Daily Good: Media That Can Fuel Kids’ Souls: Bella & Tarra

Many of us have seen the classic Stuart Brown National Institute of Play viral video of the polar bear and sled dogs making the rounds many times over as the quintessential ‘odd couple’ that turns the predator/prey instinct on its ear… It’s worth using as a childhood ‘teaching moment’ about stereotypes, unexpected outcomes, friendship, … [Read more...]

Hand Up Congo: Send Your Old Cellphones, Honor Gregoire!

Children have a way of connecting with animals more than people sometimes, and it’s not often that I have an opportunity to help out both in one media-based nugget to unite the interconnectedness of all. Gregoire, known to many as the ‘star’ of the Animal Planet film, Jane Goodall’s Return to Gombe, and a National Geographic cover boy in 1995, was … [Read more...]

Using New Media to Help Kids Revive Their Cultural Heritage

Feliz Navidad! I know, I keep saying “mañana, mañana, amigos,” now that I'm back in the country. I’ll be writing only sporadically throughout the holiday season as kids need the gift of TIME and presence more than any wrappable item and I’d be blowing smoke if I didn’t walk the walk on the homefront. Be therefore advised that my … [Read more...]

The Girl Effect: A World Changing Media Message

Shaping Youth’s All Things Girl Series concludes with a two-parter on The Girl Effect, beginning with this powerful media using kinetic type in motion and piano to amplify and implore action with the same cut through the clutter poignancy that Dove’s Onslaught video used jarring visuals as a media montage. Can we still use simple WORDS and music to emote in a visual culture … [Read more...]

Motrin, Media Mamas and Twitter Tirades: Marcom Blunders Redux

“When will they ever learn? When will they eeeeeeeever learn?” With apologies to Pete Seeger this media mama is having a déjà  vu moment blinking back to the corporate missteps of Target underestimating the social media sphere and choosing not to acknowledge “alternative media’s” customer concerns. Same song, second verse, only … [Read more...]