2015 In Review: One Cause At A Time

Examining 2015 in review, Chicago can easily make one very important claim:

2015 was the year in which Chicago residents actively built and strengthened their communities one cause at a time, and technology played a greater role in making that happen.

From a highly contested mayoral race to protests around police conduct, from library hotspots to startups, there have been a variety of ways in which residents, nonprofits, and social enterprises have enabled social change and social benefit in Chicago. In fact, many cultural aspects within and outside of Chicago have reinforced the idea that advocating for communities goes beyond the clever social media graphic, and that technology can drive greater opportunities for social change.

Thankfully, this blog has tried to cover a wide range of activities….and we’re taking the opportunity to provide a glimpse of 2015 in review for this blog. So for each month, we’ve quoted and linked to one blog post which we feel represents some greater insight into community engagement and efforts in social change in Chicago over the past year. (We’ve also selected some key insights into working for nonprofit/social enterprise on various levels

So let’s dive into 2015 in review for Chicago Now’s One Cause At A Time:

January – Many people involved in nonprofit careers (whether transitioning into or out of the field) find it hard to survive in our current economy. Many are taking “side gigs” or smaller jobs to either bring in extra cash or – perhaps – spin their efforts off into a new career.

February –  So am I glad I served as election judge? Yes: it may be a long day, and there’s a rush of activity towards the end, but I’m also proud that I helped strengthen my community’s voice.

March – Although both candidates made an effort to address the issue, perhaps now is a good opportunity to discuss the “digital divide” – and “digital excellence” – as they impact the city.

April – Nonprofits, social ventures, and other organizations work to make a positive impact – now, there is the opportunity for individuals to learn how to make a positive impact.

May –  As a nonprofit communications professional, I think the 2008 – 2012 series has a strong sense of social justice, beginning with its opening narration (Note: the show in question returns to Ion Television – digital channel 38.1 – on January 3rd)

June – Knowing what I’m good at helps in the short term, but those areas of improvement….will keep me going for a lifetime.

July – Not only was I a frequent participant of the Library’s summer reading club, but I eagerly awaited the summer movie series….if only to get a yearly view of George Pal’s War of The Worlds

August –  Recently, I participated in Chicago Cares Serve-A-Thon 2015, and although I wrote about the experience, I don’t think my prose did the event justice.

September – But my main purpose is to congratulate you on being named “America’s Social Justice Warrior” by Mashable – the tech site that reflects America’s taste in potatoes

October – In our current media culture – and especially in Chicago – we’re rather indifferent to the power of blogging, and that needs to change. Immediately

November –  “If you’re going through hell, keep going”

December – Too often, the idea of “crowdsourcing support” seems counter to the idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps”, or more towards “cyberbegging” than building support.

In fact, one of the things you’ll be seeing over the next few weeks are some changes in the blog – not a shift in focus as much as changes in layout. Many of our subpages and features will be better organized. We’ll be sure to post on a more consistent basis.

But one thing will never change: we’ll still cover aspects of nonprofit, social enterprise, and community organization activity in Chicago. After all, looking at 2015 in review, it’s safe to say – we’ve found our niche and hit our stride.
Is there anything we’ve left out, or things we should cover in 2016? Please let us know your thoughts either via thee comments section below or our Facebook page. (Both blog and Facebook comments are moderated). You can receive updates via e-mail (instructions below), or contact me personally via the About page.

And as always, thanks for reading!

Type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.

 

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Happy Holidays From One Cause At A Time

Just a short note to wish all of our readers – and their families – happy holidays, and  wishing the best for 2016.

Book Review: JAB, JAB, JAB, RIGHT HOOK

To be honest, the past few weeks have been rough for me personally – family health issues have kept me busy, resulting in sudden changes in my schedule that have made it . At one point, I was fortunate enough to carve out some time to “sharpen the saw”, as it were, and keep up on my professional reading. Knowing how many Chicago-area nonprofits and social enterprises are relying more on social media as a communications channel, I thought that reading a book that was highly recommended to me – Gary Vaynerchuk’s Jab, Jab. Jab. Right Hook: How To Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World – might be a great diversion.

And after I finished reading, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook was a worthwhile read….but I have some ambivalence about fully recommending it.

On the plus side, Vaynerchuk’s book has some really strong ideas that any organization should adopt as part of their social media strategy: focusing on benefits rather than selling; telling a cohesive story; and understanding how placing strong content in the proper context can work wonders. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook‘s central metaphor – providing relevant content that meets an audience’s needs before going for an overt sell – seems a bit more belligerent than helpful. (It’s not just about promoting a product or service…it’s also about driving engagement with an audience, and finding those opportunities to build community). Perhaps my own bias is showing – I am so used to working in this field that many of these recommendations may be geared towards someone who is new to social media engagement, or who has not “seen and done it all”.

(In other words, I may not be the target audience – or in the right frame of mind – most receptive to Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook)

Although Vaynerchuk has many great “best practices” of consumer brands using social media, much of the book feels more hype-driven than practical. For many mission-driven organizations like nonprofits or social enterprises, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook‘s examples may seem out of reach, and the book’s tone may be a bit overwhelming to casual readers. (For some examples, you may want to check out Vaynerchuk’s YouTube channel). The book has some very strong recommendations, and provides insight into how to engage audiences in our current media climate….but much of Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook feels a bit too overenthusiastic, almost bludgeoning the reader into adopting every single recommendation as working policy.

Still, I am giving Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook a very qualified recommendation – it’s a great introductory book for nonprofits and social enterprises on how to approach social media strategy. However, checking Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook out of the Chicago Public Library is a good strategy to read the book….and you can decide later whether to add it to your bookshelf.  

Your thoughts? Leave them in the comments section below. We also welcome you to  join us on  Facebook. (Both blog and Facebook comments are moderated). You can receive updates via e-mail (instructions below), or contact me personally via the About page.

And as always, thanks for reading!

Type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.

 

Help Carole Brown Crowdsource Support

 Crowdsourcing, or solving a problem by engaging social networks, has become a critical factor in how nonprofits, social ventures, and other businesses handle larger, more complex issues. During the holiday season, with many people lacking resources (and more importantly, increasing cuts to critical community services), crowdsourcing support for emotional (and financial) needsmight be the last thing on anyone’s mind…but in one case, it means making a major impact during a time of loss.

Let me introduce you to my friend Carole Brown – she and I both volunteer for Chicago TARDIS. She’s an incredible person – one of the few people for whom I have unconditional positive regard. You may have seen her on ABC7 News discussing her father Carroll Brown, who was struck by a hit-and-run driver at Ainslie and Central on December 5th, and who passed away from his injuries early this past Sunday morning.

As an active fundraiser and advocate for cancer awareness, Carole knew how to engage her larger community. In this case, it was more than just asking for prayers and well-wishes – no one could identify the driver of the light-colored SUV which struck her father. However, Carole started reaching out to friends via Facebook, asking for information about the driver. (And asking people to boost the signal). Soon, her various networks began outreach on her behalf.

(I’m only writing about this now due to family health issues which kept me busy and away from the keyboard).

But given the sudden financial shock, Carole also has created a GoFundMe page to help cover medical & funeral expenses. She continues to update her friends and loved ones about the status via Facebook and Reddit.  As her efforts towards crowdsourcing support build towards critical mass, Carole Brown is providing that it can be done….and that she’s someone I’m proud to call friend.

This is an excellent reminder of the power of collaboration and community. In the professional realm, it is easy to see crowdsourcing as “just another tool”, focusing less on its practicality and more on ease of use as a buzzword. Crowdsourcing allows a wide variety of organizations and individuals to handle complicated issues, but also to build a stronger community of advocates and supporters. Cynicism during difficult times can be an easy posture to adopt, especially with the relatively slow build of social change. But tools that facilitate community building and drive positive impact can bring about the greatest change.

Too often, the idea of “crowdsourcing support” seems counter to the idea of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps”, or more towards “cyberbegging” than building support. But for many of us handling tough emotional issues such as the death of a loved one or (in my case) the care of an ailing family member, using crowdsourcing tools to help build small, supportive communities can provide some solace or comfort.

So the only thing I ask – please support Carole Brown during her rough time. If you have information on the December 5th accident, please reach out to the Chicago Police Department. If you have the ability, please consider donating to her Go Fund Me page. At the very least, please share this article via social media….think of it as my small contribution to helping crowdsource support.

Thoughts? Please start the conversation via our Facebook page or in the comments below. (Note: comments are moderated, and any trolls and/or spam will be removed without prejudice)  You can receive updates via e-mail (instructions below), or contact me personally via the About page.

And as always, thanks for reading!

Type your email address in the box and click the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time.