Today’s broadcast highlighted a brief snapshot of each of the nonprofits who will share their stories on our social media panel discussion later this week: Who is the Face (and Voice) of Your Mission?
Thursday, May 16
5:30 – 8:00 pm
i.c.stars
415 N. Dearborn, Chicago
Listen to my hour podcast with some musical breaks on independent, nontraditional radio Party934.com. Hope it wets your appetite to join the conversation on Thursday. Click to sign up.
See you then!
Sometimes, I walk in the middle of the road so that nobody will say anything to me or nobody will try to grab me or something like that.
Taylor paints a vivid picture of her walk everyday to Our Lady of Tepeyac H.S. She is one of many voices in the Big Shoulders Fund short film, Invest in a Child.
The story begins from the perspective of Denise Spells, Principal of St. Ethelreda Elementary:
Everyday is a struggle…Children live lives that we never thought they would actually have to live. If you want to know where these kids come from, walk to the neighborhoods they have to go through. We need someone here to help us out, to keep these schools open. That’s the right thing to do.
Fr. Matt Eyerman, Pastor at St. Malachy Elementary School, gives an unwavering statement:
A vast majority of our families are either at risk or in poverty. People can give to lots of things in the city. And you can have your name on a plaque here. And have a chair named after you. But only with Big Shoulders can you invest in a child.
Other voices and other faces are woven into the narrative to reveal the real depth of the challenges faced by inner city Catholic schools, and to help people realize that they can work together to bring about real transformation.
Watch the 2-minute trailer[youtube=http://youtu.be/QHuZP2Sb_pA]
or the 8-minute short film [youtube=http://youtu.be/OS4k0FfjDJI]
On May 16, Juli Rossi from Big Shoulders Fund will tell us more about how they put a face and voice to their mission on our social media storytelling panel.
Thursday, May 16
5:30–8:00pm
i.c.stars
415 N Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60654
REGISTER TODAY and bring guests for free. See you Thursday!
It begins with… 
a visit to the Chicago AMA’s morning session that will reexamine how you can effectively tell your story to the right people in the right place at the right time. NPO Marketers, Is Your Message On-Target? brings together a panel of seasoned communicators in the nonprofit sector for a dialogue about how to hone in on a specific segment of your audience with a focused message and call-to-action. 8:15–10:00am / Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria 60607
…and ends with…
an evening conversation about applying what we know about targeted messaging to social media. Who is the Face (and Voice) of Your Mission? highlights how you can be strategic in converting your audience in the virtual space into real supporters who are actively engaged with your cause. 5:30–8:00pm / i.c.stars, 415 N. Dearborn 60654
What happens in between is a whole lot of writing, but I shouldn’t bore you with the details!
Yes, kids get arthritis too! Sonja had a rare blood disorder and was to receive surgery at age four. About four to five months prior, her family and doctors noticed that she did not move too well and her joints were stiff. They thought that it may have been from the blood disorder. But a month after surgery when the stiffness didn’t go away, she was diagnosed. It has affected all her joints. She has even struggled with rheumatic fever during all this.
“At school when we have fire drills it is hard to walk fast,” says Sonja. “I have a special stroller to help me walk. I take lots of medicine daily at school. I go to see a doctor every three months to help me and to see if my arthritis gets worse. I also have to go to an eye doctor. I don’t like having arthritis because it always hurts all my joints and affects how I am able to do stuff.”
Read Sonja’s full story and other stories of children as young as 16 months afflicted by juvenile arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation aims to put a face to the disease and get everyone connected to build a strong, active community–virtual and personal.
On May 16, participate in a dialog with our friends from the Arthritis Foundation about putting a face (and voice) to your mission. Register early and bring your friends at no charge.
Thursday, May 16
5:30–8:00pm
i.c.stars
415 N Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60654
In 2006, Brandies lost her job. With only three weeks of unemployment left and unable to find work, it was a stressful time for her. She had nowhere to turn and even considered going back to a telemarketing job she loathed. She was on her own and unable to rely on her family for support.
Then one day, Brandies happened to see a TV news story about i.c.stars. Even though she wasn’t a techy person, she was drawn to the leadership development component and knew she was smart enough to learn about technology. Within weeks she completed the i.c.stars interviewing process and began the program.
“My training through i.c.stars has changed my life in ways I never dreamed of,” declared Brandies. “With the leadership skills I acquired, I now can think past the day-to-day chore of working to make ends meet, and instead create opportunities for others and make the community a little better each day.”
Read the full story of how Brandies uses her i.c.starts training to create real impact in the lives of youth looking for the same opportunities.
Barkada Circle is very fortunate to have Brandies on our upcoming social media storytelling panel, Who is the Face (and Voice) of Your Mission? on May 16. She will be moderating the discussion that includes our friends from the Arthritis Foundation and Big Shoulders Fund.
Sign up today and join the conversation.