Black Teens, Red Pumps, & SexTech 2011

Feb. 7, 2011 We interrupt this series on the Power of Play to bring you an important public service announcement on behalf of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day today. (Yep, just think of this as Superbowl Ads for nonprofits) “Black teens (ages 13–19) represent only 15% of all teenagers in the U.S. but are 68% of new AIDS cases among teens,” reports The Red Pump Project … [Read more...]

AHA & Nintendo: Tag-Teaming Innovation To Get Kids Moving (Pt2)

Feb 3, 2011 When I was invited to attend the “Power of Active Play” summit hosted by the American Heart Association and Nintendo, my synapses were firing in Howard Rheingold mode, wondering if this convening was going to be a glorified commercial for the gamification of life. I may not be wearing the same rose-colored shades of Jane McGonigal’s Wall Street Journal article … [Read more...]

First Person Storytelling: The Real Deal Impacts Youth

Feb. 15, 2014 Update: Don't miss Frank Baker's fabulous article  about inspiring photojournalist Gordon Parks; perfect storytelling for Black History Month and year round engagement. Jan. 20, 2014 Update: I can't think of a better way to honor Martin Luther King Day than to support change and action firsthand...Honored to attend the first ever StartUpWeekend Oakland of … [Read more...]

Letting Go of 2010: Thoughts On Media Messaging

Jan 1, 2011 No secret I’ve been challenged in 2010 on various fronts, and I’m trying really hard to ‘let go’ of some of the frustrations knowing there’s no quick fix for some of the blindingly surreal influences and disruptive crapola eroding kids’ psyches. I'm 'letting go,' to try to see past  Nicki Minaj-style hyper-sexualized cues to instead celebrate the pendulum swing … [Read more...]

Rudolph: A Parable On Bullying, Peer Pressure & Soaring High

Dec. 17, 2010 Media madness has hit some new toxic tipping points lately, from sexualized cues for tweens to slink around like a ho-ho-ho (great awareness-raising via this new PTC study) to teen pot use rising after years of decline, and of course the influence of Miley's latest messes surging sales of ‘salvia’ ... Sooooo today I’m (re)running Lessons From Rudolph about … [Read more...]