It went out to everyone who receives the Organizing for America emails. It inspired me to give (again).

Nicole --

I've always said that 2008 was an amazing journey. But nothing from that election struck me more than seeing so many giving their time and lending their voices because they were ready for change.

Two years ago, in state after state -- no matter where I went -- I saw grandmothers out canvassing, college kids traveling to swing states and sleeping on gymnasium floors, and people using their lunch breaks to make a few more calls. So many got involved for the very first time, each one bringing others along with them.

It was inspiring to witness.

Now, Barack and I need you to help show that energy again. Because this is such a critical moment, a group of grassroots donors are ready to match any contribution you can give.

Across the country, teachers and firefighters, truckers and nurses have made pledges of support hoping to inspire you to take the next step. Because of them, a $3 contribution will become $6.

Donate today and answer your fellow supporter's pledge to match whatever you can give.

Here's how it works:

-- You choose the amount you are able to give and another supporter willing to match that amount doubles it.

-- You can choose to write a note to the individual who matched your donation and tell them why you decided to own a piece of this movement.

Since the day Barack announced his plan to run for office, supporters like you have made everything we've achieved possible.

That's as true now as it was on Election Day in 2008.

You're the reason we reformed a health care system that was broken, progress that means so much to so many. You're the reason we reined in Wall Street banks that were out of control.

But Barack can't keep making progress without strong allies in Congress. And now the same people who've opposed us at every turn are targeting the folks who voted to make change real. They think we can't do it again.

But they're wrong.

If the folks who I saw in 2008 -- those of you who packed up your bags and slept on floors and made calls and talked to voters day after day -- are ready to stand with us again, then I'm ready for any challenge that lies ahead.

That's why we're asking you to help grow this movement once again.

The plan for this election is based on the lessons we learned two years ago. Our organizers and volunteers are knocking on doors every weekend, making calls every night. Your support will help to fund this work.

Another supporter is asking you to join them today -- and has pledged to match whatever you can give.

Please donate $3 or more to help grow this movement before November 2nd:

https://donate.barackobama.com/MichelleMatch

Thank you,

Michelle Obama


Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Contributions or gifts to the Democratic National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

Social Capital Markets Annual Conference : Live Stream Today & Tomorrow

This conference (SOCAP10) is taking place from today through Wednesday in San Francisco, CA. There is so much going on ... I don't even know where to start, but check it out for yourself! The main plenary room is streaming live. On the schedule, I believe that's the Cowell Room. Watch here:

Watch live streaming video from socap10 at livestream.com

Know a Missouri Voter? Remind them to vote for the Dogs: Yes on Prop B

This morning, The Humane Society of the United States and the coalition of organizations who are supporting Missourians for the Protection of Dogs/YES! on Prop B launched this TV ad:



The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act would require large-scale dog producing operations to provide the most basic components of humane animal care including:

-Sufficient food and clean water
-Necessary veterinary care
-Sufficient housing, including protection from the elements
-Sufficient space for dogs to turn and stretch freely, lie down, and fully extend their limbs
-Regular exercise
-Adequate rest between breeding cycles

It's very likely that a puppy that was born inside a Missouri Puppy Mill is lying in a cage at a pet store near you, at this very moment. You can help. Know a Missouri voter? Remind them to vote Yes on Prop B on Nov 2. Share the campaign's Facebook page with them.

Search for the Afghan Girl. A film.

I saw this film in July 2003 at the Kodak Gallery in Rochester, NY, while exploring a temporary exhibit of photographs taken by my favorite photographer, Steve McCurry. I've thought about the film often, since then.

The film is about Steve's search for a woman whose photograph he had taken 17 years prior, when she was approximately 12 years old. Steve's photograph of the young girl, one of the most famous photographs ever taken, appeared on the cover of National Geographic in June 1985.

The Afghan Girl, approximately age 12:



The film, Search for the Afghan Girl:

Watch more free documentaries

The Afghan Girl, as she was when Steve finally found her again, 17 years later:

You are Not Alone.

Green Your Parents

Green My Parents is a partnership between a bunch of amazing organizations that have youth programs, including the Alliance for Climate Education, Kiva.org, and Kids vs. Global Warming.

The goal is for each young person to take the steps outlined in the handbook (and the below video) to green their parents. Then tell their friends about it, so that their friends will green their parents, and so on.

The tagline? How youth can earn over $100 at home, recruit 100 friends to do the same, and save $100 million by Earth Day 2011.

Check out "Green My Parents" superstar Jordan Howard's presentation, here:



You might recognize Jordan - I've blogged about her before, regarding Environmental Charter HS.

Get involved via Facebook, too.

Fox News: Young People Shouldn't Vote.

Fox News' John Stossel had HeadCount's Co-founder and Executive Director, Andy Bernstein on his program last night. Check it out:



Sweet response to this program by Kate Andriulli of Campus Progress.

Back in 2008 Stossel had Andy and HeadCount's other Co-founder, Marc Brownstein, on his program. In this segment Stossel also argued that some people should not vote. Check it out here:



The Bus Project did a tongue-in-cheek reply to that 2008 segment:



Do you feel like giving Stossel a piece of your mind? :) You can. VOTE on Nov 2. Need to register? Go here. Do it quickly - some states require you to postmark your completed voter registration form by tomorrow, Oct 2, if you want to be eligible to vote on Nov 2.