Turning Over a New Leaf: Relationships With Youth

Packed with fitness resolutions, habit-changing, self-care promises and assorted organizational ‘gotta-dos,’ January is always my reality jolt into what I’ve neglected far too long. Between my birthday, January 4th and the New Year, it’s a double-whammy packed with angst, reflection and introspection that usually leaves me in a heap of weepy … [Read more...]

One Week Countdown! Vote For Your Favorite Ashoka Youth Venture!

What better way to kick off the New Year than a quick click to put fresh faces of change to work on the world’s big issues? Ashoka’s Youth Venture, a global network of over 2,000 youth-led teams, picked 30 teen finalists (ages 13-18) to put their plans in motion and make change in the world. Now it’s YOUR turn to vote ‘em up and whittle ‘em … [Read more...]

Will 2009 Uncover Price Fixing On the Backs of Texting Teens?

I don’t know about you, but this week's NYTimes article "What Carriers Aren't Eager to Tell You About Texting" written by local SJSU professor Randall Stross has me wanting to text him an emoticon smooch for his ‘lift and reveal’ article peeling back the Wizard of Oz curtain on mobile carrier costs, profit margins and taking advantage of youth habits to … [Read more...]

Using Matching Funds Marketing Tactics: A Win-Win For Kids

Ok mathletes and marketing mavens...when does $125=$250? The economy’s in the tank, and I want every penny leveraged to the max, so it makes sense that I’d wait until the 'best year-end deal' to gift to my favorite orgs using matching funds before Jan. 1. Since I literally received an EASTER toy catalog promo the day after Christmas (ack!) I’ve decided … [Read more...]

Hey Kids: Received a Text from the Pope Yet?

It’s Christmas eve, a time to rejoice…“The Vatican is endorsing new technology that brings the book of daily prayers used by priests straight onto iPhones.” Hail Mary and Hallelujah, the outreach of new media knows no bounds. Actually, this is smarter than um, heck on the youth outreach front and lord knows our planet could use more kindness and … [Read more...]