Using Media to Uplift and Inspire: When to Tune In, Not Out.

Dec. 20, 2011 True confessions, it’s been a heckuva challenging year, and it got me thinking about what different people do to bootstrap themselves out of adversity in its many forms whether it’s “first world” stress, third world crisis, health, home or holiday blues. I turned to our SY advisory board child development specialist, Dr. Robyn Silverman and pointed the ‘whatcha … [Read more...]

Meetup.com: Bringing Communities Together Post 9-11

9-11-11 On this decade anniversary of a horrific worldchanging event, with media spinning stories of heroes, hearts and homelands forever impacted, I’m turning to the positive births of OFFLINE community building that arose after 9/11.Scott Heiferman, Founder and CEO of Meetup.com, the world's largest network of local groups, inspires us all with spirited zeal of how his … [Read more...]

Blog Action Day: “What’s In It For Me?” Charity Water Meets AOC3

October 15, 2010 Last year on Blog Action Day more than 13,000 bloggers participated from 152 countries to shine the spotlight on climate change. Shaping Youth's post was all about inspiring kids as stewards of the planet with Cool the Earth and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots school programs. This year, the topic is WATER, so I figured, ‘what a cinch, I can write about … [Read more...]

Toxic Teen Messaging In A K-Mart/Alloy Episodic: The First Day

September 1, 2010 It’s the first of September, as the first day of school angst bubbles up throughout the nation on either side of this ‘premiere’ week. (many have started school already, some are about to) A welcoming 'first day?' Hardly. This is classic online product placement meets mean girl drek in "First Day: The Series," an abysmal branding collaboration between  … [Read more...]

Age of Conversation & Kids: Digital Citizens v Snark Tanks

May 26, 2010 When I mention social media being part of kids’ identity, parents often cringe and squinch up their faces like I’ve force fed them BeanBoozled Jelly Bellies in pickle and ‘rotten egg’ flavor. Some parents perceive social media to be one behemoth danger zone of Facebook/Formspring/Game Chat/Text-fest "words that wound"---injuring kids like drive-by hit-n-run … [Read more...]