IF Hummingbird Foundation's Young Visionaries Campaign

Commitment to Action

IF Hummingbird Foundation's Young Visionaries Campaign

Commitment by

IF Hummingbird Foundation Inc.

In 2011, the IF Hummingbird Foundation, founded by Jill and Ken Iscol, committed to developing content for the Iscol Family Program for Leadership Development in Public Service at Cornell University, which introduces undergraduate students to visionary leaders and prepares them for public life. The Foundation will launch The Young Visionaries Campaign, which has three major pillars: to publish 'Hearts on Fire: Twelve Stories of Today's Visionaries Igniting Idealism into Action'; to dedicate grant-making to social justice organizations, and to create an interactive website.

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Tabs

Overview

Summary

Commitment

IF Hummingbird Foundation's Young Visionaries Campaign

Launched

2011

Est. Duration

4 years

Estimated Total Value

$150,000

Region

Northern America

Countries

United States of America

Commitment by

IF Hummingbird Foundation Inc.

Partner(s)

Man Up Campaign, Kiej de los Bosques, S.A., Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Freelancers Union, Community Water Center (El Centro Comunitario Por El Agua), Samasource, WAVE (Water Based Aid, Value and Engagement), College and Community Fellowship Program, Afghan Child Education and Care Organization, Ubuntu Education Fund, Medic Mobile

Details

APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY

There are three pillars to the Young Visionaries Campaign: Knowledge sharing through the publication of the book; advocacy through a website and a re-purposing of the book's content; and grant-making from the profits resulting from book sales. The website will develop into a virtual public square where visionaries, young and mature, can share ideas, projects, plans, challenges, and solutions. The Young Visionaries Campaign's communication approach is comprehensive, grassroots and inclusive because the goal is to broaden and strengthen the foundation of a new global civic culture of problem solving, cooperation and respect for all.

IMPLEMENTATION, TIMELINE, AND DELIVERABLES

The IF Hummingbird Foundation under the leadership of Jill Iscol has assembled a team to implement the initial phase of the Campaign. Published privately, 'Hearts on Fire: Twelve Stories of Today's Visionaries Igniting Idealism into Action' is being co-written by Jill Iscol and Peter Cookson, and the project's production team includes an editor, a media specialist, a filmmaker, a production editor, a design consultant, publicist and a digital marketing consultant. This team will be working together for the next several months to implement this commitment over the year.

The book will be drafted by June 2011, the website will go live in late summer 2011, and page proofs of book will be available by September 2011. These efforts will be supported by a broad-based and systematic public relations and public engagement campaign.

The deliverables include a book, a website, a public engagement campaign and grants.

Background

The work of young visionaries is often unrecognized and/or unknown by the public, so the networking and multiplier effects of their work are not fully utilized. To address the social, political and economic problems we face globally, there is a need to develop a communication and support strategy which will create ever- widening circles of idealism and action. Without an astute communication strategy much good work will continue to be siloed rather than integrated into a common civic culture.

Partnership Opportunities

SEEKING: Financial Resources, Implementing Partners, Best Practice Information, Media/Marketing Opportunities, Other

The Young Visionaries Campaign seeks partnerships specifically with organizations engaged in promoting social innovation and social justice such as Echoing Green, Ashoka, The Petra Foundation, The Skoll Foundation, The Acumen Fund, and The Shwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

OFFERING: Financial Resources, Implementing Partners, Best Practice Information, Media/Marketing Opportunities, Other
The Young Visionaries Campaign seeks to support young visionaries who are engaged in the work of finding solutions to the on-going challenges facing the world. In the course of our research we discovered scores of young visionaries who would benefit from material and social support.

Progress Reports

March 2014

In January 2014, The Young Visionaries Campaign launched the Hearts on Fire Movement with a mission to ignite a movement of social visionaries by providing community, sharing solutions to complex human challenges and supporting idealistic and successful leadership. The Hearts on Fire Movement launched a new website, www.heartsonfiremovement.org, along with a Visionary of the Week campaign, which features one visionary every week to raise awareness, and to inspire future leaders to turn their idealism into action.

The Hearts on Fire Movement, part of the Young Visionaries Campaign, launched a new social media campaign in January 2014 with a goal to expand its reach and impact. Hearts on Fire Movement has regained the publishing rights from Random House for the Hearts on Fire book, and will publish a new edition in 2015 along with a Hearts on Fire Curriculum, and Hearts on Fire Game, which are both in development with a goal of targeting and inspiring the younger generations of high school and college students. Hearts on Fire Movement is speaking at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas in March 2014 with two of its visionaries, Leila Janah, Founder and CEO of Samasource and Josh Nesbit, Co-Founder and CEO of Medic Mobile. The Young Visionaries Campaign and Hearts on Fire Movement is a bold call to action to motivate the next generation of leaders.