Of Sugar And Spice And Everything Nice
It’s my birthday, and I’m taking the day off, but I needed to say this to you, so here goes:
Remember the nursery rhyme? “Of sugar and spice, and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of.” Little boys seemed to get the shaft on that one (I mean, who wants to be made of snips and snails and puppy dogs’ tails?).
That popped into my head this morning as I was looking at the incredible kindness and warmth flowing towards me today, my 40th birthday. Actually, the flow started a few days ago, when people started donating to my birthday fundraiser for Kids with Cameras via Facebook’s Causes application.
I’m thrilled to report that thanks to your generosity my goal of raising $800 was long surpassed and, as of this writing, we’re up to $966 that will go a long way in changing the lives of marginalized kids around the world. If you’d like to keep donating, though, don’t stop! Or do consider helping by “joining” the cause, spreading the word, etc. – you know the deal.
I may be beginning my own new decade today, but I’d like to think I’ve still got some sugar and spice left in me. And a large part of that is because of the people around me and I get to know each day. Social media, in particular, has opened up my world in a way I could have never conceived. So has IABC and the wonderful people I keep meeting through professional events.
And when those professional connections grow into relationships, boy, I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. At last night’s IABC/Washington chapter meeting, for example, as I got up to make the announcements (because I’m chapter president and all), the entire room sang happy birthday to me.
Filed under Personal, Shonali Burke | Tags: birthday, facebook, iabc, iabc washington, jakub konysz, kids with cameras, relationships, shashi bellamkonda, Social Media | Comments (6)Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Yesterday this blog turned a year old. I’ve actually been doing this – sometimes not at all consistently, but I’ve hung in there – for a year.
Wow!
I do want to share some thoughts on what I’ve been through as a new blogger, as well as call out some people without whom it wouldn’t have been possible, but right now, I’m going to share another milestone.
In four days, I’ll turn 40.
Yup, I thought I’d get a bigger reaction out of you with that one. Time flies when you’re having fun.
I don’t know if I’m killing my future career prospects by revealing my age, but let’s face it, if you know me and/or have been following me, you should’ve figured it out by now.
Plus, this is supposed to be social media and the 21st century, right? “We’re here and we’re ol-der, get used to it” and all that.
I’ll confess, I still get a kick out of it when I’m carded. Who doesn’t like being thought younger than they are, other than, possibly, five-year-olds? But I watched with admiration as Danny Brown pulled together the 12for12K initiative when he turned 40 and figured I could try to do something along those lines.
Filed under Personal, Philanthropy, Shonali Burke | Tags: alissa friedman, beth kanter, calcutta, geoff livingston, kids with cameras, kolkata, Personal | Comments (11)Through a Lens, Richly
Communicators: how do you use your lens to impact the world?
While channel-surfing a couple of years ago, I came across the documentary “Born into Brothels.” Having been born and brought up in Calcutta (now Kolkata), I was instantly captivated by the story. More than that, I was touched by Zana Briski‘s commitment to these children born, through no fault of their own, on the wrong side of the street; and her covenant to open their eyes and bring them the riches of hope – through a camera lens.
The original Kids with Cameras. Source: Kids with Cameras
The Communicator’s Lens
When “Slumdog Millionaire” swept last week’s Golden Globes, I was reminded of the “kids with cameras,” and the power an image has to convey what, often, 516 words cannot. That is the essence of what we, as communicators, should aspire to, isn’t it? To convey a message to our audiences in such an efficient and impactful way that they are moved to action, enabling our clients or organizations to achieve their goals.
Filed under Communication, Philanthropy, Shonali Burke | Tags: 12for12k, beth kanter, calcutta, camera, cause, change, charity, children, communications, community, danny brown, donate, facebook, hope house, kids, kids with cameras, kolkata, lens, Philanthropy, Public Relations, Sharing Foundation, slumdog millionaire, Twitter, Zana Briski | Comments (19)
