From Dumps to Charities

by Hannah Jang, Chief Blogger

As the saying goes, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure. And so it is with Film Biz Recycling, the not-for-profit organization, that diverted over 180 tons of materials from landfills and redistributed over 60% of materials to eight local charities. 

Film Biz Recycling, founded by Eva Radke, accepts donated props and materials from film, TV, theater, commercial and other media productions. Radke, a former art department coordinator, saw a void and decided to fill it. After years of seeing so much material waste in the media industry, Radke channeled her frustration into action. In 2008, a home, also known as the Prop Shop, was built for these abandoned items. 40% of those salvaged items become inventory for sale or rent at the Prop Shop and everything else goes to charities and local organizations.

"I want people to understand that we are not a store. We are a community center. Rather than be recognized as a great store, we want it to be very clear that we have a social and an environmental mission and hope to inspire people to take this business model and replicate it in their local neighborhood."

Film Biz Recycling's mission is to not only create socially responsible and sustainable solutions by using repurposed materials but also provide environmentally focused educational platforms. FBR often hosts seminars in their 10,000-foot warehouse space focusing on reuse and the media production and creative arts industries. "I want to be a conduit for the film industry and see it become a factory for art and learning." says Radke.

In addition to providing meeting and studio spaces to local community groups, businesses and individuals, FBR also runs an art gallery that features work from local artists (as shown below). "The workshops are free because I just want people to come in here and listen. Be encouraged. Be inspired."

 

     

 

To view the different charities Film Biz Recycling partners with visit: http://www.filmbizrecycling.org/about/partners-and-charities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As One Chapter Closes Another Opens

by Cynthia Hellen, Co-Founder of GIRLS WHO ROCK

On behalf of the New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) team, we would like to welcome you back to what we know will be a year of impact! As some may know, NYWSE hosts various events, panels, discussions and our "How she does it" Dinner Series throughout the year. Last month, we had the honor of featuring guest speaker Adelaide Lancaster, co-author of The Big Enough Company: Creating a business that works for you and co-founder of In Good Company in NYC.

Looking forward, we have an exciting lineup of events for 2012. Our very first event will be our “How She Does It” dinner on February 13^th. We will announce our first featured guest in the next coming weeks so stayed tuned!

         

We will also continue to highlight and celebrate the stories of extraordinary women in social enterprise on this blog. But, what does "social enterprise" mean to you? What comes to mind when you hear the words "woman social entrepreneur"? Who would you like to spend an evening with and share your thought-provoking ideas and/or discuss about sustainability or entrepreneurship?                                                                                                                                 

We want to know your thoughts and are taking submissions! Email us at: [email protected].

                                                                                                                                                             

We look forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming events!

NYWSE Appoints Kari Litzmann Chapter Leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, New York, January 9, 2012 – New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE), a professional network of women social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, has appointed Kari Litzmann as its second Chapter Leader. The new leadership appointment is effective immediately and will be accompanied by NYWSE Founder and inaugural Chapter Leader Natalia Oberti Noguera transitioning into an advisory role.

Natalia Oberti Noguera founded NYWSE in 2008, grew the community from six to over 1,200 members within two years, and learned about the lack of funding for-profit social ventures face firsthand from NYWSE members. In 2011, she launched the Pipeline Fellowship, which trains women philanthropists to become angel investors through education, mentoring, and practice. Fellows commit to invest in a woman-led for-profit social venture in exchange for equity and a board seat.

Natalia Oberti Noguera said, “I look forward to remaining an active NYWSE member and supporting Kari Litzmann during this transition. Kari’s background as both a social intrapreneur and social entrepreneur creates an ideal combination of experiences that will resonate with the NYWSE community. Also, Kari’s dedication to supporting women innovators and commitment to sustainability characterize the values that NYWSE has come to be known for and I’m confident that she will lead NYWSE through new milestones as the network celebrates its four-year anniversary this month.”

Kari Litzmann is a graduate of Pratt Institute’s Design Management Masters Program and has spent the past seven years working as a branding and graphic design consultant, mostly for organizations that focus on the development of women like Women’s World Banking and Barnard College. In 2011, Litzmann founded her design social enterprise, Rubina, that will soon be launching a platform to sell unique, limited-edition products created by designer and artisan collaborations around the world that provide a sustainable income for marginalized women and preserve their traditional crafts.

Under Kari Litzmann’s leadership, the NYWSE community will continue to expand as a dynamic professional network for women social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs through panel discussions, “How She Does It” dinner series, and professional development events.

“There is something quite magical within the NYWSE community,” said Kari Litzmann. “Never before have I been a part of a group of women that want to help you as much as, if not more than, they want to help themselves. My goal is to lead this organization in becoming even more of a place where women who are passionate about creating environmental, social, and financial impact in the world can be inspired, connect with others, and gain the resources and tools they need to make their goals happen. I want NYWSE to be known as a place you can make ideas happen.”

Kari Litzmann has been a member of NYWSE since the summer of 2010 and has served on the Events Committee from the beginning. As a social entrepreneur herself, she hopes to use her experiences to inspire and encourage the NYWSE community. According to Kari, “We can make so much more impact when we work together.”


About New York Women Social Entrepreneurs

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) is the NY-metro chapter of Young Women Social Entrepreneurs (YWSE). NYWSE’s mission is to provide a community, tools, trainings, and resources that women need to succeed as business leaders while becoming sustainability experts. Our vision is to empower women to effect change in society at all levels, as an individual, community member, professional, student, and entrepreneur.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Hannah Jang
NYWSE Chief Blogger
http://www.ywse.org/nywse/
[email protected]