There is a seemingly infinite number of non-profit organizations fighting for the environment. Whether it’s the Marine Conservation Institute, the Biodiversity Project, or the International Council on Clean Transportation, at any given moment you can find a group of people organizing somewhere to do something to better the condition of the world around us. Although there are many groups and organizations that focus on single environmental issues, there are few that cover as many bases as the Natural Resources Defense Council. While you may have never heard of NRDC before, you’ve probably seen the effects of their influence. The Natural Resources Defense Council, is a non-profit based in New York, NY that is tackling a variety of issues including clean energy, pollution, and endangered animals. Named by The New York Times as “one of the nation’s most powerful environmental groups,” NRDC does everything it can to approach environmental issues from all sides.
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Education is a lot like compound interest. You do way better if you get a good start (and vice versa). Apparently some states “use third grade academic performance data to predict the number of prison beds they will need in the following decade.” That’s depressing, but it makes sense and tells us a lot about how important the first few years of school are. If children are already behind at such an early age, how will they ever catch up? BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) is a Boston, MA based non-profit that has some answers. They aim “to transform the academic achievements, self-confidence, and life trajectories of children living in under-resourced, urban communities.” This is done through after-school and summer educational experiences that are designed to help kids catch up during the time that they’re not in school (apparently the lack of summer learning opportunities explains “2/3 of the academic achievement gap between children from low-income communities and their higher-income peers”).
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In my tenth grade English class I had to recite a poem from memory. I was assigned “Out, Out–” by Robert Frost. It’s just about the perfect poem for a teenage boy to appreciate, even if it is a bit morbid. When I Googled the poem this morning, the first result was from the Poetry Foundation, which is a Chicago, IL based “independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture.” They are the publisher of Poetry magazine, and in 2011 the non-profit opened a building that “houses a public garden, a 30,000-volume library, an exhibition gallery, the Poetry Foundation’s programming offices—including the offices of Poetry magazine—and provides new space for the Foundation’s extensive roster of public programs and events.” It’s just around the corner from where I used to live, and it’s an impressive and interesting structure.
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While I tend to think that the importance of home ownership is overrated by most people in the U.S., I do realize how powerful the psychology of owning something can be. This becomes far more important when it comes to how you make your living. Using someone else’s capital is often the easiest choice, but it gives you very limited control over your future. This may not matter so much if you’re an accountant who is working in a competitive labor market, but it’s a huge deal if you’re farming for subsistence–and that’s what much of the world’s people do. Landesa is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “works to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people– those 2.47 billion chiefly rural people who live on less than two dollars a day.” They do this because they believe that when people own the land, they can invest in improving it without worrying about having to worry about someone else reaping the rewards.
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I used to be really interested in politics, but over the past decade I’ve come to the realization that business is usually a better way to enact positive change than public policy is. While I might have lost most of the faith I had in the political process, I still realize that it’s necessary for a functioning society. The only way that it’s going to get better is for better people to go into politics. American Council of Young Political Leaders is a Washington, DC based non-profit (big surprise there) that is “recognized as the pre-eminent catalyst for introducing rising political and policy professionals to international affairs and to each other.” The organization was founded in 1966 by leaders from both American political parties because they saw how important fostering cooperation and understanding could be at the height of the Cold War.
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I haven’t developed much of an opinion on the Syria situation yet, but I know that there are some things that everyone can agree on. One is that we need people looking out for the country’s children. More than a million kids have already fled the war, and there was a non-profit working to help them well before Syria became a staple of the evening news. It’s called Mercy Corps, and it’s a Portland, OR based organization that helps “people in the world’s toughest places survive the crises they confront and turn them into opportunities to thrive.” (Here’s what they’re doing in Syria.) They got their start in 1979 by raising $1 million to provide aid in Cambodia, and ever since they’ve been doing work all over the world.
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While people say that technology is making us dumber, I’m convinced that the Internet is pushing us to focus on our writing again. There’s no doubt that our generation communicates through the written word more than our parents’ generation did, but we need to understand that text speak often isn’t the answer (tho it can b… sometimes). The reality is that most young people are natural storytellers, they just need a little help directing their creativity. The Telling Room is a Portland, ME based non-profit that helps them do that. The organization’s goal is “to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and provide real audiences for [its] students.” They work with young people from the ages of 6 to 18 with a belief “that the power of creative expression can change our communities and prepare our youth for future success.”
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We moved to a tree lined street recently, and I love it. I can walk out my door on a 90 degree day, and it still doesn’t feel oppressively hot. My car is nice and cool when I get in (though it tends to get covered in bird poop), and if it rains, it has to rain pretty hard to actually get me wet. Soon the leaves will fall off and it will get colder, and then the sun will shine through the branches and keep things a little warmer. Trees make living in a city way better. That’s the premise behind Canopy, a Palo Alto, CA based “environmental nonprofit that engages the community in the growth and care of our urban forest.” While they only focus on Palo Alto and it surrounding communities, they’re making a big difference through the power of trees.
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Yesterday we looked at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization that aims to “promote and enhance the development of boys and girls.” Today’s organization has a similar sounding mission, but they’re doing very different work. Boys Town is an Omaha, NE based non-profit that gives “at-risk children the family, support and care they need to overcome their circumstances and realize their potential.” A Boys and Girls Club is a safe place to go for a couple of hours after school–Boys Town is about giving children a safe place to grow into healthy, happy adults.
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Entering third grade was a big deal for me. It had nothing to do with school though. It was all about the fact that I was eligible to become a member of Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. That meant that a three minute walk from my house gave me access to bumper pool, ping pong, and basketball. I absolutely loved it. While it was mostly fun and games for me, I knew that there was more to the club than that. We were required to take our hats off when we entered the club, and all of the rules were enforced strictly, but fairly. It wasn’t a place to go and get into trouble. That’s exactly what Boys & Girls Clubs of America wants. They are an Atlanta, GA based national non-profit with clubs all across the country that aims to “promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.”
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There are two kinds of entry level jobs. There are the professional track positions that are typically targeted towards recent college grads (what we try to cover on ODOJ), and the jobs that have very minimal education and experience requirements. Both types are extremely important to our economy because they enable people to learn how to make a living, and both seem to be getting rarer. Today many of the best job opportunities in that second category are in the food service industry. That’s why FareStart is focused on them. They are a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry.”
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I may be a dog person (this is my puppy Garçon), but I love big cats. They are the ultimate land-based predators, which is why I hope to one day see a mountain lion in the wild (from the safety of a car though). The problem with big cats is that there is one predator higher up in the food chain: us. Whether it’s protecting livestock, killing them for their fur, or infringing on their habitat, humans have had a severely negative impact on populations of big cats across the world. It’s time to make up for an ugly past, and that’s why Panthera exists. They are a New York, NY based non-profit that “is the world’s leading conservation organization devoted exclusively to the protection of wild cats.” Panthera got its started in 2006, and since then has been working to protect 37 species of wild cats.
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I never went on a study abroad trip while I was in school, so I figured that I had missed the boat. Little did I know that there are educational travel opportunities for people of all ages. Now probably wouldn’t be a great time for me (new wife, new puppy, new apartment), but maybe it would make sense later in life. If I do end up doing an educational travel adventure, I’ll definitely take a look at Road Scholar. They are a Boston, MA based non-profit that “offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries.” The organization was founded as Elderhostel in 1975 “to provide people over the age of 60 with low-cost educational and cultural programs,” but they seem to have committed to the Road Scholar branding as of late. My guess is that the word “elder” wasn’t helping them out in terms of getting people to sign up for their programming.
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While I love meat (I told you about that yesterday), I love the outdoors even more. There are all kinds of ways to enjoy nature, but I think that hunting and fishing are two of the best (they’re also a great way to get protein). It may seem that these sports lead to the depletion of resources, but in reality hunters and fishermen are some of the most ardent conservationists around. Theodore Roosevelt is a perfect example. The guy was a total badass–the Presidency was probably the most boring part of his life (except when he was campaigning, got shot, and finished his speech). While Teddy killed a lot of animals during his lifetime, his conservation work has had an amazingly positive impact on wildlife. That has continued with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. They are a Washington, DC based non-profit that “strengthens laws, policies and practices affecting fish and wildlife conservation by leading partnerships that influence decision makers” to “guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.”
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While the USA may be the only country with America in its name, it’s not the only country in the Americas. Our region encompasses much of the Western Hemisphere and has an amazing diversity of geographies, cultures, people, and more. While most of us seem to get along pretty well compared to other parts of the world (at least recently we have), it’s still important to foster an even better inter-American relationship. That’s exactly what Americas Society/Council of the Americas does. They are two New York, NY based non-profits in one that aim to improve relations across the Americas. The Americas Society “is the premier forum dedicated to education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas,” while the Council of the Americas “is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.”
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I love New England. I grew up on the absolute southern edge of the region, but I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying the natural resources in all six of its states (mostly through fly fishing). One thing that is interesting about New England is that the areas surrounding some of its most sensitive ecosystems are quite populated. That means that they’re constantly being infringed upon. Conservation Law Foundation is a Boston, MA based non-profit that believes “that healthy communities and a clean environment are a right for all New Englanders, not a privilege for the few.” Since 1966 they have used a combination of scientific research, business/market forces, and legal work to protect “all parts of New England’s environment, including everything from oceans to river to mountains, from parks to forests, from big cities to small towns, from Maine to Rhode Island.”
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If you want to change something, you need to be able to measure it. Whether you’re talking about weight, revenue, or toxic emissions, establishing a yardstick for success is the first step in accomplishing a goal. The problem is that some of the most important things that we want to change are the hardest to measure. The environment is a perfect example, and that’s exactly what Global Footprint Network is focused on. They are an Oakland, CA based non-profit that was “established to enable a sustainable future where all people have the opportunity to live satisfying lives within the means of one planet.” As a result, Global Footprint Network is focused on “measuring human impact on the Earth so we can make more informed choices.”
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I don’t think that I’ve ever cared as much about how I look as I did on my wedding day. I was still pretty relaxed about it, but I made sure that I had a decent tan, a good haircut, the right amount of facial hair, and a great outfit. It’s not something that I usually care much about, but it’s nice to know that I can do what it takes to make myself look good with a little bit of effort For people with chronic and terminal illnesses, beauty often becomes an afterthought. It’s great to focus on what’s important (like health), but sometimes focusing on your appearance can improve your overall wellbeing. That’s the premise that Beauty Bus Foundation was founded with. They are a Santa Monica, CA based non-profit that “delivers dignity, hope and respite to chronically or terminally ill men, women and children and their caregivers through beauty and grooming services and pampering products.”
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I helped my grandparents move out of their house and into an assisted living center. They were in their 80s, and my grandmother was doing great, but my grandfather was suffering from Alzheimer’s/Dementia. She couldn’t take care of him on her own anymore, but she didn’t want to be separated. As a result, we found a place that gave her the freedom and homey feel that she wanted, but also gave her a ton of help caring for my grandfather. It was totally the right decision, but there’s always something sad about seeing people leave their homes for what will likely be the rest of their lives (it was for my grandparents). San Francisco Village is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that aims to keep people who are aging in their homes. They believe that increasing “the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual well-being of adults who choose to live in their own homes” will result in their members’ being able to “remain independent, active, and engaged in the San Francisco community.”
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Almost all of are here (in the United States) because of immigration. Whether it was you, your parents, your grandparents, or a passenger on The Mayflower, someone in your family decided that he or she wanted a better life and left a lot behind to come here. How long you’ve been here doesn’t really matter. What does matter is what you’re going to do while you’re here; however, being new to the country brings a lot of challenge. Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians is a Philadelphia, PA based non-profit that “connects newly arrived individuals from around the world with the economic opportunities that they need to succeed.” The Center has been around for a decade now, and in that time they’ve helped more than 8,000 people from well over 100 countries.
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I never pictured myself doing yoga, but one day my back started hurting. My mom told me to see her trainer and do a yoga session with her. It wasn’t some magical cure-all like some people might claim, but it definitely helped. I ended up really liking the physical part (stretching and bodyweight exercise), but the rest just isn’t for me; however, it is for a lot of people. Yoga has exploded in popularity, and now pretty much anyone who wants to can claim to be a yoga instructor. Yoga Alliance is an Arlington, VA non-profit that exists “to sustain and support the field of yoga.” They do this by “by providing the public with a registry of teachers and schools whose training meets our standards, and by supporting yoga teachers, schools and studios in their work as yoga professionals.”
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Transportation is all about turning energy into movement. The problem is that almost every single mode of transportation results in some sort of environmental impact. Even when you’re walking down the street, you’re constantly expelling carbon dioxide. After thinking about it for a while, I’ve come to the conclusion that floating down a river might be the cleanest form of transportation. Unfortunately, that’s not realistic for most of us (even if it is my favorite way to travel). Luckily, we have the International Council on Clean Transportation to help us all move towards cleaner transportation. They are a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims “to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation sectors and fuels, in order to benefit public health and mitigate climate change.”
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Yesterday we looked at Institute for Educational Leadership, one of a seemingly endless number of non-profits devoted to improving educational outcomes. Education seems to be one of the most worthy and, as a result, pursued causes, but I think poverty reduction has to come in number one. Project Concern International is a San Diego, CA based international development non-profit that works to “prevent disease, improve community health and promote sustainable development worldwide.” The core idea behind PCI is that they identify areas with the greatest need and then deliver help in a way that can have lasting community impact.
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One of the most important areas that non-profits do work in is education. I have no doubt that education can be the solution to many of society’s biggest problems; however, improving educational outcomes for any group of people is never easy. There are organizations working on nearly every facet of education, so one would hope that we’ll eventually start seeing some significant gains. The Institute for Educational Leadership is a Washington, DC based non-profit that brings “together leaders across the various sectors of education (P-20), workforce development and child- and youth-serving systems” to build “partnerships across institutional boundaries, helping individuals and institutions tackle leadership challenges and leverage the resources of multiple partners to foster reform.”
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When I think about the environment, I usually think about water quality. That’s because I’m a fisherman, and the ecosystems that I practice my sport in are particularly sensitive. Air quality issues are much easier to ignore because they’re usually not as immediately apparent (until you run into a 100 degree day with an air quality advisory and can’t breathe). Yet the fight for clean air may be the environmental cause that is most important during our lifetime. That’s certainly what the people at the Center for Clean Air Policy think. The CCAP is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “a recognized world leader in climate and air quality policy and is the only independent, nonprofit think tank working exclusively on those issues at the local, U.S. national and international levels.”
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What do Laura Bush, Julia Child, Katharine Hepburn, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Eleanor Roosevelt all have in common? Besides the fact that they all are/were women, they were also all members of the Junior League. I’ve heard of the Junior League from friends Facebook posts, but I never really knew what it was today. It is “one of the oldest, largest and most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world.” There are 155,000 women involved in 293 Leagues across four countries, and those Leagues make up The Association of Junior Leagues International. The organization was founded in 1901 and is based out of New York, NY. Their aim is “to develop exceptionally qualified civic leaders who collaborate with community partners to identify a community’s most urgent needs and address them with meaningful and relevant programs and initiatives that not only improve lives, but also change the way people think.”
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Amy and I are getting a puppy in about a month! I don’t think we’ve processed how much it is going to change our lives yet, but we’re getting really excited about being new “parents.” While our little puppy is going to have a great home, many dogs and cats aren’t so lucky. There are way too many pets that don’t live in safe, caring environments. Bideawee is an organization that has been trying to change that for more than 100 years. They are a New York, NY based non-profit that aims “to cultivate and support the life-long relationships between pets and the people who love them.” They do this by offering a wide array of services for animals and pet owners.
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For me Father’s Day is all about wildlife. I’ve spent every one for the past 20 years in woods of Michigan on a fishing trip with my Dad. It used to mark the end of the trip, but this year it’s the beginning. Every year we get to reap the benefits of the work done by conservation organizations. Up there a lot of the work is done by non-profits with a sporting focus, but I’ve come to realize that there quite a few organizations that protect wildlife just because it’s something that should be done. One of these is Defenders of Wildlife. They’re based in Washington, DC, and they aim to “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America by transforming policies and institutions and promoting innovative solutions.” The organization was founded in 1947 and operates at both a national and local level.
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We all know someone with hypertension (aka high blood pressure)–nearly a third of people over the age of 20 in the United States have it. It’s a seriously health issue, but it’s common and relatively easily treated. Pulmonary hypertension sounds like it would be a similar malady, and in some ways it is, but it’s also much rarer and far more serious. Because it’s currently an incurable condition that can be extremely deadly, you’d think that it gets a lot of attention from the medical establishment. However, because only about 1,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, it doesn’t. Pulmonary Hypertension Association is trying to change that. They are a Silver Spring, MD based non-profit that is working to “to find ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension, and to provide hope for the pulmonary hypertension community through support, education, research, advocacy and awareness.”
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A week in the desert has reminded me just how live-giving water is. Even a tiny trickle of a river can completely change the landscape out there. Seeing that reminds me how vital our oceans are to our planet’s health. While 12% of the earth’s land is protected in one way or another, only 1% of its oceans are protected. Marine Conservation Institute is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that is trying to change that. They “use the latest science to identify important marine ecosystems around the world, and then advocate for their protection, for us and future generations.” Because of the nature of oceans and the fact that they cover more than two thirds of the earth’s surface, it’s easy to overlook how fragile and important they are. Marine Conservation Institute exists to remind us.
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