The new film Crown Heights is a crime story, a legal drama, a love story, and a tale of enduring friendship all rolled into one. It’s a true story, yet it’s scripted. More than anything, it’s a strong commentary on what President Obama described as “one aspect of American life that remains particularly skewed by race and by wealth, a source of inequity that has ripple effects on families and on communities and ultimately on our nation—and that is our criminal justice system.”
Lately any discussion of being environmentally green seems to get into the topic of red vs. blue. Whereas in 1991, 78% of both Democrats and Republicans considered themselves environmentalists, a Gallup poll from last year found that now “27% of Republicans think of themselves that way, compared with 56% of Democrats, a partisan gap of 29 percentage points.”
The documentary film Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman offers a fresh take on conservation.
As this newsletter lands in your in-box, Meredith (ProSocial Founder & CEO) is sitting with thought leaders from around the globe excitedly listening to dozens of accomplished speakers deliver 18-minute talks on “ideas worth spreading.” Exhausting and rewarding, the TED Conference is the world’s flagship annual Technology, Entertainment, and Design convening. It is an extraordinary meeting of ideas, minds, networks, and institutions and a catalyst for a better future.
Scientists have found an important factor that links people who are healthier, happier, more satisfied and successful at work, and even live longer—and we’re not talking about diet, exercise, or sleep. So why don’t more people know about the importance of purpose?
“If I were running a school, I’d have one standing assignment that would begin in the first grade and go all the way through school, every week: that each child should bring in something said by an authority—it could be by the teacher or something they see in print, but something that they don’t agree with—and refute it.” —Jane Jacobs
In March, I got to meet one of my idols, Jane Goodall. Although she is famous for her pioneering work with chimpanzees, discovering their commonalities with humans, and becoming an champion for conservation, most people don’t know her incredible backstory: the determination that took her from a girl who loved a chimpanzee stuffed animal and animal books like Dr. Doolittle to a young woman waitressing to pay for a ticket to Africa.
These days, one thing is for certain: We are in for change. What does this mean for ProSocial clients and issues and our work? Meredith and Larry watched the election returns together and before the last polls closed began to reflect on those questions and come up with answers.
What works to get people more involved with, invested in, and activated around an issue? ProSocial CEO Meredith Blake shares some guiding principles and lessons learned.
Ten years, tons of worthy missions, tremendous impact. A sampling of highlights.
It’s been 10 years since the start of ProSocial. In the year 2007, when the company got off the ground, iPhones launched, Twitter hashtags made their debut, the Harry Potter series broke book and box-office records and promoted cross-platform storytelling, and the sustainable food movement popularized the concept of eating locally.