The Surui people in the Amazon rainforest are using Android phones with Open Data Kit to monitor carbon stocks in their forest to obtain credits from the carbon marketplace. Google Earth Engine will help monitor deforestation.
Google Earth Engine brings together the world’s satellite imagery — trillions of scientific measurements dating back more than 25 years — and makes it available online with tools for scientists, independent researchers, and nations to mine this massive warehouse of data to detect changes, map trends and quantify differences on the earth’s surface.
Ayah Bdeir: Building blocks that blink, beep and teach
Imagine a set of electronics as easy to play with as Legos. TED Fellow Ayah Bdeir introduces littleBits, a set of simple, interchangeable blocks that make programming as simple and important a part of creativity as snapping blocks together.
Ayah Bdeir is an engineer and artist, and is the founder of littleBits and karaj, an experimental art, architecture and technology lab in Beirut.
JR: One year of turning the world inside out
Street artist JR made a wish in 2011: Join me in a worldwide photo project to show the world its true face. Now, a year after his TED Prize wish, he shows how giant posters of human faces, pasted in public, are connecting communities, making change, and turning the world inside out. You can join in at insideoutproject.net
MEXICO CITY BECOMES A CANVAS
Gazing out at the sweep of metropolis that is modern Mexico City, you’ll have to catch your breath once in a while. A culture known for it’s historic public murals of the 20th Century, it appears a resurgence is at hand, but this time the muralists are international Street Artists, and the scale is soaring.
ESCIF Mexico City: High Art in Thin Air #streetart @bkstreetart
(photo © courtesy of All City Canvas)
Saturday, May 12, FREE Brooklyn Food Conference
Want to incorporate the food system into your curriculum? Want to engage the future champions of food justice in your classroom and nurture their passion for change? Want to meet other activists who want to see system change? Come to the Saturday, May 12, free 2012 Brooklyn Food Conference and enjoy a full day packed with over 170 workshops, panel discussions, cooking demos, films, speakers, kids activities, garden tours and a huge expo of non-profit organizations and food businesses! It’s free, but pre-register to avoid a wait at the door and buy a delicious, sustainable lunch on line—5,000 people are expected! Go to http://bkfoodconference.org/
CALLING ALL YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
2012 PERENNIAL YOUTH BUSINESS COMPETITION
Are you a Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia resident enrolled in high school or a high school equivalency program? Do you have a fantastic idea for a business that you’d love to start if you could get some seed money? Here’s a chance to put your ideas into action! Perennial, a Washington, DC based family of businesses focused on government relations, law, and sports and entertainment, is giving 10 emerging entrepreneurs $1,000 each in seed money to start or expand their own businesses. Applications are due by 11:59 pm, May 11, 2012. In late May, twenty applicants will be invited to participate in the competition semifinals: a 6 minute “elevator pitch” to a panel of judges representing a wide range of industries. In early June, 2012, ten winners will then be selected based on their elevator pitch scores and the strength of their total applications. Winners, or winning teams will be awarded $1,000 each at a banquet in late June, 2012. Teams are encouraged to apply, and businesses of all types are welcome! Click the link below to start your application today!! http://www.perennialsg.com/youthcompetition/
Mark Zuckerberg’s Hoodie is ‘a Mark of Immaturity’ BY LAURA JANVIER
On Monday the Facebook CEO was criticized for wearing a hoodie to meet with Wall Street investors. WMDN reports the big question for investors is whether or not to trust the guy in the hoodie.
“You’re buying him, you’re buying his zany, wild, brilliant creativity and if that comes with a hoodie instead of a pinstriped suit, that’s just fine by me.”
CNN’s Doug Gross disagrees with Pachter and thinks the trademark signature hoodie says nothing about Zuckerberg’s ability to run Facebook.
“..Pachter’s take reinforces the inevitable culture clash that occurs when a 27-year-old titan of California’s freewheeling startup culture meets the buttoned-down world of Wall Street. … [I]n Facebook’s early days, he once showed up for a meeting with a venture-capital firm in his pajamas.”
The Next Web says the only person showing disrespect here is Pachter, saying he apparently has no idea what he is talking about.
“If Zuckerberg started wearing a suit … it could be misconstrued as the company ‘growing up,’ which could scare employees who currently like the way that it runs. And, since Facebook is doing quite well, in case you hadn’t heard, that’s pretty important.”
http://www.newsy.com/videos/analyst-mark-zuckerberg-s-hoodie-is-a-mark-of-immaturity/
AFTER TRAYVON: Black Boys Speak
An inspiring and emotionally gripping public conversation amongst 9 Black and Latino boys ages 10-17. It was shot in Brooklyn, New York in early April 2012 at the famous House of the Lord Church just days before George Zimmerman was arrested for the fatal shooting. “After Trayvon” brings together these young boys to discuss Trayvon Martin, their own feelings of vulnerability and fear, education, leadership, violence in all forms, history as they understand it, and how they view America, their America. Kevin Powell serves as moderator for the conversation. Directed and produced by Cynical Smith.
Word Rapport: The Classroom and the Cell, Marc Lamont Hill with Monifa Bandele
Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
The Schomburg proudly welcomes back Marc Lamont Hill, who joins us to discuss topics that range from race and politics to love and hip hop, as explored in his latest book – which was co-authored with internationally respected activist Mumia Abu-Jamal - The Classroom and the Cell: Conversations on Black Life in America. Monifa Akinwole-Bandele, a highly respected human rights activist and community engagement consultant, will guide the discussion, focusing on the dynamic conversations that define the book and on the challenges that presented themselves in the creation of this historic collaboration. Presented in collaboration with AKILA WORKSONGS.
FREE! Registration recommended: www.schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com or call (212) 491-2040. After all Word Rapport programs, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the participants’ books and have them signed.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
(Langston Hughes Auditorium)
515 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, NY 10037
Directions: www.nypl.org/locations/tid/64/directions
Nominate a Hidden Baby Hero!
The First Hidden Baby Heroes Awards
Do you know someone who has worked tirelessly on behalf of babies?
A hard-working volunteer, a nurturing foster parent, or a devoted parent?
Three Hidden Baby Heroes will be announced on
Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012
Awards & Recognition
Hidden Baby Heroes will each receive a Hidden Baby handbag
and a basket of Dean & Deluca delicacies.
The Hidden Baby Heroes and their inspiring stories will be featured on
Hidden Baby’s website (www.hiddenbaby.com) and Facebook page
Two Ways to Enter
Nomination Deadline: May 12, 2012
Post a brief description about why your nominee is a Hidden Baby Hero
on the Hidden Baby Facebook page, and ‘Like’ our page…
or
Send an email with your nominee’s name and a brief description to:contact@hiddenbaby.com.
(Please list ‘HB Heroes’ in the subject line of your email)
The Prison Phone Justice Campaign - A national campaign challenging prison phone kickbacks and the U.S. Prison Telephone Industry
The Center for Media Justice is excited to bring you: “Criminal Charges: Fighting For Your Right to Call Home” a toolkit designed for prisoners, families, activists and organizers to address the high cost of prison phone calls. This toolkit is part of the Prison Phone Justice Campaign, a national campaign led by Working Narratives, the Center for Media Justice and Prison Legal News.
Downloading this toolkit is the first step in joining our national effort to address the high cost of prison phone calls. In the toolkit you’ll find:
- Posters for Community Outreach
- Tools to host a community event
- Guide to hosting a story circle
- Sample invitation for prisoners to write letters
- Fliers for media producers and artists
- Talking Points
- Policy Brief on Prison Phone rates and regulation
- Petition to the Federal Communications Commission
Whether you’re new to this issue or are experts, this toolkit lays out easy actions that your organization can take that will have a meaningful impact to the Prison Phone Justice Campaign. Download the toolkit today and encourage other organizations in your area to do so as well.
Q: Where can you meet, network and hear from changemakers, social entrepreneurs and people committed to funding and supporting social enterprise?
A: The New Jersey Social Entrepreneurship Summit - May 24th, 2012 at Rutgers University, Livingston Student Center
84 Joyce Kilmer Avenue
Piscataway,NJ 08854
- Inform the social sector and business community of the benefits and need for entrepreneurial approaches to addressing social and environmental issues.
- Equip participants with tools to take steps toward building a social enterprise or social business
- Facilitate networking with potential investors, experienced business leaders and individual entrepreneurs who are interested engaging in social venture initiatives in NJ
Do you think you could use a little more PAID in your True.Paid.Good. reality? If so then you will not want to miss this month’s Anointed Expert Series on Pricing To Win with Expert CFO Consultant and Entrepreneurial CPA John D’Aquila. This month, you will also definitely want to check out our True.Paid.Good. Spotlight on Academy Alumni Rockstar Ghana Imani Hylton. And finally if May finds you feeling a bit adventurous - you can book your ticket now and register HERE to join us in the Rockies, June 8-10th, for three days of incomparable True.Paid.Good-ness! truepaidgood.movethecrowd.me
Do you know a great dad who resides in the five boroughs of New York City? Do you know a dad who has overcome the odds to play a positive and powerful role in the life of his child and his community? Do you know a dad who proves the point that NYC Dads Matter? If so, please nominate him today! A selection committee comprised of community and government leaders will review the nominations and select 10 honorees to receive their awards in June. Nomination Forms and Essays are due May 4, 2012.
The Mayor’s Citywide Fatherhood Initiative champions the message that dads matter. This June the Mayor’s Citywide Fatherhood Initiative will present the 2nd Annual NYC Dads Matter Awards. The event will promote the importance of responsible fatherhood by recognizing 10 fathers from across the City who overcame challenges to become positive and consistent forces in the lives of their children. The event will also celebrate the two year anniversary of the launch of the Mayor’s Fatherhood Initiative, highlight the City’s progress in making our agencies “father friendly” and help create memorable moments between fathers and their children. This will be one of many opportunities to show that, despite the crisis of father absence facing communities across the country, NYC Dads show up every day and are present and active in the lives of their child and communities. http://www.nyc.gov/html/hra/nycdads/html/home/home.shtml
Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference: Seeking Teenpreneurs
May 23-26, 2012 @ Hilton Chicago, IL
Are great entrepreneurs born or are they made? Either way, it’s never too early to ramp up those sales skills. That’s why Black Enterprise welcomes young business talent for our best ever Teenpreneur program (ages 13–17). We’re focused on enhancing your child’s business savvy, giving him or her an opportunity to learn the ABCs of entrepreneurship and apply those techniques to craft a viable business plan. With veteran entrepreneurs to serve as instructors, we guarantee an enriching, motivating experience that will help transform young minds into major players. Space is limited so register now! It’s sure to be a worthy investment in your teen’s future!
Teenpreneurs will …
- Explore options for solving a challenge within a company
- Understand investing and saving
- Develop leadership skills
- Learn from successful educators, entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals
- Network with their peers from across the country
- Collaborate on projects and learn to be team players
- Develop and practice presentation skills
Two levels of instruction:
- Junior Executives (Ages 16–17)
- Future CEOs (13–15)
Please note: To participate in the Teenpreneur Conference, the teen must accompany an adult who is registered for the Entrepreneurs Conference. Because of classroom size, group registration is limited.
The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo attracts more than 1,500 attendees annually.
