National Service Fair for Tulane & Loyola Students on April 10th

Check out the National Service Recruitment Fair, coming up on Wednesday, April 10^th, 2013  from 11:30 am to 2pm at the Tulane University Lavin-Bernick Center  in the Qatar Ballroom.

Watch the video trailer below:

 

The National Service Fair is bringing together a wide range of service programs to show students the variety of options they have after graduation. National Service programs can be a great bridge to future careers or the perfect “gap year” for students interested in taking a year off before grad school.

RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/360090330773202/?fref=ts

Organizations that will be tabling at the event include:

• Young Adult Volunteers
• Project Homecoming
• City Year
• St. Bernard Project
• Playworks NOLA
• Notre Dame Mission Volunteers
• Avodah the Jewish Service Corps
• Teach for America
• Digital Opportunity Trust
• Peace Corps
• AmeriCorps VISTA
• Louisiana Delta Service Corps

The National Service Fair is sponsored by NOLA AmeriCorps Alums, Loyola’s Center for Community Engagement and Tulane’s Center for Public Service. 

 

For more information, email vista@tulane.edu.

Field Report: Youth Rebuilding New Orleans

This has been a month of perspective for me, and I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed it all.  I finalized my transition, and now I find myself working as Youth Rebuilding New Orleans’ first VISTA.  Working my way through orientation at another site and getting to know the staff has been a learning experience, as has all of my VISTA term.  Thankfully the staff here is welcoming and has open people who are always willing to provide helpful assistance when I’m looking for a task to pitch in and participate.

Though work is still work, I find that the day-to-day grind isn’t nearly as demanding; and for that I am thankful.  As I begin to buckle down this month to start studying for the MCAT in preparation for my entrance to Tulane Medical School in July, I find myself prioritizing my time more and more.  My reasonable work hours give way to reasonable free time, which I’m endeavoring to make the most of living in this city. My New Year’s resolutions have me taking time to venture out to local eateries to try new places and to familiarize myself with the city a bit more, which has so far worked well in exposing me to new environments and locales.

As we’ve finally turned the corner into 2012, I’m looking at the future with greater clarity.  My VISTA term is half over, and I find myself troubled on occasion, about several things.  I ask myself what I will have learned from this experience, what I’ll have gained, and what I should be taking away from giving twelve months of my life to this program.  The tangibles are easy to see: I made good friends, saw a side of the city I never would have in other circumstances, and I got to experience living in a situation over which I had very little control.  Of course when I stop to think about this experience, it’s clear that I’m not doing this for myself, regardless of how much I may gain from the experience.

It’s interesting to me to make a list of what I’ve learned so far from being a VISTA, and how it may apply to me in future.  I’ve learned (and am still learning) flexibility, and the importance of keeping attachments to plans at a minimum.  Though I’m on a steady work-schedule now, I know that things will not always be this way.  As my VISTA term continues, then as a Medical student, and later as a doctor, I will be at the mercy of my work.  I’m beginning to see that it’s better to go into a situation expecting to roll with the punches, instead of resisting because of what was initially planned.  I’ve also learned that it’s equally important to keep sufficient tethers to the rest of the world so that I don’t become disillusioned with what I do, and don’t lose touch with the more social aspects of my personality. My VISTA experience is allowing me to see all of this.

-Brian Templet, Tulane CPS AmeriCorps VISTA, Youth Rebuilding New Orleans

Field Report: Grow Dat Youth Farm

Congrats to our student Crew Members!

Grow Dat Youth Farm’s first year at was a great success. 11 Crew Members (local high school students, aged 15-18) completed our program in urban agriculture. The farm provides a space for students to apply the interests and skills they have developed in our educational program outside of the classroom. It also creates a healthy and supportive work environment for area New Orleans youth from who face limited job opportunities. Each student was motivated to complete the program by different things. With a focus on developing a sense of responsibility, community, environmental stewardship, and service among participants, the farm enhances leadership and teamwork abilities through the collaborative work of growing food. Listen to what each youth has to say about working at Grow Dat Youth Farm.

And by “Ace”

a Grow Dat Crew Member:

We are excited to announce our first annual “Growing the Green” campaign to support the work of the Grow Dat Youth Farm. The idea for Grow Dat is simple: hire young adults, whose job options are often limited to fast food restaurants, to grow food for their community. You can help us grow the green by supporting us in one of the following ways: giving the gift of employment for a young person or by purchasing a tool or set of tools that will help us start our farm. Visit our website, growdatyouthfarm.org, to help grow the green. Thanks for your support!

Field Report: Social Media Liaison

“New Orleans, unlike a lot of those places you go back to and that don’t have the magic anymore, still has got it. Night can swallow you up, yet none of it touches you. Around any corner, there’s a promise of something daring and ideal and things are just getting going.” – Bob Dylan

New Orleans overall has been a mixed bag for me. When I first started my term I was full of excitement, anticipation, and joy. The joy is still there. However, the excitement has turned into frustration and raw curiosity. Living in a city with such a high rate of poverty has forced me to reflect much more on social and economic inequities.

It’s a reality that you can’t hide here. There’s no pretending.

These inequities have helped me (despite my “progressive” outlook on life) to stay curious and check my assumptions. I carry these assumptions with me at times that I’m not even aware of. Whether it be someone asking me for a dollar (and the concurrent flood of insinuations that pop into my mind) or unpleasant service at a restaurant. It is something that I’m trying to work on. Less imagination, more understanding.

Lately this has led me in the right direction in terms of my “professional”/VISTA life. Recently I’ve been collaborating with College Track, a program of the Urban League of New Orleans on various projects. During the past month I gave three presentations to the organization on the benefits and pitfalls of social media. This was particularly awesome due to the fact that I was able to actually conduct outreach and teach about a subject that not particularly fun to talk about. Also, I TOTALLY underestimated the knowledge and abilities of students AND their parents/grandparents when it comes to social media. It’s amazing how that can often be the case. For the Fall 2011 semester, College Track and I are going to collaborate on a senior capstone project for the students. The details are still being worked out, but it will involve training the students on how to use social media to effectively generated resources and publicity.

Lastly, I’m also pumped for the workshops I have planned for the Fall. So far I have plans to offer two tracks of workshops. One focusing purely on the basics of Social Media and Networking as it relates to community partners. This is important in part because many community partners have basic needs and knowledge about social media. I’m hoping through this workshop series to equip them with best practices on how to effectively create a social media strategy.

The second track will focus on Community Journalism and Digital Storytelling. This workshop track will equip partners with the tools to tell their stories and promote themselves. I’m also hoping that the skills that our community partners gain in this track will make them better advocates for their clients and their mission.

- Y. Frank Southall, Tulane AmeriCorps VISTA. Please e-mail Frank at mediavista@tulane.edu for more information about the Social Media Initiative, FREE social media consultations, workshops, and community presentations.

Field Report: Social Media

Spring is finally here in New Orleans. This time of the year brings many temptations to the surface. Whether it be food, sun, or relaxation (yes, relaxation SOUNDS rather exotic when you’re an AmeriCorps VISTA). Currently I’m working on a plan to engage more students on campus in all matters related to social media and networking. My plans for late March and early April involved me conducting more “Life of a VISTA” videos using my handy-dandy flipcam. When I’m not VISTAing it up, I’m relaxing and learning more about the city. On Mardi Gras this year I caught not one, but TWO Zulu Golden Nuggets (a.k.a. Zulu Coconuts). Now, there’s no need to ask, but…

Yes, I’m more awesome than you.

Now, if you want to learn more about the awesomeness that is me then feel free to take a look at the photographs below. Feel free to comment or ask questions about any of the photographs below

Mardi Gras 2011 ended with me receiving TWO Zulu golden nuggets. Pretty lucky I guess

Community. A piece of art on a renovated building near Napoleon and Magazine

Get it? Muses!

This older lady in East Riverside knows how to decorate cacti.

union justice and confidence at the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Center.

Tulane VISTAs at a fruit gleaning service project. High five to Megan Nuismer for organizing the project.

Xavier University students working hard at a preschool in Central City.

Enjoy these two songs that have been ringing in my ear for a while and sums up my feelings about New Orleans in the spring.

Louis Armstrong – La Vie en rose (English version)

Serge Gainsbourg – La Javanaise

- Y. Frank Southall, Tulane AmeriCorps VISTA. Please e-mail Frank at mediavista@tulane.edu for more information about the Social Media Initiative, FREE social media consultations, and community presentations.

Field Report: Social Media Liaison

Carnival is right around the corner here at Tulane. Within two weeks, New Orleans will be alive at all times of the day and night. This is beyond exciting to me as I watch with glee people flowing into the city. It makes for great social media fodder. However, to truly examine New Orleans is to acknowledge its strengths and weaknesses. Below is part of an attempt of mine to capture the city’s strengths and weaknesses. Look back for more photographs later on in the season.

Strangely, it reminds me of home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A simple declaration of hope, love, and humanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A memorial dedicated to a young man who was murdered at this corner

Beautiful painting created by kids on MLK Day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A group of students I worked with from Tulane, Xavier, Dillard, and Loyola Universities posing with Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

The Bywater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Y. Frank Southall, Tulane AmeriCorps VISTA. Please e-mail Frank at mediavista@tulane.edu for more information about the Social Media Initiative, FREE social media consultations, and community presentations.

Field Report: Social Media Liaison

Check out these photos I took a few weeks ago. They pretty much sum up my experience so far.

The Bywater, one of my favorite neighborhoods in New Orleans.

Beauty + Community

Bywater Beach along the canal in the lower ninth ward.

Mimi's in the Marigny

At the community bookstore I volunteer at in the Marigny. Only photo I didn't take, of course.

Sunset at Lake Pontchartrain. La vie!

Second Line in order to remember Earl Wheeler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Y. Frank Southall, Tulane AmeriCorps VISTA. Please e-mail Frank at mediavista@tulane.edu for more information about the Social Media Initiative, FREE consultations, and community presentations.

 

Field Report: CPS – Social Media

Google to unveil ‘Google Me’ social networking plans shortly

by @gordonmacmillan, posted on 15 September, 2010 at 10:32 am, filed under Search Engines, Social Media and tagged Facebook, Google, Google Me, Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter. 

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has said that its much talked of social networking plans, widely dubbed “Google Me”, will be unveiled later this autumn, but the suggestion that it has a Facebook killer in the works appears wide of the mark. Speaking at the Google Zeitgeist conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, Schmidt did not go into great detail according to a report on WSJ.com, but he gave a road map to the direction Google is heading with social media.

The idea of Google Me appears very much to be leaning to allowing users to access in one place all of the social information and projects they have across the web. That place would be their Google hub – their Google Me homepage. So imagine a place where you can monitor your own social media activity and that of your friends be it on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Google is for instance working on ways to let people know, for instance, when a particular video is being watched by many of their friends on YouTube in the same way they would find out that a lot of people liked a post on Facebook.

For this to happen of course, Google would need access to Facebook’s data and Schmidt spoke about this. Good luck with that one. Schmidt wants Facebook to open its data and for a two way flow of data to flow between Facebook say and Gmail, but as we all know Facebook doesn’t allow this to happen. Twitter would like similar data access, but no dice. “The best thing that would happen is for Facebook to open up its data. Failing that, there are other ways to get that information,” Schmidt said. Other ways? What is he going around to Mark Zuckerberg’s house with some heavy set geeks? Wait I don’t think such a thing exists. 

Commentary:

I am excited to hear about Google’s plans to incorporate social media applications into their interface. By now Google is a well-known and respected search engine and online service provider. Many individuals use Google as their primary email provider, and many businesses utilize their business tools. Facebook, on the other hand, seems to lack a similar degree of utility and credibility.

When marketing Facebook to businesses and non-profit organizations, I often get a hesitant response (e.g., “I’m not sure Facebook is for us”) accompanied by a dismissive look. Many of these businesses are under the impression that Facebook is solely for socializing or geared exclusively toward kids. However, I believe that if a provider as large and trusted as Google were to champion a similar platform, business leaders would begin to pay attention.
 
In terms of business models, social networking and media platforms offer endless opportunities in virtually every sector. Facebook and Twitter offer more than just a means to connect with friends. These outlets can provide businesses with a platform to share their goals with a global community, and to receive consumer feedback. Large corporations spend millions of dollars each year researching their customer base. If you want to know what your customers are interested in, why not just ask? They will be happy to tell you! By engaging with your clients directly, you will gain valuable feedback as well as their trust. Best of all, they will tell their friends about their positive experience.
 
Since I have not yet heard much about the new Google Me, I’m unable to determine the direction Google plans to take. As you’ll recall from previous field reports, I am a proponent of social networking sites, but I do think the market has become saturated with new (eerily similar) sites. I acknowledge that in business competition is good, but an oversupply can result in user confusion and/or lack of usage.
 
That being said, I do believe that this can be a pivotal transition for Google. If done properly, Google Me could be phenomenal. If not, it could be completely lost on users, which would be a shame. Ideally, Google Me social media components would be added to the already existing services Google provides. For instance, I’m a big fan of Google calendars. I use this feature daily for personal use, work purposes, and to coordinate community service projects. Being able to share an event (or even an entire calendar) on Facebook would allow for increased exposure and collaboration. Of course, this feature might be most attractive to businesses or professionals. It would also be nice to see a social component added to the Google Docs feature. For example, providing a direct and easy way to post a composed document to a Facebook page would be great for sharing and collaboration purposes.
 
Overall, it seems like the big question is: How cooperative will Facebook (and Twitter) be in this process? I predict, not very. Without cooperation I don’t see much room for growth, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. –Dominica Garza, AmeriCorps VISTA

Dominica Garza is the Social Media Liaison with the Center for Public Service at Tulane University, you can contact her by email at: mediavista@tulane.edu.

Field Report: CPS – Social Media

Social Media Overload? I recently read an article discussing the latest addition to Facebook called Facebook Places. This is not to be confused with Google Places (which used to be Google Local Business Center) or the new Twitter Places. Confused yet? Well, you are not alone. It seems like the longer and deeper I delve into the whole Social Media trend the more information overload I experience. So first thing is first, let’s first get caught up with the new Facebook Places. If you are a Facebook user you may have noticed posts in your News Feeds noting geographic locations with a hyperlink. Well, this is the beginning of Facebook’s new location-based service that allows users to “check in” to various businesses, stores, and places, and then share their location, via Facebook, with their friends.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), to take advantage of this new feature a user must download the new version of the Facebook iPhone application. If you don’t have an iPhone, you will have to use the Facebook touch mobile site that supports both HTML 5 and geolocation. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? In June 2010 Twitter announced, the launch of Twitter Places. Twitter Places allows users the ability to tag Tweets with specific places and create new Twitter Places. Along with this, Twitter announced they are working on bringing Twitter Places to their other mobile applications, including Twitter for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry. So how is this different from Google Places? As of April 2010, Google began offering business owners, organizations and customers the opportunity to list their business on the new Google Places (formerly known as the Google Local Business Center).   Among the new changes is a Customized QR Code feature. Using this feature, businesses can download a QR code that is unique to their business which can then be placed on business cards or other marketing materials. Customers can then scan them with certain smartphones to be taken directly to the mobile version of the Place Page for that business. To me, Facebook Places, Google Places, and Twitter Places sound awfully similar to geolocation networks provided through Foursquare, Loopt, and Gowalla. The influx of networks with eerily similar features has left business owners and organization leaders with a feeling of information overload as well – and rightfully so. To my knowledge, there is no Better Business Bureau for social media networks. So what is one to do? Well, there are plenty of rating and review sites. From a business model perspective, my best recommendation would be to check third-party reviews and examine case studies on how various businesses are actually using such tools to support their business plan. Remember, just because you can and it is free doesn’t always mean an organization should take advantage of each and every network out there. It is too much to keep up with and frankly there is not enough time in the day. Keep asking yourself, how will this benefit my consumers? How will this help achieve company objectives? It is easy to get caught up in the latest tech trend or emerging network, but remember the (desired) results should dedicate your actions. If you do not see the potential for a set of desired outcomes, then maybe your time would be better spent pursuing other efforts. – Dominica Garza, AmeriCorps VISTA  Dominica Garza is the Social Media Liaison with the Center for Public Service at Tulane University, you can contact her by email at: mediavista@tulane.edu.

Field Report: CPS – Social Media

Since I started my position as a Social Media Liaison with Tulane University’s Center for Public Service AmeriCorps VISTA program, I have been following (via Social Networking) many leaders and innovators in the industry. Now, about eight months in, I believe I have gotten a sense of the tone and style of many of these individuals. One of my favorite Social Media Strategists (that I would recommend following closely) is John Haydon. He runs a social media marketing and consulting firm for non-profits and develops extremely helpful newsletters, posts, videos, tutorials, and publications on the topic.

One of the re-occurring questions I receive from individuals I work with is, “How do I get a stronger following on my organization’s Facebook page?” I usually give them a few basic tips, which are pretty simple to implement and have proven to be successful. However, recently I came across a related article posted by the very helpful, John Haydon on that exact question. So for this month’s Field Report, I thought I would share his insights on the topic.

11 Ways to Promote Your Facebook Page outside Facebook
By: John Haydon

1. Email Your Fans – I have a client who got over 3,000 fans in one week simply by sending an email to their rather huge email list. Do this. It’s very easy, and you might be surprised how many new Facebook Page connections you receive. When you write this email, be very clear about what people can find on your Page that they won’t find elsewhere. Give them a compelling reason to “like” your Page.
2. Email Templates – Most times, people need to see a call to action multiple times before they like your Page. Design your email template with a link to your Facebook Page in the sidebar. This way it’s included in every email.
3. Blog About Your Facebook Page – Write a post that elaborates on a comment someone wrote on your wall. Include a link to your Page.
4. Use It For A Webinar – If your org does webinars on a regular basis, make Facebook Page wall the place where follow up questions are answered.
5. Tweet About It – Sounds simple enough, right? Just make sure you give folks a reason to click through to your Page. For example, if there’s a great stream of comments on a post, then tweet about it. Use Twitter as an extension to pull in more people into an existing conversation on your Page. Don’t just say “like our Page!” It adds no value.
6. Post Donation – When people donate to your organization, your org is foremost in their mind, which means that that’s the perfect moment for them to “like” your Page. If you’re conducting a campaign (either fundraising or collecting signatures for a petition), make sure that there’s an opportunity for folks to “like” your Page after they donated or signed the petition.
7. Print It – The best way to promote your Facebook Page in print (annual appeals, newsletters) is with a custom URL. These are much shorter than the default Facebook Page URL, which no one would ever take the time to copy from a printed page. If you haven’t created one yet watch this video.
8. Put It In Your Footer – If you’re like me, when you want to learn more about an organization, you’ll scroll to the bottom of their website, where you’ll typically find “about” “contact” and “jobs”. Putting a Facebook logo in the footer of your website is another way to increase your Page fanbase.
9. Incentivize Your Page – If you have something to offer that has real value, like Danny Brown’s new book “7 Ways to Market Your Business on Facebook”, offer it as a free download in exchange for liking your Page. You can blog about your offering, but make sure it’s only available on Facebook. Curious how to do this? Watch this video.
10. Make A YouTube Video – Will It Blend has an excellent video where  they blend Facebook. It’s a genius promotion of their Facebook Page. And if you are in the YouTube nonprofit program, you can annotate your video with a link to your Facebook Page.
11. LikeBox – A LikeBox is an interactive way to promote your Page on your website. It allows you to display how many users already like your page, and which of their friends like it too. Visitors also see recent posts from the page and can Like the page with one click. All without needing to visit the page.

There you go, 11 simple (but, effective) ways to build your social network. What is your organization doing to build their Facebook network? Please share your ideas, thoughts, successes, and feedback by leaving a comment. –Dominica Garza, AmeriCorps VISTA  

To learn more about the Tulane AmeriCorps Social Media Initiative, contact Dominica at: mediavista@tulane.edu.