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IDEO.org x TEDx

Ideo.org exists “to bring human-centered design to the humans who need it most — those facing poverty every day. [They're] teaming up with nonprofits, social enterprises and foundations to innovate solutions to the world’s most dire poverty-related challenges. Imagine, a world without poverty."

Recently, these folks developed TEDx to Go, "an inconspicuous and durable carry-on suitcase, with all TEDx in a Box components housed securely inside," increasing the mobility of TEDx conferences, and bringing the capability to host them to areas with limited access to electricity.

I think it’s fantastic that IDEO.org is using their bright minds and cutting edge thoughts to tackle world problems, but I also think that there is a lot room to apply this approach towards social issues here in the states. What if we had similar bright minded, eclectic groups of people developing community centers that are actually embraced by communities or brainstorming solutions to everyday problems such as homelessness and various brands of abuse?

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Causes.com

Causes.com takes a crowdsourcing approach towards activism and fundraising. It allows users to promote causes and collectively donate to nonprofits, NGOs and activism projects. It works on a few levels.

1. There's an amazing sense of transparency in those who are promoting their causes on the site. The nonprofits involved communicate regularly to their donors and anyone interested in being one through posts on their cause's page.

2. The financial goals of each organization are clearly stated. Anyone viewing the site knows exactly how much each organization is trying to raise, where they are currently at with their goal, and precisely what will be done with the money.

3. The community aspect encourages people to donate. People are creatures of influence. On each cause's page one can see those who have donated and instantly join in a conversation with fellow donors.

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Apolis Global Nepal Project

“Although Apolis is heavily inspired by philanthropy, we are a for-profit social enterprise wherein our customers act as benefactors, allowing Apolis to grow as a sustainable business instead of depending on fundraising for support. We have found this model of social business to be the most valuable and effective way to accomplish our ambitious long term goals of “advocacy through industry.” (source: www.apolisglobal.com)

In their Nepal Project Apolis trained 50 women to knit, resulting in 500 sweaters and 110 caps in only 60 days, all of which were sold in the company's global retail spaces and online store. Much of the jobs given to these woman were previously inaccessible to them due to the caste system currently in place in Nepal. This project helps enrich their lives, feed their families, and grow their communities.

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Catapult Design x Trade Without Borders

Catapult Design works with NGOs and Nonprofits to tackle their problems providing solutions routed in holistic approaches and "smart design." They worked with Trade Without Borders to develop a solar powered mosquito trap to fight Malaria in areas with limited access to electricity. Malaria is a disease that takes 1 million lives each year. More than 3.3billion (half of the World's population!) live in danger of Malaria.

Read more about Catapult and what they do at: http://catapultdesign.org/

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In this video from Tokyo Rising Pharrell visits Japan and investigates the reaction to the 3/11 events by Japan's creative class. He features "ROLLS TOHOKU" a project started by Japanese photographer Hirano Aichi in which he has been giving disposable cameras to victims of the Tsunami--both children and adults. He posts their unedited images online. Some of the images have also appeared in galleries in Tokyo.

I love the idea of giving artistic tools to children as well as children collaborating with adults to create art. It could be really interesting to do a project like this in Los Angeles highlighting the differences in daily life and schools between children across the city.

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The Green School

Built from bamboo, The Green School in Bali, Indonesia devotes a large part of its curriculum to sustainable living.

www.thegreenschool.org

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Meet the Elders.

Chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The Elders is an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights. They were brought together in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, who is not an active member of the group but remains an Honorary Elder. The Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is also an Honorary Elder. (source: www.theelders.org)

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I recently read Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.

Written mostly in prose, the book is built around imaginary discussions between Kublai Kahn and Marco Polo who reports to the emperor on his travels to 55 imaginary cities.

"The book, because of its approach to the imaginative potentialities of cities, has been used by architects and artists to visualize how cities can be, their secret folds, where the human imagination is not necessarily limited by the laws of physics or the limitations of modern urban theory. It offers an alternative approach to thinking about cities, how they are formed and how they function." (source: wikipedia.org).

The stories are wonderful reminders of what cities can and could be. I think it should be required reading for all urban planners.

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Wieden WK+12

WK+12 is a graduate school-esque program that recruits 12 individuals from eclectic backgrounds each year. The twelve bunk it up, so to speak, in Wieden + Kennedy's Portland office and for one year act as an advertising agency, developing advertising campaigns and marketing strategies exclusively for nonprofit organizations who would never have the budget to gain access to WK's brilliance and resources otherwise. Last year's clients included the Portland Children's Museum and the Wordstock book festival. Follow their blog here.

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Fine Without It

Lou Padilla doesn’t consider himself a locksmith. He considers himself a lock expert. He’s pretty good at fixing things, so when he broke his ankle a few years back, he decided to set it himself. His wife called him a “knucklehead”. But he didn’t have health insurance, and he still doesn’t. He explains why. (source: npr.org)

I think that a lot of the problems we face in the US have to do with decision makers being out of touch with those who are experiencing real world problems. It would be incredible to get videos of this nature out to the masses and give voices and stories to other people with real world problems.

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Art, Activism, and the Brazilian Favela

"In Rio a pair of Dutch artists and a paint company have triggered a change in the urban landscape of Rio. The artists had an idea to change the living environment of the Favela as a means to try and change how residents and the city at large related with the slum. After the success of the first couple of projects the Coral paint company got on board and now the slum is becoming known for something other then its drug trade." (source: www.urbanneighbourhood.com)

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Amazing Indian pulp novel book covers found at 50watts.

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"Cloud Rock La Belle has been stoned for the last 40 years. Psychedelic drugs and absolute freedom are, for him, religious beliefs. Long estranged from his son Kaleo, the two men reconnect for a grueling 500-mile bike tour across the Pacific Northwest. A father himself, Kaleo is eager to move past his feelings of resentment, forgive his father, and come to understand the innate love that exists between father and son. In a confrontation of the past, these two men struggle to forge a future. Can they see their polar-opposite values and philosophies? Can a son forgive a father who's not asking for forgiveness? THIS PLACE is a complex and emotionally dense film about family, forgiveness, and the arduous task of moving forward." – Lynne Crocker (from the film's website)

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"This landmark exhibition brings two seminal yet under-studied Los Angeles artists into close conversation for the very first time. Berman and Heinecken bridged modernist and emerging post-modernist trends by ushering in the use of photography as a key element of contemporary avant-garde art. Their works are explored within the unique cultural context of 1960s and 1970s Southern California, as it fueled and amplified their highly original creative approaches." (source: armoryarts.org)

One of the most inspiring exhibitions that I saw last year. Photographers who worked largely without cameras; masters of experimental processes and DIY printing who pushed forth Avant Garde thinking in Los Angeles. If you missed it, copies of Berman's SEMINA zine are currently on display at  "In Numbers: Serial Publications by Artists Since 1955"  at London's ICA.