We WILL make a difference: Investigation and Planning

CEO of Red Hat-

"But the best is getting people to believe what you want them to believe, and if people really fundamentally believe what you want them to believe, they will walk through walls."

Making a difference is a great goal, but it is work that takes true dedication and effort.

Today you start that journey towards making a difference.

First, you need to figure out the facts. Consider this:

-What facts prove that this is really a problem?
-How do you know people are effected by this problem?
                                -what are the physical effects?
                                -what are the mental and emotional effects?
                                -what are effects does this problem have on the community?
-What do you want people to know about this problem?
-What has been done about this so far?
-Who doesn't want this problem to be talked about, is opposed to helping or is denying there is a problem?
-What resources are available already?
                                 -locally
                                 -in the state
                                 -in the nation or world
                                 -via the internet, phone or other media?

Then, you want to make people "feel" the problem. Consider this:

-Who is your target audience?
-Is there a person in your audience that has been effected by the problem?
-find a person like them to be the "face" of the problem

Finally, create a simple, organized, informational/expository document to share with your target audience. Consider this:

-A tri-fold brochure created in Microsoft Publisher
-A blog
-A facebook page

Here are some resources to help you get started with your investigation:

Bullying of LGBT youth:

Teens "adult" Choices (drugs, teen pregnancy):

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends
http://c0183757.cdnl.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/wp-content/resources/Drug-Abuse-Prevention-4-Teens.pdf
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1190810
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/teens-low-income-areas-access-emergency-contraception/story?id=15431217
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/teen-smoking-drinking-historical-lows/story?id=15148934
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/teen-girls-condoms-receiving-money-boyfriends/story?id=15803558http://abcnews.go.com/Health/teen-drug-number-health-problem-america-study/story?id=13950339

Children in Poverty (hunger, homelessness, unemployed):

http://eifoodbank.org/hunger-in-eastern-illinois/
http://eifoodbank.org/hunger-in-eastern-illinois/faces-of-hunger/
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspx
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/child-hunger-facts.aspx
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx
http://www.ilpovertyreport.org/
http://eifoodbank.org/get-involved/

We WILL make a difference

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Investigation and Planning