Folks, lots of nonprofits really have their boots on the ground doing good work, but my team and I wanted to highlight a few that have been on our radar lately.
These nonprofits have been disruptors and changemakers, and deserve some recognition.
1. Blue Star Families – Blue Star Families was formed by a group of military spouses to create a platform where military family members can join with civilian communities and leaders to address the challenges of military life. Blue Star Families includes active duty, National Guard, Reserve, wounded, transitioning service members, and their families from all ranks and services, as well as veterans and civilians who strongly support their work.
They're currently asking that folks fill out their 2015 Blue Star Family Military Lifestyle Survey. This survey's big for policymakers to help decide what is hype vs. what needs funding. Your voice is really important.
2. Donors Choose – Donors Choose is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from all over America post classroom project requests on the site, and you can give any amount to the project that most inspires you.
Public teachers are a great case, doing mission critical work for little recognition and less pay. Once in a while they find students they prize, who show real promise, and that can be rewarding. Otherwise, it can be a tough life, worse when you feel the need to pay out-of-pocket for needed supplies, like pens and paper, with low pay. Please help out if you're able.
3. Voto Latino – Voto Latino's a nonpartisan org that empowers Latino Millennials to claim a better future for themselves and their community. United by the belief that Latino issues are American issues and American issues are Latino issues, Voto Latino's dedicated to bringing new and diverse voices to develop leaders by engaging youth, media, technology, and celebrities to promote positive change.
4. Columbia Journalism Review – CJR is news regarding the evolution of news.
As a culture, we need to ensure that journalism fulfills its role as the heart of democracy and its mission of seeking truth and building trust. The press should be the immune system of democracy. Turns out that what we have now are a lot of ethics codes and policies, but very little accountability. This is something I often discuss when I talk about trustworthy journalism in a fact-checking-free world.
5. Organic Health Response – The Organic Health Response seeks to activate social solidarity, information technology, and environmental sustainability on Mfangano Island, in Kenya, to turn the tide against the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. They support the people of Lake Victoria in cultivating a resilient, healthy, locally-directed future. They're also proof that tech can turn a community into a global village.
Folks, what nonprofits in your communities are having a real impact? Thanks!