The No Worries Project

Nothing. Anything. Something.

2011-12-15T18:18:00.002-05:00

I have started to think a lot about barriers recently. There are a lot of barriers disappearing these days. Borders. Walls. Fences. With every layer of protection that breaks down, it seems a slight whiff of some unknown stored energy is released out into the universe. It's getting increasingly more difficult to look at the person next to you without some shared sense of empathy in the light of the current state of affairs on this planet. We are all starting to pay attention.

Quite frankly, I am terrified. The world is a fucked up place. And yet at the very same time, we are interacting with people in a way that was, at one point in our species history, incomprehensible. I am an optimist. But I am also an advocate of experiential learning. You have to get knocked on your ass a few times, experience the broad side of ignorance to the face, before you really start to pay attention.

When before our penpals lived on the other side of town, we now collaborate on elementary school projects half a world away. This shared experience is quickly becoming the most powerful force in the world. It can be overwhelming at times. If you are "fortunate" enough to be plugged in to the web of relationships technology has allowed us to create, you see some pretty crazy shit. At times, it is easy to forget all of the good things that are happening out there. We are collaborating on a remarkable scale. As our awareness of each other and our ability to communicate continue to evolve, barriers start to break down. All of a sudden, dreams that once seemed but a passing cloud become our reality.

Stop and take a breath - we have the ability to change the world, we just need to start paying attention.

Nothing is anything until it is something.

-cbd

2011-07-07T10:38:00.001-04:00

Khan Academy... Definitely tracking these folks. Has revolution written all over it.

Children Rise Trailer and NWP Phase 2 Annoucement

2010-07-19T10:17:00.006-04:00

Friends,

my bad. life sidetracked me for a bit.

travel, new job, new digs, etc etc...

but all have inspired new thoughts, and more importantly, connected me to some new and cool orgs out there that are spreading the No Worries message(even if they don't know it...yet!)

needless to say, i have not been as diligent with the NWP blog as I would have liked...

But internet gets hooked up tonight, and we will be back on and runnng like Usain Bolt in no time.

Until then, check out the trailer (below) to my friend Billy Raftery's latest project, "Children Rise."

Get inspired, and then check out their webpage... http://www.childrenrise.org/

As always, thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned as I begin to rollout the second phase of the No Worries Project later this summer...

All my love,

cbd

A World Cup for Change: Part 1

2010-03-11T10:18:00.003-05:00

With less than 100 days before the world's most gifted athletes take to the pitch to play the world's greatest game on the world's largest stage to compete for the world's most treasured trophy, I thought it might not be a bad idea to focus in on what will surely be one of the most significant events in the history of sport...the 2010 World Cup, hosted for the first time by an African nation: South Africa. This will be the first of a multi-part series that will focus on some of the storylines you probably won't see during ESPNs coverage.

World Cup 2010, part 1.

For most, June 11th will mark the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when host nation South Africa will take the field against Mexico. Buen Suerte Mexico, bring your ear plugs to the match, the Bafana Bafana supporters will be a fan spectacle like nothing we have ever seen.

What many people around the world don't know, is that the first world cup match actually commences next week, when 9 teams face off in the Street Child World Cup in Durban.
Endorsements from such footballing giants as David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson has given this project a stamp of legitimacy that will finally give street children around the world the voice they so desperately need. Perhaps no better endorsement is needed, however, then from one of my personal heroes - a man who means so much to South Africa, and an ambassador for peace the world over, Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

“The Deloitte Street Child World Cup demonstrates the tremendous potential of every single child, and especially street children, who are so often treated as less than human. I am proud that the first ever Street Child World Cup will take place in South Africa – and I urge all governments to guarantee the rights of this most marginalised group of their citizens to lives in which their promise is fulfilled.”

Next week's segment will cover Umthombo Street Children, the organization that is hosting the Street Child World Cup. Until then, please take a look at the promo video for the 2010 SCWC, and follow the links to get more info on the project.

As always, thanks for stopping by!
cbd and the NWP

Access to Education for All of Our Children...

2010-02-04T12:49:00.003-05:00

Very simply, One Laptop per Child offers educational opportunities to the poorest children on this planet on a scale never before thought possible. Nicholas Negroponte and his team have found a way to put laptops in the hands of the forgotten future of our world. OLPC is taking big, bold steps to provide the tools necessary to connect and empower young students in some of the most disconnected parts of the globe.

If you are not familiar with this organization, check out the below video, jump to their website, and as always, spread the word about the incredible work One Laptop per Child is doing to make the future a truly brighter, and more connected place.

The Evolution of Philanthropy

2010-01-22T10:16:00.003-05:00

A while back, I was cruising through the new releases section of the Summit Public Library and I stumbled upon a book called "The Blue Sweater," written by Jacqueline Novogratz. For anyone out there looking to supplement their latest vampire novel with something that offers a bit more substance, pick this book up. Now. Below is an excerpt copied from the the book's homepage:

"The Blue Sweater at once is a deeply personal coming-of-age story of a young idealist determined to change the world, and a call to action to all those concerned with growing inequality around the globe. Novogratz relates her experiences over two decades, first in Africa and later in India and Pakistan. Her story is a true testament to the indomitable quality of the human spirit and the power of hope and optimism to create real change."

The author, Jacqueline Novogratz, is the founder and CEO of Acumen Fund. Novogratz's visionary organization is a philanthropic endeavor that is changing the way people perceive the role of non-profits in combating poverty and offering tangible solutions to the problems facing sustainable international development.

A call to action! Friends of the NWP who are reading this blog:
Leverage your professional experiences, get involved, and change the world!
Check out the video below, get inspired...

Re-writing The Preppy Handbook...

2010-01-13T13:02:00.003-05:00

After a nice long holiday, the NWP Blog is back on the attack. I was introduced to Collared Greens by a good buddy of mine who has had his nose in the retail business for quite some time now. My initial reaction when browsing the CG site for the first time: It's about time.

Being a product of an east coast prep school, I speak from personal experience when I talk about the difficulty in finding a high-quality, good looking product from a company that has conservation and sustainable business as a core value. No disrespect to my friends at Patagonia, but lets be honest, the day YC and company start peddling rep stripe ties and bows is a day I never want to see. So snag a couple of these cubicle pre-reqs, conserve your favorite stretch of river and wear your necktie-noose with pride knowing that you look better then the guy next to you.

Without further ado, I will let CG founder, Randy Ashton introduce his company to the No Worries community with the Collared Greens Mission Statement:

"We know that the world is changing. Due to rising awareness of the impact that people have on the environment, we are effecting positive change through our roles as producers and consumers. Now more than ever, we are given the options to make responsible decisions – with alternative energy sources, efficient automobiles, organic products and more. Collared Greens is proud to be a part of this movement. We believe that elegance and eco-consciousness can coexist, and aim to redefine American fashion by combining forward thinking with timeless style."

Look for Collared Green products at a store near you by clicking here...

Channel Your Inner-Blue Steel, and Help Save the Children

2009-12-21T12:47:00.004-05:00

Don't try to deny it, Monday's suck. Fortunately, now you have the No Worries Project blog to spice things up. Today's entry highlights the collaborative work being done between Ben Stiller and Save the Children.

The groundbreaking and innovative STILLERSTRONG is changing the face of celebrity philanthropy as we know it. Never before has a public figure so effortlessly "acquired" and seamlessly integrated other peoples ideas into a unique campaign for the greater good. Ben Stiller offers incendiary performances in each of the short video appeals he has posted on the website. Ben Stiller is a master of his craft, and I applaud him for finding a way to leverage his serious nature to help build a school in Haiti.

If you are working today, lets be honest, the Monday of Christmas week is a wash. Take a few minutes to watch one of the video shorts below, and then pick up your own set of headbands so I am not the only idiot walking around with one of these things on my head. After you've done that, link above to check out the great work that Ben and Save the Children are doing!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
cbd

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."

2009-12-17T10:37:00.003-05:00

Introducing, Playing For Change.

I was first introduced to this incredible organization about a year ago - the day after I learned a very dear friend had passed away. With no way of knowing, my friend Lauren sent me a link to this "really cool" YouTube video. I will always remember the first time I heard the PFC bands first single, "Stand By Me."

In their own words, "Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world."

Though you might recognize a few of the artists(Bono was one of the first big names to collaborate with PFC), most are struggling artists and street performers who eek out a living doing what they love. What started out as an idea, turned into a movement. Now, the PFC band is traveling around the world, using music as an instrument for peace.

Changing the way we give back, one shoe at a time...

2009-12-16T11:15:00.010-05:00

So, if you have not had a chance to check TOMS shoes out yet, WAKE UP! Blake Mycoskie and the TOMS family have quietly been starting a revolution in the way people approach the wonderful world of retail.

A serial entrepreneur turned social, for-profit revolutionary, Blake’s retail company TOMS has a very simple business model : "With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. One for One." The one-for-one model started out small, and has quickly snowballed into a movement that is changing the face of philanthropy, one shoe at a time.

I'll go on record as saying these are some of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. If you're stumped on what to get a loved one this year, check out the video below for a little inspiration...

The beginning of the start of something great...

2009-12-16T10:07:00.001-05:00

High Five!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the No Worries Project. This is something I have been working on, in one form or another, for close to five years. It began with random ideas and incoherent ramblings, but slowly, with support and encouragement from friends and family, has developed into a more focused effort. Though it is constantly evolving, the NWP will always be a place people can go to find links to downright positive stuff, share ideas, and connect with people around the world doing their part to make things just a little better then they were yesterday.

It is a confused world we live in today. We seem to be constantly exposed to negative thoughts and actions and faced with a culture that encourages us in so many ways to think for ourselves first. The No Worries Project is about taking a few moments to recognize some of the good things that are going on in this world. I remember one of my favorite quotes, I think its from Jack Kornfield, but dont hold it to me: "Life is so tough, how can we be anything but nice."

I sincerely hope you enjoy this blog, and I encourage you to share in helping this become a place where we can all access some of the inspiring ideas, thoughts, organizations, and people that are finding a voice in this awesome world.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Much love,
cbd