Looks like President Obama is starting to get things done. First this week, the Hate Crimes Act was passed and now he announced the official end of the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban. In case you didn’t know, 22 years ago there was a ban that blocked those with HIV from entering the United States. Changing [...]

October 30, 2009 by crissy spivey | Tags: HIV travel and immigration ban, HIV/AIDS, lifted, President Obama, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 | Comments Off

In our current work, we tend to focus on immigration issues in the U.S. but immigration issues are running rampid across the globe. We just came across a story that artist Nikhil Singh, illustrator of critically acclaimed graphic novel by Salem Brownstone, All Along the Watchtower, is not allowed to attend his own book launch [...]

October 30, 2009 by crissy spivey | Tags: All Along the Watchtower, b-listed, culture shockers, immigration, immigration law, London, Nikhil Singh | Comments Off

Tomorrow’s the day! If you’re dressing for Halloween tomorrow, or for those that are starting early and dressing up tonight, let your costume do the talking on a social issue that you care about.  And in the face of the many negative and racist costumes we told you about (and don’t forget to take the [...]

October 30, 2009 by crissy spivey | Tags: b-activists, costumes, dosomething.org, Halloween, social cause costumes, Take the poll | Comments Off

In September we asked you to sign the petition to Drop Dobbs. Meaning Lou Dobbs.  Since then, with your help, America’s Voice raised money ($16,000 to be exact) to produce and air an ad, “Drop the Hate,” (see below) that urges CNN to drop Dobbs and his hate-spewing, one-sided “news” show. Unfortunately CNN has taken [...]

October 29, 2009 by ishita | Tags: America's Voice, cnn, Drop Dobbs, Lou Dobbs, MSNBC, Rachel Maddow | 1 Comment »

Born: October 29, 1938  Claim to fame: A member of the Council of Women World Leaders, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is a symbol of empowerment and strength for women worldwide as she overcame odds and opposition to become the first woman to be elected head of state in Africa on January 16, 2006. In 2005, she founded [...]

October 29, 2009 by ishita | Tags: Africa, civil war, Council of Women World Leaders, education, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia, Peace, President, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Woman President | Comments Off

Do you have a great idea for social change, but need to learn some skills to make it happen? If you have an idea (and are under 25), but need to learn key skills like building a website, grant writing, branding and marketing, pitching to potential donors, online communications, starting your own non-profit, etc., on [...]

October 29, 2009 by ishita | Tags: dosomething.org, non-profits, Social Action Boot Camp, social activism, social media, youth, youth organization | Comments Off

If you didn’t hear, President Obama JUST signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. What does that mean exactly? From the CAUSA website: It is now a federal crime to assault an individual based on a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or disability. The [...]

October 28, 2009 by crissy spivey | Tags: Gay, Hate Crimes Act, Hate Crimes Prevention Act, James Byrd Jr., LBGT, lesbian, Matthew Shepard, President Obama, Race, Racism, transgender | Comments Off

Do you have the next big idea for social change? Our friends at Echoing Green may be able to help you out.  They have a fellowship (which you can apply to now) that provides up to $90,000 in seed funding and support to help you launch the organization you’ve always wanted. They’ve provided support to [...]

October 28, 2009 by crissy spivey | Tags: b-activists, b-listed, Echoing Green, fellowship, seed money, social enterpreneurship | 1 Comment »

Larry Whitten is an ex-marine who has spent the past 40 years in the hotel business, recently took over one such hotel in Taos, a small town in New Mexico, a liberal and diverse community of around 5,000 residents, which has been home to the Spanish culture and language for hundreds of years. Within weeks [...]

October 27, 2009 by ishita | Tags: Anglicize, Hispanic, hotel owner, Larry Whitten, Latino | Comments Off

Our Executive Director, Mallika Dutt presented last week with Nicole Kidman at the U.S House of Representative’s Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight’s hearing on international violence against women. She was able to talk about the overwhelming response to our Bell Bajao campaign, which calls on men and boys to take a stand [...]

October 27, 2009 by crissy spivey | Tags: Bell Bajao, internatation violence against women, Mallika Dutt, Nicole Kidman, U.S. House of Representative's Subcommittee on International Organizations | Comments Off