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VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTOR STORIES AND INTERVIEWS


HOMEGROWN ROCKER HELPS THIS TOWN
by Hillary Roberts, Founder, Project Linus NJ, Inc.

In the small fishing village of Keyport, New Jersey residents are banding together to help fix playgrounds and parks in disrepair. A grassroots effort calling themselves, "Open Hearts for Keyport Parks" has taken on the renovation project. The volunteers are banding together with local rocker, Jon Caspi, on the first fundraiser - a benefit concert. Read Story

THE NEW ACTIVISM: ADDICTION RECOVERY PREPARES TO MOVE OUT OF THE BASEMENT AND INTO PUBLIC HEALTH ARENA
by Jodi Mailander Farrell, Public Access Journalism

William Cope Moyers, the son of famed broadcaster and author Bill Moyers, unwittingly became the unofficial poster boy for the addiction recovery movement when he started speaking publicly in 1996 about his own alcohol and cocaine addictions. An award-winning journalist for 15 years with CNN and newspapers around the world, Moyers first experimented with marijuana as a teenager in the 1970s. Like many college kids, he was into binge drinking on weekends. But drinking turned into hard drug use and by the time he was 30, he says, he was addicted to crack cocaine. Determined to sink the message of successful recovery into the heart of the American consciousness, a new advocacy movement is urging people to go public with their recovery stories. This small but growing group of activists are hoping to end discrimination and drum up moral and financial support by modeling their efforts after the public awareness campaigns that pushed breast cancer and AIDS onto the country’s radar screen. Read Story

SINGING IN THE KEY OF GOOD HEALTH
by Hillary Roberts, Founder, Project Linus NJ, Inc.

In an effort to help others recover and live their dreams, Laurie Daily, a professional singer who dedicates her musical talents to health, healing and recovery founded Harmony Grove, a transitional living house for women overcoming disordered eating in San Diego, California. Laurie is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist who relates her own journey from eating disorders to health in hopes of inspiring others to live a life free from anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive eating. Read Story


BOOKS AND FILMS OFFER INSPIRATION FOR GETTING AND STAYING SOBER by Thom Forbes, Public Access Journalism

When I wanted to get sober more than 20 years ago, I found inspiration in “The Courage to Change” (Houghton Mifflin), a collection of conversations author Dennis Wholey conducted about alcoholism with a few dozen famous reformed drunks, including singer Grace Slick, writer Elmore Leonard, and a few guys I admired who threw baseballs 90 mph.Two things struck me in particular as I read Wholey’s book: The inevitable progression of the disease and the infinite variety of recovery. It gave me hope when I needed a metaphysical pick-me-up. Read Story

COUNTLESS ARTICLES EXIST THAT ADVISE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ON THE EFFECTIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY.
IGNORE THEM.
by Brian Siegelwax, Chepi Chepi Inc.

The one thing to keep in mind if you are a decision-maker within a non-profit organization is that your technology strategy should be no different than that of a for-profit organization. In many cases, even your budget constraints may be no different. After all, for-profit organizations do not have limitless resources either. In fact, 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organizations have several advantages in regards to receiving donated goods, donated services, and tax exemptions. Read Story

IS IT POSSIBLE TO SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS WITH A VIDEO GAME? ACTIVIST GAMERS ARE BETTING ON IT. by Lori McDaniel, President, Voices of Hope Productions

Video games have become ever more popular in recent years and have surpassed Hollywood in box office revenues. As the technology matures, a new trend is emerging: harnessing the power of this popular medium to bring about awareness of social issues, with the potential to solve them in a game. Fighting poverty. Fostering leadership skills in inner city youth. Understanding the human rights crisis in Darfur. Seems like a neat idea and package, but will it work? Activist gamers are betting that digital video games will provide a platform that is highly engaging, challenging, empowering and educational by nature. Read Story

SUCCESS TO EXPRESS
by Hillary Roberts, Founder, Project Linus NJ, Inc.

Rap Coalition, a not-for-profit organization, keeps artists from being unfairly exploited. According to Founder, Wendy Day, "Since rap music has become profitable, many artists are being taken advantage of, portrayed unfairly, and abused by the media, the industry, managers, and record labels." Rap Coalition protects rappers, producers, and DJs, from this hostile environment, and provides artists with a place to turn when they need help or support, at no cost to them. Read Story

MAMAPALOOZA-WOMEN WHO ROCK

by Hillary Roberts, Founder, Project Linus NJ, Inc.

Do you know a gal who's a little bit Martha Stewart and a whole lotta Rod Stewart? Meet the women of Mamapalooza. Founded in 2002 by Joy Rose, lead singer of the band, Housewives on Prozac, Mamapalooza is dedicated to empowering women musicians, artists, poets, comics, dancers and filmmakers to pursue their creative dreams. Read Story

CLIMBING MOUNTAINS, LIFTING LIVES
2006 National Conference on Volunteering and Service

by Sarah Thoma, Social Entreprenuer

Having grown up in a household where community service was embedded in our lifestyles, at times I felt different from other people. When someone needed something, my family was there. My father, being a member of New York City law enforcement, was looked on as a resource to go to whenever there was a problem. Needless to say, even when he was not around, we all got called in to assist someone, somehow. As I reflect back as an adult, I can say that I was very lucky to have parents who instilled service in us. Although we did not have much money, my parents showed us that we had something to give. We did not know that we were not rich, because in many ways we were… Read Story

VISIT THE VOICES OF HOPE BLOG, |THE EYE| to get the latest info on films, events, workshops and all-things media and pop culture with a socio-political point of view.

YOUR MISSION IS OUR MISSION.

Partner with Voices of Hope Productions to market your message, develop your documentary video story, or advocate for your cause. You can be assured we will work with you to raise awareness of your organization, and build resources to bring about positive and lasting change-one story at a time.

VIEW DOCUMENTARIES

 

Find out about the
Youth Video Festival

 

"The first thing to keep in mind, is that your objective is not to make a 'TV show' or a 'show' of any kind. You are collecting evidence; you are encouraging witness; you are emboldening ordinary people to 'go public.'"

George Stoney from forward in
Turn on the Power! Using Media for
Social
Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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© 2005-2007
Voices of Hope Productions
New Jersey
201.320.4920
info@voicesofhope.tv
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