My Web of Wonderfuls
by Kelly Rula
Research Fellow at Re-Vision Labs
Lighting the fires.
Surrounding oneself with inspiring people sure is, well, inspiring! I am blessed with some stellar social networks I can call my own, filled with friends and family that continue to light my fire every day of the week. Driven by different passions, be it skiing, microfinance, or global access to education, my web of wonderfuls are creating communities and inciting change on a global scale. My challenge then becomes, not necessarily how to create my own passion-derived community, but rather, how can I use my skills as ‘networker extraordinaire’ to connect these pieces in an effective and meaningful way.
Martina’s marathon for microfinance.
My friend Martina Welke has put her dual passions for running and microfinance into action, training for the Seattle Marathon and simultaneously raising money for the local, Seattle microfinance operation Vittana. She pitched her idea to the the founders of Vittana, started a blog about her journey: http://martimarathon.wordpress.com/, and as a result is raising awareness in her community about the positive things that microfinance is doing globall
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y.Willy’s web 2.0 network for education.
Another great friend, Willy Oppenheim, co-founded the non-profit Omprakash Foundation in high school and with the help of a few dedicated individuals has since created an expansive, FREE volunteer database that connects volunteers with educational-based opportunities abroad. Their partner organizations are located all around the world, free-of-charge, and focus on issues such as access to education and global health. Their mission differs from most volunteer-based programs, in that the emphasis is on community engagement, awareness, and knowledge, rather than a strict focus on fundraising and donations.
Claire’s skiers for empowerment.
Claire Smallwood, a friend from my days on the slopes of Alta, Utah, co-founded SheJumps , a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase female interest in the outdoors and motivate skiers and outdoor enthusiasts to give back outside their tight-knit community. Her inspirational attitude and infectious positivity has created a physical link between the active, motivated outdoor community and given it a vessel to participate in community outreach and youth development.
Go forth and connect.
As my network continues to expand, I look forward to figuring out how to “connect the dots” among these differing communities. In the mean time- link in to the good works of my friends above, you never know, they may light your fire too…
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