Photo courtesy of theunquietlibrarian
In this special series, we’ll take a brief look at various different fearless inspirations from the past week or so. Whether it’s a fearless young change maker who is taking risks, a new publication that expresses bold and innovative ideas, or an organization that is promoting change and that is not afraid to fail forward—we want to shine a spotlight on them and their work in the hope that it will spark a new movement to Be Fearless.
As Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation wrote in a recent thought piece, “The old way of doing things is simply no longer effective in this new world. It’s time for us all to take risks on new ideas, approaches, and initiatives. It’s time for us to be bold, to act with urgency, and to resist the tendency to let caution be our guide. It’s time for us to Be Fearless.” Will you join us?
Young Minds
Congratulations to 10 winners of the “Zeitgeist Young Minds” competition. Hosted by Google, judges review and select “pioneers, innovators, change-makers and leaders of tomorrow aged 18 – 24 across Europe, Middle East and Africa to take their place alongside the greatest innovators of today at Google Zeitgeist 2012.” These Social Citizens are making a difference in their communities and we applaud their big ideas mentality on issues concerning everything from poverty and education to health care and the Internet.
Winners will have the chance to attend Zeitgeist Europe 2012 which brings together some of the world’s more well-known and renowned innovators together to “discuss topics that influence the global economy, creativity, digital technology, leadership and human rights.” Past speakers have included Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts, Professor Stephen Hawking and inventor of the Internet, Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
Meet one of the entrants, Kevin Oyugi through his video entry. He is a 23 year old from Kenya who advocates for teens with HIV/AIDS through his writing, social media tools and on the ground activism.
Is Your Organization Issue Adverse? Why?
Excerpt from Geoff Livingston’s blog: We love our nonprofits, small and larger, new to social media, and risk takers alike. But the biggest barrier to success we see with social fundraising is an inability to take a chance and try something new.
Instead, most of the more staid community members prefer to sit back and wait until it seems safe to engage in a new form of outreach. They’d rather be a late adopter than take the risk of a public failure, even if it be in a “green field” like Pinterest.
What Happens?
We are left with strangely polarized groups in the sector. The digital haves and have nots, with large NPOs trying to buy their way in after the fact.
By waiting, they enter when their participation means the least. Consider how large NPOs like the Humane Society, American Red Cross, and LIVESTRONG who got involved with social media early. They have achieved and continue to sustain leadership positions than their more risk-adverse sister nonprofits, which simply cannot replicate even with massive budgets.
Like the old cliche says, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” But more importantly, innovating on the way we interact with each other, donors, volunteers, and the general public can only make for a better social sector. I can’t understand the fear when we’re supposed to be creating change.