causenation

You must take five minutes this weekend to watch this inspiring short film created by 16 year-old David Were about his realities living in the largest slum in Kenya.  I have been working on the Adobe Youth Voices program since its inception four years ago, and I am continuously inspired.

This and ten other youth produced films are being celebrated this week at Lincoln Center in New York City as part of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival.  Over a hundred additional films are uploaded at the Adobe Youth Voices Gallery.  In the past week the New York Times, Wall Street Journal,  WABC TV and other news outlets have shared these films with millions. 

Every few weeks I hope to highlight a few Adobe Youth Voices films in a causenation blog.  Adobe Youth Voices is the company’s global signature philanthropic program empowering youth to create media for social change.   (more…)

Scale is the “hot” word and theme that is permeating my work, research and interactions with my peers from the CSR and philanthropy arenas.  How do we scale proven nonprofit models?  How do we scale green business models and innovations?  How can companies take great philanthropic programs and scale them across the globe?  The list of questions goes on…
 
Recently, I joined 75 business leaders in Washington, DC as part of the Progressive Business Leaders Network to share our voice around key policy issues with select representatives from Congress and to hear from them about current “bills in the works.”  We tackled many issues, including sustainability, education, workforce issues, financial reform, among others in a jam packed schedule.  It turns out that no matter the conversation, we consistently returned to a discussion about the challenge of scale. (more…)

For the past four years I have been working with Adobe on its Adobe Youth Voices  program, a signature initiative that empowers young people from underserved communities around the globe to share their voices. I could not be more thrilled that the Black Eyed Peas have continued to add their voices to support and raise awareness of the power of young people.

I am completely inspired by these kids and it has become a personal passion of mine to expose people in my networks to their creations.

One young filmmaker I really admire is Maria Centeno from East Palo Alto, CA. Part hip-hop artist, part journalist, part poet, part graphic artist, her film What Has This World Come To? is a commentary about paying attention to what is going on around you, seen through Maria’s eyes. More than 25,000 people have viewed Maria’s work! Take a few minutes to watch it.  I hope you agree it is really powerful.  Pass it along to people you know. 

Last week participants and supporters from all over the world came together to celebrate a series of milestones – the first Adobe Youth Voices Global Summit followed by Adobe Youth Voices Live! (more…)

I can still see the proud faces of the Adobe Youth Voices teens as they watched their videos shown behind the Black Eyed Peas as they performed at the hottest new club in Los Angeles.

It was a night right out of the pages of People with music industry stars, paparazzi flashes, fabulous fashion, and the all-important colored carpet. Except this carpet was not red, but green, to signify the coming together of the Black Eyes Peas and the Adobe Foundation around their shared commitment to youth. (more…)