Well, Now What?

With the oil spill now capped (assuming everything holds), the assessment of the full extent of the devastating damage begins. Many environmental organizations were already active in the Gulf long before the oil spill, and their commitment to the region and to the cleanup efforts is unwavering.

Donations and volunteers will be needed for months and even years to come. The Waterkeeper Alliance has launched the Save Our Gulf Campaign, which follows the efforts of the Gulf Waterkeepers. Consider making a donation to their efforts or to the efforts of the many worthy organizations working in the Gulf that I wrote about in the previous post.

One of the most important actions we can all take is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels; check out My Gulf Action to find easy ways to do just that.

With all of the devastating reports and pictures rolling in it is easy to feel discouraged, but there are simple actions we can all take to hold those responsible accountable and to help with the cleanup.

How to Help in the Gulf

With all of the bad news about the BP oil disaster, it is difficult not to feel discouraged. The reports about how much oil and methane is spilling into the Gulf are daunting, and it is clear that we are faced with one of the biggest environmental disasters ever.

It is important for all of us to stay informed and to do what we can to ensure both accountability and adequate clean-up. Here are three things you can do to help:

First, consider donating money to organizations involved with the monitoring and cleanup efforts, and second, consider volunteering. People are needed to do everything from cleaning wildlife to monitoring the movement of oil. A coalition of organizations including The Nature Conservancy and the National Audubon Society has put together the Louisiana Gulf Response. Organizations like The Waterkeeper Alliance and Matter of Trust are also very active in responding to the oil spill and can use donations and/or volunteers to help with their efforts.

Third, stay informed and up-to-date and encourage accountability and ongoing cleanup efforts. Visit the websites above, as well as the Deepwater Horizon Response website, for more information. Post information on your Facebook page, tweet about the latest developments, and encourage your friends to take action as well.


In a crisis of this magnitude, even small steps are essential reminders that we all are able to make a positive difference.

My Green Dream Job

As a freelance writer, part-time teacher, part-time speaker, and sustainability activist and volunteer, I often get the question, “So, what do you actually do for a living?” or “How do you pay your bills?” It’s a fair question. After all, I’m always espousing the value of pursuing your passions and making a living doing something that makes a difference.

The answer, of course, is complicated. As is the case with many writers, I have had to come up with many different ways to minimize and yes, eventually pay those pesky bills. The short answer is that I write and I speak about what I write. I write for pretty much anyone who asks me to, and I hope that they are able to pay me a bit of money so that I can keep writing. I also teach writing and even yoga sometimes, both of which are endeavors I love. The energy and creativity that teaching requires is renewing and gratifying, regardless of the subject matter.

No matter how creative I have to be to make ends meet, the effort and even the stress of a career like mine is always worthwhile because I get to research and write about issues that matter. What’s more, I have the privilege of speaking to people about tangible ways they can take action. I love my job, and I believe strongly in the work I do. Sometimes I even get to plan parties, like the Party with a Purpose we recently threw here in Seattle. By definition, therefore, and no matter what the number is in my bank account (and it’s often a minuscule one), I consider myself successful.

It wasn’t always this way. My route to a dream job was a circuitous one. In my early twenties, I worked in production on big budget movies in Los Angeles. I landed my first “dream job” producing a low-budget independent film, and from there I was able to find jobs on Hollywood blockbusters, working with stars like Harrison Ford and Cameron Diaz. While I do believe that the medium of film has the power to change the way people think about important issues, I didn’t feel like I was using my talents to effect change from my post in the production office. The job was fun and exciting though, and I cultivated many of the traits I would need to pursue a career in writing—patience, persistence, creativity, multitasking, organization, and the ability to work insanely long hours while still keeping a smile on my face. I’m grateful for my time in the film industry, and I’m also glad that I experienced my quarterlife crisis right on schedule at the age of twenty-five.

I went looking for the kind of book that I would eventually write once I realized it didn’t yet exist—one that goes beyond raising awareness by offering tangible suggestions and inspirational stories about people all over the world who are making a difference. I left the film industry to teach middle school English and build my platform as a writer. After a few years of teaching and writing, I was able to find an agent and publisher for my book. Along the way I encountered many people who inspired me and encouraged me to keep writing, even when rejections greatly outnumbered acceptances. I met people who had started nonprofit organizations and sustainable businesses, and I met volunteers who changed their entire career paths because they were so moved by what they had seen while volunteering. I met scientists, activists, lawyers, politicians, teachers, entrepreneurs, doctors, writers, students, and countless others who devoted themselves tirelessly to the issues they were passionate about. Even as the circle of world changers I personally know continues to expand, I am continuously reminded of the energy, innovation, and potential of my generation and the next. These people also reinforce my belief that no matter what we decide to do for a living, we all have a tremendous capacity to make a difference.

Photos courtesy of Paul Grady

Throw a Party. Change the World. Really.

Recently, I worked with several other people to plan and execute a Party with a Purpose, which raised over $13,000 for oral rehydration therapy corners in Kenya, which are key in combating diarrheal disease, which kills millions of children each year,  in developing countries. The party was based on a chapter in Ten Ways of the same name, and I hope this party inspires many more energetic twenty and thirty-somethings to raise money and awareness about a cause they believe in. Feel free to email me for tips and more information, and let us know if you throw your own party with a purpose!
Photo courtesy of Paul Owens.                               

Chicago Green Festival

I had the privilege of speaking at the Chicago Green Festival this past weekend. A joint project of Green America and Global Exchange, the event attracted thousands of people from all over the Midwest and speakers and exhibitors from all over the country. Here is a video with excerpts from my presentation. I'll be speaking at the Seattle Green Festival next Saturday, June 5th at 3pm, and I hope to see many of you there!

Party with a Purpose!

When I started writing Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties, the chapter “Ways to Party with a Purpose” was one of the first ones I came up with. After all, it is how we spend a lot of our twenties – celebrating, networking, meeting new people, and gathering information about the issues that matter most to us. It seems like an easy leap to transform some of this time spent socializing into time spent making the world a better place. Parties and fundraisers are also a great way to meet like-minded people, who might have a lead for that perfect world-changing job.

I've been involved with planning a Party with a Purpose in Seattle. Since Seattle is a nexus for global health research and innovation, we decided to put our focus there. We have raised all of the money for the glamorous cocktail bash, and therefore all of the proceeds from ticket sales will go directly towards combating rotavirus, a leading killer of children under the age of five.

It’s so inspiring to see Party with a Purpose come to life, and it wouldn’t have happened without all of the incredible members of the planning committee, who have devoted themselves to making this party one of the best Seattle has ever seen replete with an amazing band, a great locale, sweet swag bags, and awesome raffle items. I’ve only lived here for a short time, and I’m amazed by how many energetic innovators call Seattle home.

No matter where you live or what your budget is, you can plan your own Party with a Purpose. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Gather a few like-minded folks who are also interested in the idea of throwing a party with a purpose.
  

• Decide on a cause and a charity that will receive the proceeds. Once you have chosen a few options, contact each organization to see how the potential donation would be used and what the organization would be willing to do to help promote and plan the party.

• Choose a venue and calculate your budget. If this will be a bigger bash, create a list of possible sponsors. Even if you're doing something smaller at your favorite neighborhood bar, for example, ask potential sponsors to consider donating space, food, drink, helping to recruit a local band, etc.
  

• Send out invitations via social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and ask that everyone pass on the information about the party to their various networks. If you're selling tickets, you may also be able to get marketing assistance from your ticket vendor.

• Accept help from guests. You will probably need additional volunteers beyond the members of your planning crew, so let guests pitch in as well. Offer different levels of involvement, so that everyone can be involved with the growing community of world changers!
  

Turning Your Passion Into Promise

Many of us are passionate about one thing, or more often, a whole lot of things, but the next step is the tricky one: how to take that excitement and translate it into a job? I’m a big advocate of figuring out what you love by volunteering, traveling, and dabbling in all sorts of ventures before deciding on where to place your most valuable resources, your time and energy.

The final chapter of Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties focuses on how to land your dream job with suggestions throughout about resources and organizations for job seekers, as well as success stories of people who navigated their way to the perfect fit.

Every chapter has a “Ways Guide” that is applicable to the focus of the chapter. Here is an updated excerpt from the Chapter 10 guide:

Ways Guide to Finding the Perfect World-Changing Job for You (or at Least One to Try Out for a While)

Read all about it. Learn as much as you can about the job market and the trends of potential employers. For the green job hunter, some excellent resources include websites like the New York Times’ Green Blog, Green America, Treehugger, Grist, and Earth911. Also, check out the internship opportunities on the Green Collar Earth website to learn more about the many shades of green jobs available.

Build a platform on the web. It should come as no surprise that one of the best ways to network these days is by using Web 2.0 tools. Set up a LinkedIn account and invite key people you’ve worked for or with to write a recommendation. Also, ask friends for recommendations of colleagues you should connect with. Add professional information to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, and consider setting up a website or blog with samples of your work and testimonials (when appropriate) about your expertise.

Become a member. Once you find a few organizations or businesses that might be good potential employers, visit their websites often and sign up for email action alerts and updates. If you can afford it, consider becoming a donor. Doing so not only guarantees that you will stay informed, but your membership will show a tangible commitment to their cause when a job becomes available.

Network, network, network. Put the word out to anyone who asks (and even those who don’t) about the kind of work that you would like to do. Check in with friends, acquaintances, former bowling league buddies, and basically anyone who might know someone at the type of organization or business that you would like to be involved with. Attend mixers like the Green Drinks parties, and don’t be shy about asking for help. Many people find their job through someone they know, and it only takes one good connection to turn you on to that perfect job!

Get in the door with informational interviews. Even if you can’t immediately find an organization that has a job opening to match your skill set (expert hacky sacker, soap opera trivia genius, nap master), many will be more than willing to sit down with you for an informational interview. These types of conversations are an excellent way to learn more about an organization, express your interest when something does open up, and make a good first impression on someone influential within the company. Treat these discussions like real interviews and schedule as many as you can. For more tips to help you prepare, check out the SkillsBuilder section on the Green Collar Earth website.