#wemove chronicle: I’m so grateful
Dear team, Doing What I Can I’m extremely grateful that we made it our 2011 team goal to commit to writing one blog post per month. Although we might not always have a post ready by our assigned date, I think that’s okay. Deadlines are good in holding us accountable, but we also need to [...]
Glimpses of Perfection and Striking Beauty
Above: Plantation Bay, Cebu, Philippines Dear team, As I sit here writing this reflective post for the month of January 2011 in Manila, I wanted to thank all of you for helping me to get to where I am today. Without your support and words of encouragement over the past year, I do not think [...]
The Multiple Disciplines in Early Childhood Education
Dear Team, This year starts off with our team spread across the world. We are busy building networks, learning new skills, advancing in our careers and making large impacts. While we are all off on our personal journeys, we are all still committed to our education. Some of us are currently in school, some of [...]
Tenth
Dear team, Happy New Year! I had an amazing weekend catching up at our team retreat (with Renjie there in spirit!) as you are the people who best inspire, encourage and challenge me (when I’m not being left behind). Our team has seen so much growth since that one day in Renjie’s basement. Through our talks, I [...]
Rides of Hope | TEDxTel Aviv
With all the conflict and strife taking place in the world right now, most especially in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, as well as with the ongoing war in Iraq, this TEDxTel Aviv Talk by computer science professor Shimon Schocken is refreshing and uplifting and is probably one of the best TED Talks [...]
Reflections from Derry, Northern Ireland
The conflict that has been going on for decades in Northern Ireland was brought into clear focus for me when I attended a conference on conflict and divided societies at Magee College, University of Ulster in Derry, Northern Ireland, two weeks ago.
Toronto Community Raises over $15,000 for Pakistani Flood Survivors
heARTS for Pakistan successfully pledges support towards the worst humanitarian tragedy Toronto, ON – Over 200 Torontonians came together at heARTS for Pakistan this Monday, October 18, 2010 at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, where over $15,000 was raised, with approximately $5000 matched by CIDA and the Canadian government, for survivors of the Pakistani floods [...]
Call for Volunteers, Artists & Sponsors – Silent Art Auction in Toronto for Pakistani Flood Victims
I was on a conference call with several friends from Waterloo and Toronto last night, where we discussed the issue of doing our part to raise awareness and money for the victims of the floods in Pakistan. I’m sure by now, many of you have heard the statistics where the United Nations estimates 20 million [...]
i care Ep. 1: KCI
“i care” episodes seek to showcase caring stories in the community. The stories need not to be extraordinary – we want to remind people that everyday actions also have the power to touch lives. For episode 1, we visited Bill Bulmer’s geography class at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School (KCI), where he took his students [...]
Well of Change Skills Drive – Jun 3, 2010
We’re excited to be hosting a Well of Change Skills Drive on June 3, 2010. It’s part fundraiser, part speed networking, and part celebration night out. You’ll have the chance to meet other young professionals in the city while discovering how you can help street-involved and homeless youth with your skills and talents.
I love Saturday afternoon reflection and strategy sessions! Thanks @rubyku @kristinalugo @petten @micdom
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed. It is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
The quote above is slightly overused, but still one of my favourites.
Social Media Workshop for BizAcademy 2010
On Mar 17, 2010, I was invited to speak at the BizAcademy on social media strategy. BizAcademy is a 1-week business bootcamp during March break for entrepreneurial-minded youth that are around Toronto, between the ages of 15-19, and interested to be part of a community-oriented youth-led business.
TEDxWaterloo 2010
It has been close to a month now since TEDxWaterloo took place on February 25 at the Gig Music Hall in Kitchener and we are still continuing to receive great feedback on the event from people who attended in person or caught the livestream. Thank you for the feedback and your continued support!
Discussion on Social Entrepreneurship – “The 100″ Podcast, Episode 2
Jennifer King (of Capacity Waterloo Region) and Renjie Butalid, joined local community animators Hilary Abel and Brock Hart last Sunday, March 14 to record Episode 2 of The 100 podcast.
Interview on TechVibes (Renjie Butalid)
Renjie Butalid’s obsessed with change. Not the monetary type, but with the sort that launches movements, spurs creativity, tests organizations and attracts followers. He’s the Communications Co-ordinator of Social Innovation Generation, a Waterloo-based collaborative partnership between The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the University of Waterloo, the MaRS Discovery District, and the PLAN Institute.
Ignite Waterloo 2
Renjie’s Ignite Waterloo talk on the United Arab Emirates, part of Global Ignite Week. March 3, 2010 at the Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum.
TEDxWaterloo
TEDxWaterloo as featured on TheRecord.com – Renjie and Jaclyn Konzelmann discussing TEDxWaterloo, happening on February 25, 2010 – www.tedxwaterloo.com
We Move Media: Retreat #1
The We Move Media team spent 13 hours on Saturday doing everything from personal updates to business model canvassing to individual role assessments. By the end of it we were more than just a team…we’re a rockband.
WLU Global Citizenship Conference 2010
I was invited to present a workshop on social innovation/social change this past weekend at the Wilfrid Laurier University Global Citizenship Conference 2010, where past keynote speakers have included Stephen Lewis and Romeo Dallaire. This year’s keynote speaker featured Andrea Smith, professor in the Department of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside, and a nominee for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.
Leveraging Technology for Positive Social Change #EpCon
Renjie’s talk at the EpCon conference in Waterloo last week, featured on TechVibes.
EpCon 2010: Technology is not just about technology
This past weekend, I attended a conference in Waterloo, Ontario hosted by a group of UW students who call themselves EPIC… and rightfully so. Their inaugural technology conference, EpCon featured the likes of Steven Woods (Site Director at Google Waterloo), Mike Lee (Chief Strategic Officer of Rogers), and Saul Colt (Lead Evangelist for Thoora).
Time for Change (#t4change) at DigitalMediaCamp Toronto (#dmcamp)
DigitalMediaCamp Toronto (#dmcamp) took place this past Saturday, where participants gathered in an attempt to address the question, “How can we work together to propel Toronto’s technology, content and design communities into the future and make Toronto a globally competitive hub of digital media entrepreneurship and innovation?”
Time For Change recap
Time For Change was born from a desire of Kristina and Ruby to celebrate our birthdays in a more meaningful way than the usual go-out-and-party-nights. Inspired by Timeraiser, a photo auction was held on December 3, 2009 to share our stories, encounters, gains and pains from our summer in Botswana and Malawi, as well as to connect all those who want to be involved in the local community with meaningful volunteering opportunities that match their skills and fit their busy lifestyle.
Time For Change – December 3rd, 2009
Part silent photo auction, part community involvement, and part celebration night out.
Kristina and Ruby are two recent grads who spent their summers after undergrad interning at 2 different NGO’s in Malawi and Botswana. They are both passionate about social change/media/innovation, photography, and are constantly striving for a better world. For our birthdays, we want to celebrate jointly and stray from the typical “go out and party”, and use this opportunity to bring people together and share our passions.
