Video: We Are Ellis Island

Behind the support of the Arrow clothing line, Save Ellis Island has created nation-wide buzz and attention to the hugely important role Ellis Island had in the flux of immigrants into the United States with their We Are Ellis Island campaign. Celebrities and average Americans who's lives and families began at Ellis Island have taken part in the campaign.

On DoGooderTV, Save Ellis Island has put together a compilation of their PSA's.

Go here to view the We Are Ellis Island channel on DoGooderTV, and go here to get one of those "We Are Ellis Island" t-shirts.

Crossing Cultures, Crossing Boundaries - Pangea Day

On May 10th, at 18:00GMT, a live broadcast of 24 short films from all over the country will be broadcast in public areas and online in an powerful move to bridge cultures from over the world using media.

Pangea Day "is a global event bringing the world together through film... In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that – to help people see themselves in others – through the power of film.

For more information about Pangea Day, as well as a list of venues, visit www.pangeaday.org. To learn about the idea's history, check out the most recent post on Pogue's Post in the NYTimes.

This event will be culturally historic- and a example of the power of change new media can have on all people, not matter where in the world you are watching television, or browsing YouTube channels.

Dr. Susan Raymond: 'For What?'

Dr. Susan Raymond’s challenge to the attendees at Changing Our World's fifth annual Summit onPhilanthropy in New York to question the effectiveness of both their organizations and the goals of the sector. More than 300 philanthropists, nonprofit executives, and foundation managers filled the Yale Club on March 11th, joining in a spirited day-long discussion on trends in giving and social ventures.

Video: National Autism Month

Like two lines on a path destined to cross, National Autism Month (April) arrives just as the story of Michelle Cedillo reaches national attention.

Michelle's parents as well several thousand other parents are confronting the medical establishment in court in an argument that childhood vaccines are catalyzing, if not causing, the development of autism in children. Doctors say the development is coincidence, that is, since most children receive their vaccines during the ages autism is known to develop; parents on the other hand don't believe its merely coincidence, but that it may be the cause.

Read more about Michelle Cedillo here.

Also, as part of their Adopt the Red Flags of Autism campaign, The Early Intervention Network (www.actearly.org) has put together a PSA that is now being featured at DoGooder TV. See it here:

Video: Too Cute

The ASPCA recently help their 2008 Canine Talent Show in the spirit of "I Love NYC Pets Month". The dogs were judged on creativity and attentiveness to the handler, however, being cute totally helped.

Read more about this event on the ASPCA blog.

Video: Starbucks to Honor Ethiopian Coffee Farmers

With the help of various supporters, Oxfam America and Starbucks have ended their long battle to allow  Ethiopia's coffee sector to brand their own coffees, which would in turn give Ethiopians more rights to control their brands.

"Starbucks is one of the first in the coffee industry committing to sign a licensing agreement with Ethiopia. With these agreements in place, Ethiopians could build the value of of their coffees and capture a greater share of the retail price for their farmers." - Oxfam America

The video below features a 'thank you' from Oxfam America President Raymond C. Offenheiser as well as an Ethiopian coffee producer, bringing home the point of this great new opportunity as well as the benefits it provides to both the producer and consumer.

Podcast: Can we support a candidate?

It's undeniable that this election year is perhaps the most attention grabbing and exciting one in years. This same excitement has increased passions in people and organizations towards one candidate, however, as a nonprofit, is there a liability in publicly endorsing someone?

It makes sense that a nonprofit may want to endorse a candidate who has made it a point to support a nonprofit's cause- but are there limitations? Have guidelines been setup?

Tim Mooney at Nonprofit Law Podcast tackles this in his most recent podcast title, "Can a candidate use our space?"

Listen to it here.

Video: Innovate or Die

Brought to us by Google and Specialized Bicycle Components, the Innovate or Die Pedal-Powered Machine Contest was a contest designed to inspire innovation and environmental change by highlighting the benefits of cycling.

The Challenge: Invent and put together machines that transform zero-emission human energy into new and useful purposes.

The Result: Success- hundred folds. Entries from all around presented their own ideas, the winner however, took a Playpumps-esque idea and made it mobile. The Aquaduct:  Mobile Filtration Vehicle, a bicycle that not only provides an environmentally friendly transportation, but also provides a means to create and move clean filtered water long-distances. It was designed to target problems in areas where clean water is not readily available, and as a result, leads to millions of deaths every year.

I present to you the winner the Innovate or Die contest, The Aquaduct:  Mobile Filtration Vehicle...

Be sure to also check out the other entries on their YouTube page here.

Sources:

• Google Blog
• Innovate or Die Contest Page

Video/Podcast: Forces for Good at Google

On YouTube, Google reaches out to viewers by broadcasting videos of influential individuals coming by to discuss topics of their respective fields.

Within the channel, located at www.youtube.com/atgoogletalks, you will find videos with presidential candidates who have visited Google, powerful and influential women, well-known filmmakers, and esteemed authors.

Recently, Heather McLeod Grant, the co-author of Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits, (voted a top 10 book for 2007 by The Economist), dropped by to discuss what makes a non-profit great. (Also see onPhilanthropy's recent article by Julie Fagnani on Google, "Google: Better at Doing Good?")

To find out more about Heather's book, or hear more about her views on measuring non-profit impact, check out Sean Stannard-Stockton's (onPhilanthropy guest writer) podcast at his website Tactical Philanthropy. There, he interviews Heather McLeod Grant and Leslie Crutchfield about their book, but also on several topics including the potential Web 2.0 brings non-profits.

Click here to listen. (A transcript of the interview is available here.)

Video: An African Music Movement

Ever wondered what's the most viewed video on YouTube's non-profit channel? Well I did today, and was surprised to see that the video was not from a well-known non-profit organization, nor some high tech video put together for an avant-garde/edgy low-end non-profit. It was, in fact, a low budget music video posted by Seka Moke Foundation, a non-profit who's mission is to bring the upbeat musical rhythms of wenge musica, a form of African music, to North America.

Their videos, as the website describes, is intended to allow visitors to experience the culture and the elements that keep Africans going, despite their numerous adversities.

View the #1 most viewed video on YouTube's Non-Profit channel below.

Be sure to also view their channel for other videos, as well as their website, www.sekamoke.org.