Thursday, July 29, 2010

South African Signage: From Symbolic to Silly

The beautiful FIFA 2010 World Cup logo was strewn about stadiums, streets, t-shirts, etc, across the southern African landscape in celebration of life, soccer, and Africa.

Other signage viewed in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland, however, left us bemused travelers shaking our heads in disbelief and more often, in laughter. Following is a sampling of some of the cautionary posts we encountered throughout our travels. Tell me, which is your favorite?













Monday, July 26, 2010

Nominate an Outstanding Young Minnesotan in 2010!

A proud 2008 recipient of a Minnesota Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans Award, I was even more pleased to nominate Anita Patel for the honor last year. This year, will you or someone you nominate be recognized for amazing contributions to the community? Read on for more details and submit your recommendation by August 1!

The Junior Chamber's "Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans" (TOYM) The Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans program is Minnesota’s only statewide recognition program for outstanding young leaders. The program acknowledges the efforts of young leaders that have contributed to our state through their service, thought and influence, community involvement, or entrepreneurship. Since 1950, the TOYM program has recognized the leadership of over 400 young people across the state, including such public figures and community leaders as Walter Mondale, Marlene Johnson, Dave Winfield, Tim Penny, Paul Douglas, Wheelock Whitney, and Martin Sabo.

Nominees need not be a member of the Junior Chamber and are selected on the basis of their achievement in any 3 of the following areas:
1. Personal improvement
2. Financial success or economic innovation
3. Social improvement or major contemporary issues
4. Philanthropic contribution or voluntary service
5. Politics or governmental service
6. Scientific or technological contribution
7. Legal reform
8. Cultural achievement (to include literature, history, education or all arts)
9. Academic leadership
10. Athletic accomplishment
11. Moral and religious leadership
12. Success in the influence of public opinion (news media and other means)
The deadline to nominate a Minnesota leader between the ages of 18-40 is August 1, 2010. To learn more and/or to submit a nomination, visit the MN Jaycees online.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Save the Date: Minnesota Rising 2010 Un/Conference!


We're excited to announce the inaugural Minnesota Rising Un/Conference! This daylong event will engage 100+ in an event hosted by and for emerging leaders in Minnesota!

There are many more details to come, but in the meantime, save the date for:

Saturday, November 13, 2010
10:00AM - 6:00PM

CoCo coworking and collaborative space
213 4th St E.
4th Floor
St Paul, MN 55101
651/204.2148
Parking

Draft Schedule

09:15AM Registration Opens
10:00AM Opening Address and Un/Conference Welcome
10:15AM Keynote Speaker
10:50AM Break
11:00AM Breakout Session 1
11:50AM Break
12:00PM Breakout Session 2
12:50PM Break
01:00PM Lunch (World Cafe-style discussion)
02:00PM Breakout Session 3
02:50PM Break
03:00PM Show and Tell
03:50PM Closing
04:00PM Happy Hour | Tweet-Up | Organizational Fair
06:00PM Event Close

Un/Conference Objectives

As part of a larger effort to coordinate the leadership of the numerous young professionals and emerging leader groups that currently exist in the Twin Cities, the one-day event will include leadership development breakout sessions led by emerging leaders and their organizations, networking opportunities through World Cafe-style conversations and Show and Tell presentations, and the opportunity to start building trust, relationships, and perhaps, consensus, on the potential this generation of emerging leaders has to influence policy and community in Minnesota in the years to come.

Tell Me More


Email minnesotarising[at]gmail.com to receive event updates and to be the first to know when registration opens. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Reconciliation 2010: FIFA World Cup in South Africa

A dear friend of mine, who adores soccer, invited me to South Africa with her for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. We had an amazing time traveling through the eastern cape, mountain biking to see hippos and crocodiles, dining in the highest pub in southern Africa at the Sani Pass World Heritage Site in Lesotho, searching for warthog in Swaziland, driving the shift-stick on the right side of the car on the wrong side of the road, and getting absorbed in the frenzy and energy of the world's foremost and celebrated sport! The pictures below express our adventure better than I can. Enjoy!























Friday, July 16, 2010

Torch Community's Career and Leadership Event: August 25th





Date: August 25, 2010│5:30 – 8:30 PM

Location: International Market Square

Cost: $5 early bird│$10 starting August 4│$15 at the door

Sign up with a friend before August 4th for just $5!

Event Description

For those career focused and leadership minded, join hundreds of emerging leaders in the Twin Cities to engage in conversations centered on building your personal brands.

Judy Zimmer of Salo, will facilitate interactive roundtable discussions about personal branding so that you can walk away knowing how to differentiate yourself for the career you want!

Light hors d’oeuvres are included at this event, and a cash bar will be provided. There is free parking at the International Market Square.

Mix and Mingle 5:30-6:00 PM│Event Program 6:00-8:00 PM│More Mingling 8:00-8:30 PM

This event will highlight Torch Community’s Career and Leadership Partners:

Citizens League│DRIVE │TwinWest Emerging Leaders│Rotaract

Event Facilitator

Judy Zimmer, Consultant Advocate of Salo, LLC

The local branding expert, Judy Zimmer is an engaging and inspiring speaker. With a background as a business coach, motivational speaker, business owner, author, and a professional connector, Judy is a true testament to the power of having a strong personal brand.

Sponsors

Sponsors

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Accepting Applications: Fourth Annual Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition

As a former Youth Venturer, I'm excited about the opportunity for current young changemakers to participate in the fourth annual Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneurship competition! This global competition will culminate at an exciting new TEDx conference recognizing entrepreneurial youth addressing social issues in their communities. Ashoka’s Youth Venture aims to help an entire generation of young people develop as changemakers, who will improve their communities now and throughout their lives. It's an amazing vision and no doubt that this competition will help to surface powerful leaders who will make manifest a world of changemakers. See below for more details and to nominate someone who inspires you!



If you’ve ever been told, “You’re inspirational!” or you are a young leader who’s creating positive change in the world, we’d love to hear your story.

In fact, we’d love to give you a rare opportunity share your story with others.

Eight young changemakers will be chosen as winners of our annual Staples Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition and invited to present at the first TEDxYSE event in Washington, D.C.

How do you qualify? Just fill out the short entry form. You can also nominate an inspiring young leader (age 12 to 24).

Winners will be chosen on a rolling basis, so don’t wait.

The competition is open to existing and new Youth Venture teams, which are made up of young people between the ages of 12 and 24, who are creating entrepreneurial ventures that make a positive impact on communities.

Nominations and entries will be accepted on a rolling basis through Sept. 20, 2010. Eight winners will be chosen throughout the summer, and in October, the grand-prize winner will be selected for their outstanding impact, innovation and potential. All eight winners will be recognized at a TEDx conference, a national gathering of thought leaders devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading,” on Nov. 13, 2010 in Washington, DC.

During the TEDx conference, the grand-prize winning team will be announced and presented with the Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Excellence Award and a prize worth $5,000. The seven remaining winners will receive Achievement Awards and prizes worth $500. The grand-prize winning team will have the unique opportunity to consult with, and draw from the expertise of high-level Staples executives. All eight winning teams will get the opportunity to meet with an Ashoka Fellow - one of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. Ashoka Fellows are known for their unrivaled commitment to bold ideas and innovative solutions.

About Ashoka's Youth Venture

Ashoka’s Youth Venture® engages over 75,000 young people in pursuing their dreams in 18 countries around the world. Since its founding in 1996, Youth Venture has launched nearly 4,000 Venture teams worldwide. Youth Venture inspires and supports teams of young people to launch and lead their own civic-minded organizations and businesses. Youth teams access workshops, tools, adult allies, a global network of like-minded young changemakers and seed funding to establish their own ventures that solve problems around them. Youth Venture was created by Ashoka, the global pioneer of the social entrepreneurship sector and the world’s biggest network of changemakers. We believe that the greatest contribution we can make to the world is to increase dramatically the number of changemakers today and in every future generation. This is the key factor for success for every part of society, from a school to a company to an entire country. Ashoka’s Youth Venture operates in 18 countries and online at www.GenV.net.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Let it spring from love

The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all living beings.

-Buddha
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