The 21st Century Citizen. How do we Get Involved Today?

For the past ten years my partner at qmedia solutions and I have been doing a lot of pro bono work for a number of not-for-profits and charities. We've really enjoyed it but we wanted to do more. First we wanted to tell stories about some of the amazing people who had inspired us. And so we started with TV storytelling and on October 26th Get Involved had it's World Premiere on TVO-- Ontario's premiere public broadcaster. So far we have produced 25 profiles of amazing innovators, social entrepreneurs and activists. Take a look at our stories. Tell us what you think. Tell us about people or organizations that inspire you. During our research we sensed a growing movement growing all around us-- people realizing their skills and their expertise can be used not only to bring them financial rewards but deeper connection and meaning in their lives. And so our next step was to concieve of a website that would transform the inspiration of the television profiles and help propell people into action and Getinvolved.ca was born. Join the conversation...

Follow us on: Twitter TwitterFacebook FacebookYouTube YouTube

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Speeding up...


Wednesday May 7th 2008

The Get Involved documentary shoots are starting to speed up. Looking back to March when we were looking at the 25 docs stretching out in front of us and wondering “How are we ever going to get everything done?!!” we’re now looking at the reality of several shoots – sometimes two a day – each and every week. Producers, camera crews, call sheets… it’s all happening!

This morning Peggy Taylor took two of the Matt’s (btw, we have a bunch of multiples here: 2 Jane’s, 2 Steve’s and 3 Matt’s… out of a staff of about 12, it can get … complicated…!) Anyway, Peggy zooms off first thing this morning to the office of a guy by the name of Dan Tisch.

On the surface just a regular businessman (though having a achieved more than “regular” success) in his private life, Dan is part of an amazing movement – a group of young professionals who’ve taken volunteering and fundraising, and taken it to the next level… or maybe even the level after that! It’s called Social Venture Partners and essentially, the group makes it their business to find and then invest in small, innovative non-profit organizations that address the most pressing challenges facing the city of Toronto. And they don’t just invest time… they invest their expertise, their skills, their experience… and $5000 per year, per member.

SVP funds the organization with the best and most innovative idea – as well as the structure to succeed. Add money, expertise, help… (and definitely more than a little passion) and who knows what great things will happen?!

According to Peggy (who hasn’t finished, but is checking in mid-way through) Dan Tisch is a revelation – and she’s already excited to shoot the meeting where the vote happens next week and the organization who will be funded is selected.

This is how it goes: we start off as professionals, doing our job and telling stories, then quickly discover our own emotions and passions about these people. You know what? It’s impossible to remain unmoved. Can’t wait to hear all about it from Peggy…
Posted by Get Involved GANG at 4:38 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)