Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter of The Roots takes initiative against childhood obesity with the GrassROOTS Community Foundation and support from Questlove and Philadelphia's Mayor, Michael Nutter

Known for his lyrical talents on the mic, lead MC for Philadelphia-based Grammy Award winning hip-hop group and host band of The Jimmy Fallon Show, The Roots, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter is giving back to cities across the country with the GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF).

As co-founder of GCF, Black Thought is committed to providing young women and girls in disadvantaged communities with educational and recreational services that promote a healthy well-being.

In a sit-down interview with TwtiChange, Black Thought explains, “It’s an issue that’s important to me and I can identify with [through] witnessing first hand the dire state of health and lack of good nutrition in our country.”

With locations in Philadelphia, Newark and Greensboro, GCF plans to target at least ten cities in the U.S. where the highest cases of obesity, breast cancer, suicide and HIV/AIDS are affecting women and girls.

Black Thought and President of GCF and sociologist, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, tell TwitChange their goals for 2012 are to increase GrassROOTS’ fiscal and staff support in order to expand the foundation as well as understand what additional resources are needed to bring health and wellness to the lives of young women and girls.

“This is something that I am able to do to give back to the comminty,” Black Thought adds, and he’s already done so with the success of his charity concert, Let’s Move It Philly!, an initiative to spread awareness about childhood obesity through hip-hop music.

Held in Philadelphia on February 18, 2012, the benefit, which gained the support of the city’s Mayor, Michael Nutter, and fellow member of The Roots, Questlove, aimed to raise funds for C.H.I.C.K.S (Creating Healthy Informed Confident Knowledgeable Selves), a GrassROOTS after school program for girls in Philadelphia.

For more information on the GrassROOTS Community Foundation, or to make a donation visit www.grass-rootsfoundation.org.

The President’s Challenge – Harvard

The challenge. Students at one of the country’s top universities are not only being challenged to think and dream big, now they have the chance to win $100,000 to do so.

Harvard’s President, Drew Faust, has challenged students to find ways to solve the world’s biggest problems. Students who are interested in social issues have a chance to use their innovation and creativity to solve global social issues.

How it works. Harvard faculty members will determine which five social causes it wants students to address in the contest. In April, 10 teams of students (2 teams for each social issue) will be offered support and resources to work on their proposals. In May, one winner will be announced.

The prize. The winning team and 3 runners-up will win a cut of the $100,00 prize to help make their social entrepreneurship idea a reality. They will also be given office space in Harvard’s own innovation lab, an incubator for start-ups, as well as access to staff experts.

Will it work? Harvard isn’t the first university to propose such a challenge to students. MIT and University of Massachusetts Amherst both have annual social entrepreneurship programs for students. Last year, Northern Iowa University awarded $10,000 to a group of students for their plan to solve electricity problems in Africa by selling generators powered by bicycles or oxen.

Social Innovation Fund

The Challenge. The Social Innovation Fund is in its third year of awarding grants to help fund nonprofits and community programs to better America’s low-income communities. Launched out of the Corporation for National and Community Service, SIF partners with grant-making intermediaries to further support and fund nonprofits making an impact in their communities. In its simplest form, the SIF is a partnership between the government, private donors and nonprofits.

How it works. Applications for grants are due by 5:00pm EST on March 27, 2012. The CNCS will select up to six grantees to be awarded $1-$5 million per year. Grantees then must match the award one for one and award grand money to nonprofit organizations in their own local communities. Those nonprofits must then match their reward one for one.

The goal. Mobilize private donors and nonprofits to further their reach in their own local communities.

Will it work? In the past two years, SIF and its portfolio of intermediary grantees have awarded grants to programs like Gateway to College National Network, which works with colleges, school districts and states to ensure all young people have an opportunity to attend college and receive academic credentials. Nonprofits awarded funds through SIF must go through a rigorous evaluation process for accountability and to help ensure their success.

Also worth mentioning: The Skoll Foundation – Founded in 1999, the mission of the Skoll Foundation is “to drive large scale change by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs and the innovators who help them solve the world’s most pressing problems.” In 12 years, the Skoll Foundation has awarded more than $350 million to social entrepreneurs and organizations around the world who are working to create a “brighter future for underserved communities.”

Through programs like these, one thing is clear, Americans can and should no longer overlook global and community social issues. Solving the world’s biggest social problems is imperative, and a partnership must exist to do so. No one person can change the world on his own. But by pooling our resources, innovation and talents, together, we can make a difference.

During her career, Whitney supported a number of charitable and social causes and received awards for her humanitarian work. In 1989, she founded the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, which cares for the homeless, and children with cancer and AIDS. The organization has also contributed to inner-city development with neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Whitney Houston may be best known for her rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, which reached the Top 100 chart in 1991. Royalties she received from that were donated to the American Red Cross, and she was elected a member of the American Red Cross Board of Directors. .

Another of Whitney’s favorite charities is the United Negro College Fund. One of her very first gigs was a fundraiser for UNCF. At a 1988 Madison Square Garden concert, Whitney raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for the fund. The UNCF helps more than 60,000 students each year attend college.  The organization awards scholarships and provides funding for its 38 member colleges. One of its largest fundraisers is an annual telethon UNCF An Evening of Stars®, which Whitney appeared on a few times.

In her 48 years, Whitney Houston rose to musical stardom few will ever reach. Her musical legacy will never be forgotten, but her humanitarian work has changed lives and left a lasting impact on our world.

Other charities Whitney supported over the years include: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Children’s Defense Fund (and many others.)

Whitney Houston leaves behind her only child, 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown, and millions of fans worldwide.

We know you’ve always wanted a chance to party with the stars. Now is your chance. Along with UPTOWNmagazine, TwitChange is raffling off a VIP weekend trip to LA Oscars weekend. One lucky person (and a guest) will get to party with the stars at UPTOWNmagazine’s BOOMERANG Pre-Oscars® Gala.

This trip could be yours.

The Gala benefits the Marcus Graham Project, an organization named for Eddie Murphy’s character in the movie. MGP works to develop the “next generation of thought leadership within the advertising, media and marketing industry.”

Get your raffle tickets now and enter to win! Tickets are just $2 (you must purchase a minimum of 5 tickets). Deadline to enter is 2:00pm EST next Monday, Feb. 20.

Enter today and you could win airfare to LA, 2 tickets to the exclusive, invitation only, BOOMERANG Pre-Oscars Gala on Saturday, Feb. 25, three nights hotel accommodations and limo service to the Gala from the hotel.

More info at TwitChange.com/boomerang

Help Sole Hope win a $50,000 grant to further their mission from Cultivate Wines. Click here to vote daily for Sole Hope and tell your friends to vote too!

Imagine living from day to day without shoes on your feet. Imagine walking to work or to the grocery store or even sending your child to walk to school without shoes. Even in the US, it would be dangerous and unhealthy to never wear shoes. In Africa, where many roads are made of dirt and are filled with trash, many men, women and children never have a pair of shoes to protect their feet.

The result: jiggers, tapeworm and other diseases that can enter the body through the feet.

Sole Hope is an organization founded on the mission of offering “Hope to widows, orphans and others within impoverished and forgotten communities around the world by teaching the simple trade of shoemaking, which provides jobs and shoes to those in need.”

Sole Hope provides shoes for children and jobs for unemployed adults. The adults are trained in the trade of shoemaking and are paid a fair wage for their work. Sole Hope works with volunteers around the country to cut patterns for shoes from fabric and denim and rubber bicycle tires (for the soles). Those pre-cut patterns are then given to trained shoemakers in Africa who sew the shoes together and the Sole Hope team distributes them to children around Africa.

Sole Hope relies heavily on social media to spread the word about their mission and work and to gather volunteers.  Many people are don’t even know jiggers exist, let alone the horrific diseases that can come from jiggers and other parasites. Sole Hope uses social media to spread the word about what they are doing in communities to provide a fair wage job to shoemakers and in turn placing the shoes they make on the feet of children who have none.

Many times, social media allows Sole Hope to connect with other individuals and organizations who want to partner with Sole Hope. Recently, Sole Hope partnered with Passing Hope, an organization that will provide soccer cleats and gear to an entire team of 40 orphans at a school in Zambia. Sole Hope will deliver these cleats to the children on their next trip to Africa in April.

“It is because of the many relationships we forge that we are able to have enough man power and financial resources to bring hope to others soles and souls,” said co-founder Dru Collie.

Want to get involved? Here’s how you can help:

• Spread the word about Sole Hope to your family and friends.
• Host a shoe cutting party to cut the patterns for shoes that are sent to the shoemakers.
• Sponsor a pair of shoes. Just $10 ensures the shoes get to Africa and a shoemaker is paid a fair wage for their work.
• If you want to be more involved, Sole Hope is starting an Ambassador program through which representatives will speak on behalf of Sole Hope at events and fundraisers.
• Become a Sole Hope intern.

Find out more about getting involved with Sole Hope or contact them about any of these opportunities here.

If we wouldn’t want to live without shoes, why should we expect children and adults in other countries to live without them? The diseases that enter the body through the feet can be debilitating and even deadly. And they are entirely preventable. Sole Hope’s work may seem simple, but it is life-saving.

Like Sole Hope on Facebook

Follow Sole Hope on Twitter

Watch Sole Hope’s 2012 Promo Video:

Sole Hope Promo 2012 from jason garris on Vimeo.

Image from DoSomethingNow.com

Do Something Now is a movement rooted in the belief that together we are a force for good!  They are considered by many as the Passion Movement, and to many they are known for worship. That having been said, their desire is to make sure that if they are going to be known as a worship movement, then it is worship in ACTION and DEED.  To move individuals into action and make a difference in their world.

Do Something Now and the Passion Conference Movement are a part of each other.  You can check out the Passion website: http://268generation.com or visit Do Something Now at http://dosomethingnow.com. In just a short few years, since 2007, nearly $6 million has been given to causes around the globe through Do Something Now.  Causes such as slaves freed, children released, the hungry fed, the Church equipped, women restored, scripture translated, wells dug, healing provided, and so much more. The refrain of Do Something Now is “Together we are a force for good” and they are proving this to be true.  So how are they accomplishing such a feat?  CNN covered this amazing campaign… watch below.

STUDENTS GATHER at Passion Conference to DO SOMETHING NOW

Just earlier this month, January 2012, 42,000 18 to 25-year-olds filled the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Students gathered from every state, 31 countries, and more than 1,700 campuses for the four day gathering. During the main sessions Passion Visionary Architect, Louie Giglio led the way along with Francis Chan, John Piper, Beth Moore, and Christine Caine. Yet, beyond the sessions, worship continued as students rallied a battle cry around the Do Something Now cause of FREEDOM.  As well, Contemporary Christian Artists such as, Grammy Nominated 2012 Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, and Matt Redman are synonymous with Passion Conferences, lead this gathering of 42,000 college students in worship.

Check out the projects that will be funded as a result of students giving more than $3.3 million to the cause of FREEDOM during Passion 2012 here: http://268generation.com/passion2012/#!/freedom/

You don’t have to be university-aged or attend one of these events to impact those in need. You can join the movement wherever you are. This is hope of a brand new life for people who cannot help themselves. None of us can do it alone. The generosity of the students is contagious and the $3.3 Million raised in Atlanta, Georgia, 2012 continues to grow. The money will bring incredible life change and freedom for sure. But what inspires us even more than the money given is the evidence of God stirring in the hearts of these students.

The ripples of Passion 2012 are reaching far beyond the four days in Atlanta and beyond the millions of dollars that will spread to every corner of the world. Though we will never be able to fully quantify the impact of Passion 2012 and the days that follow, we have seen the trajectory of students’ lives change forever as their hearts were awakened and set to action. Out of these student’s lives, they believe amazing world change will flow as a result of  their united voice at Passion 2012.   Thursday, February 2, 2012, C-SPAN covered President Barack Obama mentioned Passion 2012′s FREEDOM cause at this morning’s National Prayer Breakfast around the 1 hour 20 min mark…

President Obama Mentions the Passion 2012 Movement at the 60th National Prayer Breakfast

The website www.dosomethingnow.com is user friendly and highlights the Causes.  Freedom for girls in India; Hope for slave children in Haiti; CARE for street boys in Sudan; Save lives and train a doctor and Haiti rising.  Each one of these amazing causes is highlighted in detail on the website and it provides a place for those of us who want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves to donate our money toward a cause that brings freedom to those around the world. On our own, we each can make a difference in the world. But together we are a force for good that exponentially surpasses what we can do alone. Moving together, small sacrifices from each of us can make a huge difference in the lives of the people around the globe. While the needs of the world at times appear overwhelming, we must not be deterred by their size or complexity.

We believe in this generation and their capacity to respond to the challenges that cripple hope and dignity for people throughout the world. Join the movement and invite others to follow. The Do Something Good Website states. At Do Something Now, we are serious about stewardship. We greatly value your financial gift, whether big or small, and promise to use your donation in the most effective way possible. We have carefully chosen our partner organizations and consistently follow up with them to ensure that your gift is being used to address the cause or similar cause as you have so generously given toward.

- Do Something Now

Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook are amazing outlets to get the word out and spread the need.  Social Media allows organizations such as Do Something Now and this strongly includes the Passion Movement to share what is happening within the organizations and the benefits of blessings it outreaches. So how can we help?  First, by reading this article and using all of our social media avenues to get the word out such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc. Check out the Do Something Now website and look over all of the causes.  ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ their Facebook Pages let’s help make a difference in others’ lives.  Do Something NOW! “Together we are a force for good”

Follow DSN on Twitter (@dosomething_now)

Follow the Passion Conference on Twitter (@passion268)

Like Do Something Now on Facebook

Like Passion268 on Facebook

While this young man might be famous for his ‘Tebowing’ (praying on the football field), he is also founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF).  TTF was created in January 2010 with the ultimate mission is to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. The foundation is accomplishing this mission through the building of playrooms in children’s hospitals, supporting orphans worldwide and making “dreams come true” for children with life-threatening illnesses. Learn more at TimTebowFoundation.org.

CURE International is the largest provider of reconstructive surgery to disabled children in the emerging world. Since opening the doors of its first surgical teaching hospital in Kijabe, Kenya in 1998, CURE’s focus on bringing healing to developing nations has resulted in more than 1.5 million patient visits and over 121,000 surgeries to correct physically disabling conditions. CURE has also trained more than 2400 medical professionals raising the standard of care in the countries where it operates.  Please visit Cure.org for more information.

The Tim Tebow Foundation recently announced a partnership with CURE International and their plans to build a children’s hospital in the Philippines — the country where Tebow was born.  This is the first project between the two organizations since announcing their partnership in October 2011.

“I was born in the Philippines and my parents have been missionaries to that area since 1985. The Philippines have always had a special place in my heart,” Tebow said. “I’m excited to be a part of this hospital that will bring healing to thousands of children who would not otherwise have access to care.”

The Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City will be a 30-bed surgical facility focusing primarily on orthopedics. There are plans to start construction sometime in early 2012 and the hospital is expected to open 2013.  The hospital, which is CURE’s first in the Philippines and 12^th worldwide, will be on the island of Mindanao, a particularly poor area of the Philippines. The hospital will house a Timmy’s Playroom, which will provide faith, hope and love to children before and after their surgeries.  It will be the Tim Tebow Foundation’s first international playroom.  The construction project is expected to cost $3 million, with donors from CURE and the Tebow Foundation sharing the costs. About one-third of the children treated at the hospital are expected to be charity cases.

“Throughout the world, 80 million children suffer every day with crippling conditions like clubfoot and spine deformities, conditions that are correctable with surgery,” said Dr. Scott Harrison, the founder and president of CURE International. “We feel blessed that the Tim Tebow Foundation has chosen to partner with us to bring first-world quality care and spiritual healing to the children of the Philippines.”

Getting this information out to the masses and offering those who see a need the opportunity to Give Back brought up the question to one of Cure Internationals’ best, Matt Shandera,  Director of Marketing, “How do you see Social Media assisting TTF and CURE International in getting the word out about this amazing mission?”

Matt’s response is not only brilliant, simple and should be adopted by others using Social Media circles:

Let’s face it, Tebowmania would be nothing without his legions of follows on Facebook and Twitter. CURE has simply been a benefactor of that fact.  We post our Tebow content in the same channels (#tebow #tebowtime #timtebow) in which everyone is already discussing.  Gradually, they have come to find out more about CURE’s mission both with Tebow and independent of him.”  Matt said, “ As far as Facebook is concerned being able to legitimately tag @timtebow and @timtebowfoundation have really helped us involve many of his supporters with CURE.  We advertise on the Tebow name both on Facebook and on Google.  Without social media as a supporting channel, we wouldn’t have been able to grow as quickly as we did socially. Now, most everyone you ask knows a lot about Tim Tebow and at least a little about his work with CURE.

Troy Polamalu is hosting a raffle for a trip for two to this year’s Super Bowl.  Troy frequently finds ways to raise money for US Veterans, a cause that is very personal to him.  He is also giving a signed jersey and some tweets in the deal too! Tickets are $2 and all proceeds go to a great cause through the Pittsburgh Foundation.  We encourage you to spread the word and participate here.

Think again.

According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (part of the Polaris Project), Sex and labor trafficking has occurred in all 50 United States in the last two years. Sex trafficking and the commercial sex trade happen in brothels disguised as massage parlors, online escort services, strip clubs, hostess clubs and street prostitution. Any time a child or adult is forced or coerced into the commercial sex trade against their will, they have been trafficked.

Labor trafficking may be something you’ve never even heard of, but it’s also happening in the United States, and is a common occurrence. According to the Polaris Project, “labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies, and other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will in many different industries.” Labor trafficking occurs on farms, in domestic work, strip clubs, restaurant and food service, factories, the hospitality industry and man other US industries.

MTV and mtvU have teamed up with Against Our Will to shine the light on human trafficking in the United States and around the world. Together, they have issued the Against Our Will Challenge to college students to step up and make a difference to stop human trafficking worldwide.

College students can enter this challenge by developing viral Internet content, mobile services, applications, digital interactive experiences and installations, online gaming, widgets or enhancements to existing social media that addresses one of the many aspects of modern slavery.

The goal: raise awareness and challenge people to take action against modern slavery and human sex and labor trafficking.

The winner will take home $10,000 from LexisNexis and may even be given the opportunity to work with mtvU to make their vision a reality.

If you’re a college student with a knack for technology, or even if you are technologically challenged, but have a vision and friends who can help, join the challenge. Not a college student? Spread the word about Against Our Will and do your part to bring an end to modern slavery.

Want to learn more about modern slavery and human trafficking? Visit PolarisProject.org to get facts and information on how you can join the campaign for a ‘world without slavery.’

The video below contains content for mature audiences.

Peace One Day, was founded by Jeremy Gilley on the premise of calling a global truce, a day of cease fire and nonviolence in all sectors of society. TwitChange recently spoke with Gilley about how and why he decided to start Peace One Day.

Gilley said that he wanted to make a difference in the world by using his camera to show what was going on in some of the impoverished societies around the globe. This was no small feat. He used this first film to drive the process through to get the actual date of September 21^st declared as ‘Peace Day.’ Since September 2001, Peace Day has been an official day as declared by the United Nations. This journey included going before the United Nations in August of 1999.

The second documentary created by Gilley was crafted to show the lives that were saved on this day of peace. The documentary took the organization into places like Afghanistan.  Jude Law, Peace One Day Ambassador, even traveled with Gilley to these improvised areas.  What’s truly amazing is that the Taliban agreed not to harm the more than 10,000 health workers that came in on this day to help vaccinate millions in the region.

Currently, the organization is working to take the global truce to more than just areas of war, but to expand the idea from everything to violence in homes to bullying in schools. The most recent campaign was launched on September 21, 2011 in the O2 Arena with a star-studded concert.  This year, they will also assess the economic impact of the day of peace.

For Peace Day 2012, Peace One Day is calling for and working towards a Global Truce – a day of ceasefire and non-violence observed by all sectors of society globally. To this end Peace One Day is engaged in an extensive diplomatic and grassroots communications exercise. Peace One Day hopes this Peace Day 2012 will be the largest reduction in global violence in recorded history, both domestically and internationally. (PeaceOneDay.org)

Peace One Day relies heavily on social media to spread its’ message. Besides the website, Peace One Day is very on Facebook and Twitter.  The organization is also working with many in the education arena by using Skype in the Classroom. Gilley’s background in film means the organization is also active on YouTube.  Take a look at one of their latest updates that was uploaded to YouTube and shared on Facebook.

Peace One Day can already boast about their many accomplishments that they have made in their short existence. Take a look at a few of the milestones that the organization has achieved:

• By 2007 - 100 million people have been active on Peace Day (source UNDPI).
• Peace Day 2007 - Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law and founder Jeremy Gilley traveled to Afghanistan to spearhead a campaign that has resulted in 4.5 million children being vaccinated against polio in previously unreachable areas.
• Peace Day 2008 - UN Department of Safety and Security recorded a 70% reduction in violent incidents in Afghanistan on Peace Day.
• Peace Day 2010 - WHO/UNICEF/Afghan Ministry of Public Health vaccinated over 50,000 children and women in 23 locations against all vaccine-preventable diseases. They also launched a nationwide polio campaign targeting 8 million children across Afghanistan.

If you would like to find out more about Peace One Day, take a look at their website. It is full of great information about how you can be actively involved in spreading the message of peace.