Teen Voices 04/25/2012
 So I joined this group, teen voices.com. They have a website/blog and they also send out a magazine a few times a year that’s written by teen girls, about really interesting subjects that all fit pretty nicely into the Real World f.g. concept. The Fall 2011/Winter 2012 issue had pieces about using social media safely, profiles of female chefs, the problem with using underweight/underage models in fashion shows and magazines and cyberbullying. There are also book and music reviews, and original fiction by teens. Check it out at Teen Voices. Expect some of my upcoming blog posts to be inspired by articles from the fall issue. Add Comment  generationOn.org So, last post I wrote about some eco-F.G.s on this team. Here's a few more members, who did stuff like fundraising and gathering items to donate to different causes: Maren Johnson (16) collected leftover soaps from hotels for the Global Soap Project, which turns them into bars for countries that need them. Dylan Mahalingam (16) raised money for Under the Acacia, to build schools in Kenya, and Rujul Zaparde (16) co-created Drinking Water for India and raised money to build wells there. My total favorite is Connor Dantzler (17) who founded Health through Humor, which donates joke books to hospitals. How great is that? There are more of these kids, but the post would be endless! And I would be exhausted. In later posts, I'll zoom on a few, so you can learn more about their projects and organizations. To find out more about this whole All-American Service Team thing, visit generationOn.org. Parade's All American Service Team - A Few 12/19/2011
 generationOn.org There are a LOT of Real World F.G.s profiled in this article my Dad ripped out of the newspaper for me. They're all teenagers picked by Parade magazine and Points of Light Institute/ generationOn. Here's a few of them, who worked on eco-projects: Jonny Cohen (16) invented "GreenShields," which help school busses prevent drag and pollution Benjamin McMullen (17) started two local groups that do things like teach kids about wetlands in his area and planted over 1000(!) trees. Charles Orgbom (15) ran an eco-group called Greening Forward that organized litter clean-ups and recycling programs. Find out more at generationOn (including tips on becoming a Real World F.G. yourself). A Basketball-playing Real World F.G. 11/17/2011
 yourblackworld.com This is Allan Guei, a player for the Compton High School basketball team and Real World f.g. Allan entered a Free Throw Contest, which had a prize of $40,000 -- and won. Because he was given a full scholarship to Cal State Northridge in addition to the prize money, he donated the $40,000 to the seven runners-up in the contest! He said he felt like his competitors "were all smart and wanted to pursue their dreams, but were having financial difficulties...it was the right move to help the others, especially when everything else was taking off for me." Nickelodeon HALO Awards 11/02/2011
 Every year Nick Cannon hosts an event on Nickelodeon honoring teens who are Helping and Leading Others (HALO). This year the TeenNick HALO Awards features David Beckham, Jessica Biel, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift who are partnering with these teens who are working to create social change in their communities and around the world. You can get involved too. Go to How Do You HALO? and upload a video describing what you can do in your community to make a difference. The cool part is, your video may be chosen and shown during the awards ceremony! What makes this year extra special though, is that Nickelodeon is partnering with DonorsChoose.org for a two-week campaign that will translate user's clicks and activity into real life donations to at-risk schools around the nation. HALO Awards airs November 6 on Nick at Nite and November 7 on Teen Nick! Sparkles Squad 10/21/2011
I'm not really the sparkly type, as you know, and I'm definitely not the cheerleader type. But one of my nicest friends is a cheerleader. (You know who, if you've read "Don't Expect Magic.") And I know that f.g.s -- real and fictional -- usually are sparkly. Here are some girls who are all three: cheerleaders, sparkly and Real World f.g.s:  dosomething.org The whole thing started with two cheerleaders in Illinois with siblings with disabilities. Every year they would spend one night coaching a clinic for kids with disabilities in cheerleading and in other sports. Then, they decided that one night per year wasn't enough. And that's why they formed the Sparkles Squad. They later created the Sparkles Effect, which helps other kids create their own Sparkles Squad in their communities. The website has a starter kit with tips on creating a local Sparkles program. Keep Reading Foundation 10/11/2011
 keepreading.org How can you not love an organization called "Keep Reading!" I mean, come ON! The Keep Reading Foundation was created by Sarasi Jayaratne, a student at Cornell University (where Kathy, my "creator" as she calls herself, went to college). Sarasi is not technically a teen, but she was a teen only a couple of years ago, so she's "teen-adjacent." Plus, she sort of started her foundation when she was a sophomore in high school, when she raised money to help schools in Sri Lanka (where her parents are from) after a tidal wave hit it. Eventually, she started the foundation and she's visited the country a lot since then, to distribute the books that the foundation's money buys for kids there. Sometimes the books come with reading glasses for people in poorer areas, so they can -- yes, you guessed it-- Keep Reading! Mean Stinks! 10/05/2011
MeanStinks is an app on Facebook that allows people to be "nice" online on their wall. There's fun ways to graffiti and also a way to get guidance on a particular problem you may be having. And fun Shout Outs from Amber Riley (Mercedes on GLEE).  facebook.com/meanstinks Makes being nice fun! ... and nice! Fashion Steps for a Cause 09/26/2011
 modelinia.com Yes!!! A Real World F.G. cause about BOOTS!!! Nine West is sponsoring an event during NYC Fall Fashion Week (which is September 8-15, 2011 for those of you who DON'T have it memorized) to raise money for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. It's sort of like one of those marathon fundraisers, except the "Runway Relief Models" aren't running, they're walking slooowly on the runway in Runway Relief boots. Nine West is donating $1 a mile, up to $75,000. You can sponsor a model for however much you want.  ninewest.com You can also buy the boots, along with tote bags and tanks with the Runway Relief logo, and some of that money will be donated too, up to $115,000. (<--I really like these boots, Dad. In case you're reading this.) Sierra Club Internship 09/18/2011
 logodesignworks.com So you want to be a Real World f.g. but not sure how to make it happen? If you’re into eco-issues, in college and have some free time next summer, you can apply to the Sierra Club’s summer internship program. It’s a pretty cushy f.g. job actually, if you like the outdoors thing, because you’re basically paid to go on club trips: hiking, camping, rafting, etc. – and you’re given $2000 worth of gear. (You may have to put in hours at a Sierra Club office too, though.) 2011’s intern, Kokei Otosi, who goes to New York University, was based out of the San Francisco office. If you want to see what it’s like, you can check out her videos about her experiences. | Real World F.G.s
There are people in the world who try to do good and grant wishes -- without using a wand and without there being anything in it for themselves! Amazing. The Fairy Godmother Project: No, it's not the name of one of my term papers. It's a bunch of organizations around the country that help out kids who want to go to the prom but can't afford all the stuff that goes with it. Here are links to the ones I've found so far:
Keri's Fairy Godmother Foundation - Austin Kenzie's Closet - Cincinnati The Fairy GodMother Project of Massachusetts North Shore Fairy Godmother Project - North Shore, MA The Fairy Godmother Project of Music City - Nashville Princess Project - San Jose ArchivesApril 2012 CategoriesAll |
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