The Power of Pro Bono: How SHE Found Her Match

By Hannah Jang, Chief Blogger

It is a common misconception that volunteers work for free. While it is true that they don’t receive financial compensation, the rewards - often times unexpected - can be many. At least, that was the case for CeCe Camacho, Chief Operating Officer Global of Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE).

In 2009, CeCe Camacho came across a blog that featured SHE, a nonprofit that addresses the lack of access to hygienic and affordable menstrual pads in underdeveloped countries. The organization struck a chord with her.  During her time in the Peace Corps in Yemen and Gabon, Camacho worked in women’s reproductive health and education which provided as a springboard for dialogue with Elizabeth Scharpf, Founder of SHE.

“It was serendipitous for the both of us,” says Camacho. “Elizabeth was at the starting point of growing SHE and needed help. She couldn’t hire me at the time, but I continued to keep in close contact with her. I worked pro bono for about a year and a half until SHE was able to hire me full time. But I never felt like just a volunteer, because I was invested and given title and ownership of special initiatives and projects.”

Although a bit of serendipity played a part in Camacho’s story, it also took a concerted investment of time and effort to get to her current role. And so I asked, “How does one even begin to get into social entrepreneurship?”

“First, find an organization with a mission that relates to your own passions. Seek out an organization where your values match with theirs.  Understand what makes you tick and discover what drives you to get out of bed every morning. Then, reach out to the Founder or CEO and let her or him know what you have to offer.  Show initiative. Jump in. Any social enterprise start-up will move fast. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to do a lot. If you can’t find a paid opportunity, do something pro bono or even offer to work as a consultant. Show that you’re committed. And finally, network. Network across all organizations and learn the skills to make an impact both within and outside your organization.”

Being passionate about your job is more than the old adage "do what you love". It's about being able to make a positive societal impact through your work and finding an organization whose values match your own: “I absolutely love what I do and am passionate about our work at SHE. I am honored to work every day with such amazing teammates.  Every day I get out of bed because I am inspired by the girls and women we serve.”

For opportunities with SHE, and to specifically learn more about SHE and the SHE28 campaign, Stay Connected (http://www.sheinnovates.com/contact.html) and follow their blog (http://sheinnovates.blogspot.com/). 

 
About CeCe Camacho, Chief Operating Officer Global

CeCe Camacho is the go-to person at SHE for anything and everything from spearheading fundraising initiatives to instituting operational systems. The power of investing in girls and women inspires CeCe to drive things forward. CeCe brings project management, operations and a strong understanding of international health and education issues to the organization. Previously CeCe worked for Waynflete School in Portland, Maine, overseeing their summer programs. She is the former director at the Cornell Public Service Center where she oversaw the K-12 programs. She also worked for the International Women's Health Coalition's Africa program, promoting girls' and women's reproductive health and rights in Nigeria and Cameroon. CeCe served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in both Yemen (Middle East) and Gabon (West Africa), working on maternal and child health projects and coordinating women in development initiatives. CeCe has a Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley. CeCe loves to run up hills, make art, take long walks with her family, and drink tea. Getting an MBA, sewing and learning how to write in French are on her "to do" list.

 

 

4 Creative Ways to Market Your Start-Up Using Social Media

by Nadia Jones, Guest Blogger

Okay, so you’ve finally gone through the process of starting your own business. You made your business plan, secured funding, hired employees, and are ready to get started. The next thing on your mind? Marketing! Truth be told, no matter how great your product is, if no one hears about it, you will never see profits. And the tricks of the trade that used to apply when it comes to getting the word out have changed completely. Now, on top of considering marketing efforts like print or television advertising, you need to focus your efforts online as well. One of the best and least expensive way to do this is through social media. Social media is a force that will only continue to grow, and you have no excuse not to capitalize on the industry for your own potential gain. Here’s how:

 

Jump in on Trending Twitter Topics 

If you don’t have a Twitter account set up for your business, get one immediately. On top of that, you should have a personal Twitter account as well, so you can represent your business and connect to other owners. Twitter is probably the most important space in social media today, and the great thing about it is that there are tons of ways to capitalize on this type of social media for promotion. A great way to do this is to follow trending topics daily and make sure to set up Twitter news feeds for anything to do with your industry. When you see a topic is trending, work the topic into a tweet and link back to your product.

 

Create a Facebook Contest that Requires Liking Your Business 

If you don’t have a Facebook profile set up for your business, make sure to get one started. Friend as many users you already know. Then, start a contest. Announce to your business Facebook friends that you will be holding a contest for a free giveaway. In order to enter the contest, users need to “like” your business or share it by posting on another user’s wall. Once they do that, you will double your exposure and possibly get some new Facebook friends and (hopefully) customers in return.

 

Start an Instagram Account

Instagram is a popular app that has, until recently, been solely used as an automatic photo upload application for Twitter. Users can take photos with their phones, adjust the effects and exposure within the program, and then upload them to their Twitter stream seamlessly. The reason Instagram is so popular is because most users love images. Think about it, if you had the choice to click on a link that had no picture and one that had a picture, which one would you choose? Your customers could get a kick out of regular uploads of your store’s interior, new products, or funny moments between employees.

 

Start a Blog for Your Business

A blog is a great way to add a personal side to your business website. Even if you don’t want to include the “fluffy” details of the business on the site itself, there is no reason not to connect with your customers on a personal level through a blog. This is also a great way to generate new customers and friends. Try adding likeminded bloggers to your blog roll and hope they return the favor, or write guest posts for other people’s blogs to get readers to link back to your own blog.

 

About Nadia Jones

Nadia Jones blogs at accredited online colleges about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at [email protected].

Sweet Treat for Mother's Day: One Lemon

by Hannah Jang, Chief Blogger

Who are you?  One Lemon "Organic & Kindly-Sourced Goodness"

What materials are used? 100% organic cotton that's dyed naturally, using elements like sea salt and the sun

Where are the materials from? India

When did the idea come about? My background as a corporate philanthropy consultant inspired me to create a business with social impact at its very core. So when my husband and I moved to Singapore in 2008, we used that opportunity to travel around Asia in search of the perfect nonprofit partners to help make our vision a reality. We built the company while in Singapore, and then moved back to the US and launched the website just over a year ago. Our first collection of organic children's goods coincided perfectly with the birth of our son!

Why is it named One Lemon? A lemon represents fresh and natural goodness, which is what we want for our products. And just one lemon can make a big difference, whether it's the zestful taste, fresh aroma, or vibrant color. Similarly, we built our business on the concept that something small can make a big difference, and we try to reflect this in every business decision we make - from the suppliers we select to the recycled materials we use in our packaging.

How is One Lemon a social enterprise? We source our products through an amazing nonprofit in India which employs and trains over 500 women in sewing, hand-embroidery, and other textile traditions. Most of the artisans who make our goods work from home, so that they can take care of their families while earning a fair wage. This allows the daughters of the household, who would otherwise be watching after the home, to go to school. We are proud that every One Lemon product contributes to a model that empowers not only the women who make our products, but also their daughters, and over time, the entire community. 

 

You're Invited! "How She Does It" Dinner Series - Featuring Lina Srivastava, Creator of Transmedia Activism

Register online: http://nwyselinas.eventbrite.com/

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Monday, June 11, 2012
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: 121 Fulton Street

 

New York Women Social Entrepreneurs (NYWSE) invites you to the "How She Does It" Dinner featuring Lina Srivastava, Creator of Transmedia Activism. Join us for this evening of dining and conversation as Lina discusses about transmedia and storytelling, the design of narrative platforms for social change, and the opportunities and challenges she has faced setting up a consulting practice around this.

 

About Lina Srivastava

Lina Srivastava is a social innovation strategist, combining activism, technology, culture, and storytelling. An attorney by training from New York University School of Law, Lina is the creator of the Transmedia Activism framework, and has been involved in campaigns for several documentaries, including Oscar-winning Born into Brothels and The Devil Came on Horseback. The former Executive Director of Kids with Cameras, and the Association of Video and Filmmakers, she is the strategist for VODO, 3Generations, Lakou Mizik, and Who Is Dayani Cristal?. Lina has provided strategic project design to a group of social impact organizations, including UNESCO, the World Bank, MobileActive, Shine Global and BYkids.


Event Host

121 Fulton Street, FiDi’s first gastropub, is a multifunctional, multi-room venue comprised of a full scale restaurant, bar and lounge and event space located at 121 Fulton Street between Nassau and Dutch Street. Featuring a modern and sleek design, 121 Fulton’s décor emphasizes a natural balance between sophistication and the cool, comfortable vibe of downtown. Allowing for various entertainment options with an emphasis on food and optimal service, the space is complete with a dual-sided restaurant complete with two separate dining areas, three separate entrances, a full bar area in front as well as a multitude of seating options for guests. Our savory and unique 60 item dining menu touches upon everything from brunch, lunch, dinner and even delivery. In addition, we have a full in-house catering, corporate menu which offers 30 different platters, 40 hot and cold passed hors d’oeuvres and 14 different buffet options to choose from as well as being able to create a menu tailored to your event needs.


Additional Info

Please note that some items on the menu may contain ingredients that could trigger food allergies, such as nuts and gluten. Let us know prior to the event if you have allergies and we will inform the kitchen. Also, all sales are final and refunds will not be issued. Thanks for your understanding.