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Reggie’s Sleepout 2008 November 6, 2008

Posted by jerikpotter in Drake University, giving.
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Next weekend, folks from the Des Moines area will gather in Drake Stadium to sleep out under the stars. Reggie’s Sleepout was created to raise awareness of homeless youth right here in the heartland. In fact, over 50% of all of Iowa’s homeless are under the age of 18.

The staff at Iowa Homeless Youth Center (IHYC) provide a safety net to these youth through their transitional living programs, counseling, and downtown outreach center.They work tirelessly to get these kids off of the streets.

I spent the night working and talking to kids at the outreach center a few years ago. The temperature was in the single digits and below zero with the wind chill. I drove around in the outreach van and checked out some of the homeless camps right here in Des Moines, literally blocks from downtown. I vividly remember how ill prepared I’d dressed for the evening.  I could withstand the cold knowing the warmth of the van was only a short key turn away. But the folks living in these camps don’t have this luxury.  They huddle together using whatever materials they can find for shelters.

These kids haven’t checked out on society. They just need a little help to get back on track. This is not a big city problem. This is an every day occurrence. This is an Iowa problem.

Full disclosure: I am the former public information officer for Youth & Shelter Services, Inc. – the parent agency of IHYC.

Age of Conversation 2 Launches Tomorrow October 29, 2008

Posted by jerikpotter in Age of Conversation.
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About a year and a half ago, Tim Johnson introduced me to blogging and to the wonderful book, The Age of Conversation. The book is an eclectic mix of authors writing about “conversation” and how social media is reshaping it. Each author was given a single page and 400 words to work with. The authors all donated the proceeds to Variety – the Children’s Charity.

Well, I’m pleased to announce The Age of Conversation 2 – Why Don’t They Get It? will be available tomorrow at 8am.  Just like last time, the book is a compilation of authors from all different walks of life. Each was given a single page and 400 words to play with.  The goal?  Start up the conversation on social media and why a lot of folks out there are ignoring it and implementing it improperly. And just like last year, all of the proceeds will go to Variety.

I’m humbled to be included in the new edition. I take look at peer to peer fundraising and how sites like Twitter and Kiva.org are changing the way people ask for and give donations.  You’ll have to buy a copy to learn more.

But don’t buy it just to read my stuff. Check out all of these other authors that contributed:

Adrian Ho, Aki Spicer, Alex Henault, Amy Jussel, Andrew Odom, Andy Nulman, Andy Sernovitz, Andy Whitlock, Angela Maiers, Ann Handley, Anna Farmery, Armando Alves, Arun Rajagopal, Asi Sharabi, Becky Carroll, Becky McCray, Bernie Scheffler, Bill Gammell, Bob LeDrew, Brad Shorr, Brandon Murphy, Branislav Peric, Brent Dixon, Brett Macfarlane, Brian Reich, C.C. Chapman, Cam Beck, Casper Willer, Cathleen Rittereiser, Cathryn Hrudicka, Cedric Giorgi, Charles Sipe, Chris Kieff, Chris Cree, Chris Wilson, Christina Kerley (CK), C.B. Whittemore, Chris Brown, Connie Bensen, Connie Reece, Corentin Monot, Craig Wilson, Daniel Honigman, Dan Schawbel, Dan Sitter, Daria Radota Rasmussen, Darren Herman, Dave Davison, David Armano, David Berkowitz, David Koopmans, David Meerman Scott, David Petherick, David Reich, David Weinfeld, David Zinger, Deanna Gernert, Deborah Brown, Dennis Price, Derrick Kwa, Dino Demopoulos, Doug Haslam, Doug Meacham, Doug Mitchell, Douglas Hanna, Douglas Karr, Drew McLellan, Duane Brown, Dustin Jacobsen, Dylan Viner, Ed Brenegar, Ed Cotton, Efrain Mendicuti, Ellen Weber, Eric Peterson, Eric Nehrlich, Ernie Mosteller, Faris Yakob, Fernanda Romano, Francis Anderson, Gareth Kay, Gary Cohen, Gaurav Mishra, Gavin Heaton, Geert Desager, George Jenkins, G.L. Hoffman, Gianandrea Facchini, Gordon Whitehead, Greg Verdino, Gretel Going & Kathryn Fleming, Hillel Cooperman, Hugh Weber, James Gordon-Macintosh, Jamey Shiels, Jasmin Tragas, Jason Oke, Jay Ehret, Jeanne Dininni, Jeff De Cagna, Jeff Gwynne & Todd Cabral, Jeff Noble, Jeff Wallace, Jennifer Warwick, Jenny Meade, Jeremy Fuksa, Jeremy Heilpern, Jeroen Verkroost, Jessica Hagy, Joanna Young, Joe Pulizzi, John Herrington, John Moore, John Rosen, John Todor, Jon Burg, Jon Swanson, Jonathan Trenn, Jordan Behan, Julie Fleischer, Justin Foster, Karl Turley, Kate Trgovac, Katie Chatfield, Katie Konrath, Kenny Lauer, Keri Willenborg, Kevin Jessop, Kristin Gorski, Lewis Green, Lois Kelly, Lori Magno, Louise Manning, Luc Debaisieux, Mario Vellandi, Mark Blair, Mark Earls, Mark Goren, Mark Hancock, Mark Lewis, Mark McGuinness, Matt Dickman, Matt J. McDonald, Matt Moore, Michael Karnjanaprakorn, Michelle Lamar, Mike Arauz, Mike McAllen, Mike Sansone, Mitch Joel, Neil Perkin, Nettie Hartsock, Nick Rice, Oleksandr Skorokhod, Ozgur Alaz, Paul Chaney, Paul Hebert, Paul Isakson, Paul McEnany, Paul Tedesco, Paul Williams, Pet Campbell, Pete Deutschman, Peter Corbett, Phil Gerbyshak, Phil Lewis, Phil Soden, Piet Wulleman, Rachel Steiner, Sreeraj Menon, Reginald Adkins, Richard Huntington, Rishi Desai, Robert Hruzek, Roberta Rosenberg, Robyn McMaster, Roger von Oech, Rohit Bhargava, Ron Shevlin, Ryan Barrett, Ryan Karpeles, Ryan Rasmussen, Sam Huleatt, Sandy Renshaw, Scott Goodson, Scott Monty, Scott Townsend, Scott White, Sean Howard, Sean Scott, Seni Thomas, Seth Gaffney, Shama Hyder, Sheila Scarborough, Sheryl Steadman, Simon Payn, Sonia Simone, Spike Jones, Stanley Johnson, Stephen Collins, Stephen Landau, Stephen Smith, Steve Bannister, Steve Hardy, Steve Portigal, Steve Roesler, Steven Verbruggen, Steve Woodruff, Sue Edworthy, Susan Bird, Susan Gunelius, Susan Heywood, Tammy Lenski, Terrell Meek, Thomas Clifford, Thomas Knoll, Tim Brunelle, Tim Connor, Tim Jackson, Tim Mannveille, Tim Tyler, Timothy Johnson, Tinu Abayomi-Paul, Toby Bloomberg, Todd Andrlik, Troy Rutter, Troy Worman, Uwe Hook, Valeria Maltoni, Vandana Ahuja, Vanessa DiMauro, Veronique Rabuteau, Wayne Buckhanan, William Azaroff, Yves Van Landeghem

Help out Parkersburg in Two Seconds October 8, 2008

Posted by jerikpotter in Uncategorized.
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The small town of Parkersburg, Iowa was hit by a devastating and deadly tornado earlier this year. Support for the area has been tremendous but the needs are still plentiful. Aplington-Parkersburg High School was leveled so the students are all crammed into the area middle school. The Henkel Corporation is giving away $25,000 to the school that receives the most votes at www.henkelhelps.com.  Stop on over. It only takes two seconds to vote.