Blogs

Sixth TEDxYSE Speaker Announced!

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Posted Sep 30, 2010 3:48pm
cmblog

Yesterday, TEDxYSE announced their sixth speaker: Seaon Shin!

Seaon Shin, 19, is the founder of Global Youth Empowering Movement, an open-source online database platform, where youth can connect to like-minded peers, adults, experts, NGOs and corporations in their field of interest. As Korean-American living in Dubai, Seaon discovered that changemaking gave her a sense of belonging and self-purpose. Seaon realized many teens wanted to engage in social change but didn’t know how, so she created an online support network for youth to collaborate and learn from each other. She is also working on a local level, organizing a youth center in Dubai to foster community and mobilize youth to learn, investigate, and act on social problems.

Youth have so much potential to do amazing things. All they need is to be connected together to make a positive impact.

Click here to learn more about Seaon’s work.

Hear Seaon speak at TEDxYSE on November 13! Register now!

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Toward a New Normal - Vision for Development Leaders

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Posted Sep 29, 2010 3:43pm
cmblog

Last week I was in NY for the Clinton Global Initiative and this week I am in Washington, DC attending the Business Civic Leadership Center Global Corporate Citizenship Conference. There have been many conversations about global development – from the status of the MDGs to the role of capitalism. I want to share my thoughts in an attempt to focus on the positive and the opportunities at hand.

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The 2010 Clinton Global Initiative through the eyes of Changemakers

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Posted Sep 29, 2010 3:40pm
cmblog

Changemakers were out in force at last week's 2010 Clinton Global Initiative. Ashoka's Changemakers staff, media, and -- most importantly -- social innovators joined hearts and minds in partnership for our collective future. Making commitments to social causes including economic empowerment, empowering women, fighting malnutrition, and building stronger communities; business leaders and social activists are achieving real results.

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Team Iraq: Using Football to Move Beyond Conflict

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Posted Sep 28, 2010 3:38pm
cmblog

 

“When hope is lost, people turn to violence and they think they can create change through violent means,” said Yamam Nabeel, the founder of Football for Unity.  “Team Iraq is able to create high profile football events to change mindsets in a positive way, and get young people to create change.  Democracy is a culture that needs to be learned, and we want to use football as peaceful cultural transition to democracy and the formation of a civil society.  Football provides a platform without labels, where all politics and religions can come together in a common place. “

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What Is a Social Entrepreneur, Really?

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Posted Sep 26, 2010 3:32pm
cmblog

In the middle of the night, I wake up thinking about this question. 

Why is this on my mind, you might be wondering? As a recently baptized Ashoka Fellow, I find myself spending a lot of time lately explaining the meaning of the phrase social entrepreneurship. The sometimes confused looks on the faces of people listening tell me that they don't always get it. 

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Changewatch: News, Notes, and Video from the Clinton Global Initiative; plus the Social Good and UN Summits

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Posted Sep 24, 2010 3:24pm
cmblog

Today, our Changewatchers are buzzing about ...

[What a fast-paced, hectic, moving, inspiring, and (hopefully) historic week it was!]

A video archive of this year's Clinton Global Initiative Sessions.

A multimedia-rich recap of the Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit.

  • Mashable & 92Y Social Good Summit Recap & Complete Videos [Mashable]

News and media from this week's United Nations Summit.

  • We Can End Poverty, Millennium Development Goals, 2015 [UN]
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Interview with Mr. Aromar Revi: Sustainable Design Visionary

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Posted Sep 24, 2010 2:53pm
cmblog

Earlier this week I had an opportunity to speak with one of Ashoka’s early fellows from India – Mr. Aromar Revi. Mr. Revi has spent over 20 years working on settlement rights, public housing, and institutional reform around the globe. Currently, he is leading the process to build a national university focused on how to transform the country (among other things).

We had an interesting discussion about property rights in India – below is the summary of our conversation:

Why are property rights and land reform important issues?

India is a country of over 1.25 billion people, and ran out of agrarian land 50 years ago. Over 50% of the population resides in urban areas, where there is little to no access to water. In rural areas, the most valuable asset is access to land. Unfortunately, while laws exist to manage these issues, they are outdated and do not speak to the pressures of modern life.

… almost 60 % of the population lives in informal settlements … this is not a marginal question, it’s a CENTRAL question.

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Lua Nova: Rehabilitating Addicts and Empowering Women as Contractors

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Posted Sep 24, 2010 2:51pm
cmblog

 

Abandoned by her mother at the age of ten, Sandra’s aunts forced her and her two brothers to beg on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil.  When Sandra gave birth to her first child at the age of 20, her aunts would beat her because they had to spend the begging money on the baby. Nine months later, Sandra gave birth to a second child, and starting smoking marijuana to escape the problems at home. 

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