Posted on May 16th, 2013 by Aaron Mason
In 2011 Inveneo and Coolnet, with funding from craigconnects, began Palestine's Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) program.
Connected to aging infrastructure with extreme network congestion, the schools were functionally cut off from the Internet, with one principal needing to disconnect the entire school and wait 15 minutes just to send email. The solution was a network designed by Inveneo and built using local resources, which in 2013 began delivering broadband at roughly 1,000 times the previous speeds.
Palestine Nablus Students
Inveneo's focus on design, local knowledge, and the right partners proved highly successful, enabling a smooth implementation while keeping expenses low and local. The TVETs are currently closed, but when students return they'll finally have the Internet, powerful educational tools, and the whole world at their fingertips. Craig's involvement with this effort is part of the Partnership for a New Beginning, with the approval of the US, Israeli, and Palestinian authorities.
The campus of Nablus Industrial Secondary School, waiting for students to return. Photo: Bob Marsh
Read the full story here.
Cheers,
Aaron
Marketing & Communications Manager, Inveneo
Posted on May 14th, 2013 by Craig Newmark
Hey folks, I went to NYC a few months back for a Vanity Fair photo shoot with DonorsChoose.org staff, board members, and advisers. All photos were taken by Annie Leibovitz.
The photo shoot took place at P.S. 33 in NYC. Featured are DonorsChoose.org board members and advisers Timothy Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek; Livia Stone and Biz Stone, Twitter co-founder; Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit; Charles Best, founder and C.E.O. of DonorsChoose.org; Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report; Desirée Rogers, C.E.O. of Johnson Publishing; Anil Dash, blogger and founding partner of Activate; Theresia Gouw, partner at Accel; and myself. Though, somebody who feels I'm a celebrity may need to get out more often.
Vanity Fair photo shoot with DonorsChoose.org. Photo Credit: Annie Leibovitz
Yes, I'm repeating myself but I'm on the board for Donorschoose.org, and I'm currently giving $10k to match half the cost of projects with the keyword “military” if someone like you provides the remainder. If you're able, please help make some matches with the Double Your Impact Offer.
My favorite picture from the shoot is that of Goofy Uncle Craig:
Here's one of my mom reading the article in Vanity Fair after I gave her a copy:
You can read the whole Vanity Fair article here, and please remember to give to military projects via DonorsChoose if you're able.
Posted on May 9th, 2013 by craigconnects
If it wasn't for comedy, I'd have no personality at all.
I just found this video of me and the First Lady. I think it had to do with the "craigslist for good" concept.
This was in Washington, DC at an allforgood.org event, which has since subsumed into the Points of Light, where I'm an advisor. At this event, Michelle Obama launched the National and Community Service Program.
A sense of humor helps you realize that things like status and prestige are illusions.
Posted on May 7th, 2013 by Craig Newmark
Okay, teachers in a lot of schools never get a break, and that's often true in schools that serve military families.
Remember that the families of active service troops also serve when troops are deployed.
A really good way to give teachers and military families a break is via DonorsChoose.org. They're a great example of how we all use the Net to help each other out, by pooling a few dollars to give people a break. DonorsChoose is something I can understand. It's like microfinance applied to classroom projects; we all can contribute a little to fund a classroom projects. Teachers are under-appreciated and underpaid, and if we all work together, we can help them out.
As many of you know, I work closely with lots of orgs who support vets and military families. I teamed up with DonorsChoose to sponsor a Double Your Impact Offer. I'm giving $10k to match half the cost of projects with the keyword “military” if someone like you provides the remainder. This offer's for projects geared toward grades 6-12 and with a total cost of $800 or less.
There're a lot of underfunded school districts out there, and it's real unfair for teachers to fund stuff from their own (inadequate) salaries. This match will remain on DonorsChoose.org until the funds are fully matched, or for one calendar year from today. After just 24-hours of being live, 5 projects and counting have already been met with my match.
After I introduced Stephen Colbert to DonorsChoose, he began to focus on milfams, and I tried a similar effort later, but it didn't persist. However, I'm talking with people in milfam groups and the DoD about creating a program that'll keep on helping. And am working on this matching campaign with DonorsChoose right now.
photo credit: the future Mrs Newmark
Here's a video about why DonorsChoose works with Internet people, like myself:
Speaking of Colbert, he and I did some stuff for DonorsChoose with Vanity Fair and Annie Leibovitz that'll be released online soon. I can't let the squirrel out of the bag yet, so more to come…
In the meantime, if you're able, I'd really appreciate it if you can give to the military family projects on DonorsChoose.org. I figure if they're willing to give so much for our country, this is just my small way of saying thank you. A nerd's gotta do…
Posted on April 26th, 2013 by Marlene Hall
The Easter Seals Advocacy Awards for the Washington, DC; Maryland, and Virginia areas honoring Tom Brokaw, Gary Sinise, and CITI for their work helping veterans, were awarded in Washington, DC on April 16, 2013.
In addition to Sinise and Brokaw, in attendance were Phil Panzarella, Chairman of the Board, Easter Seals (DC, MD, VA); Lisa Reeves, President and CEO of Easter Seals (DC, MD, VA); Executive Vice President and Head, Global Affairs of CITI Candi Wolff; combat veteran, wounded heroine and congresswoman Tammy Duckworth; 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral (retired) Michael Mullen; Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General John Campbell; and Defense News’ Vago Muradian .
Gary Sinise and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth
Easter Seals has been around 100 years, “providing a wide range of programs to support people of all ages.” They saw a need in helping our veterans and are committed and focused to that mission.
Easter Seals has programs specifically focusing on active duty military, veterans, and their families through their programs: military family respite program, veterans employment program, family caregiver training, little warriors child development program, and senior and adult day services.
CITI was honored for its “CITI Salutes” program. The CITI program focuses on employing veterans. Reeves shared, “ CITI employs more than 2,000 military veterans and has been recognized as a ‘Best for Vets’ work place, making them a logical choice to earn this honor.”
Congresswoman Duckworth introduced Sinise. This was the first time the representative and Sinise had met. However, Sinise remembered when she was injured in a plane crash and he called her at the hospital.
Sinise was honored for his work with veterans through his Gary Sinise Foundation and his co-founded Operations International Children. Sinise quoted Winston Churchill about doing his “bit to help.” He shared how during WWII the elderly would knit socks for the soldiers fighting, as everyone was doing their bit to help. His foundation is holding an event with the wounded heroes at Walter Reed on May 17. Sinise comes to DC often because his daughter goes to college here, he hosts the National Memorial Day Concert with actor Joe Mantegna, and his advocacy for our veterans. He has no plans to run for office as he is “just an actor.”
Admiral Mullen, who called Brokaw a good friend, introduced Brokaw. Admiral Mullen’s wife, Deborah Mullen, was the impetus to get Mr. Brokaw involved with Easter Seals. Mrs. Mullen serves as the honorary chair for the 2013 Advocacy Awards Dinner. Admiral Mullen told the audience that he and his wife “will help our veterans until we are both unable.”
Gary Sinise and Tom Brokaw
Brokaw was honored for his work advocating for our military and veterans through his journalistic endeavors. He gave an impassioned speech about how society is becoming disassociated from our military and we need to get reconnected. He believes the VA backlog exists because the government is not focusing on the issue and applying the resources it needs to fix the problem.
Veterans are encouraged to contact CITI Salutes, Easter Seals, and the Gary Sinise Foundation for help.
Guest blog post by Marlene Hall, former air force officer passionately dedicated to helping our veterans.
