Social Media For Social Good

What if you could change the world?

Wouldn't it feel good to recognize that you possess the power to change the daily injustices that occur amongst everyone, no matter where people are geographically? To know that you, a normal citizen of this earth, could share the fact that we are all human and each undergo personal struggles while admitting to our youth that some of us just happen to hide our problems better than others?

24 hours. Everyday. Dedicated to world change.

Through the use of our computers, it is now possible to invest your time and in return, diminish racial stereotypes, encourage and contribute to economic recovery all while reducing the high school dropout rate. This concept is called "social networking for social good."

Believe it or not, your Facebook profile, Twitter account, Youtube subscription and StumbleUpon provide an opportunity to raise awareness, support participants of the social media for social good movement all while spreading messages of progress and solutions instead of spreading statistics of despair. And the students of Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) in Lawndale, CA are living proof that social media for social good can be successful.

According to the 2000 census, "about 14.3% of families and 17.3% of the population in Lawndale were below the poverty line."

However, eleven years later at ECHS opportunity is an option. The mission of Environmental Charter High School is, "to inspire students to discover their own sense of purpose, to equip all students with the knowledge and skills to graduate from college, and to empower them to become quality stewards of their community and world." And the students are getting a little outside help in developing these skills through a program called InTrueFashion.org. 


What Does Social Good  Really Mean?
The definition of social good is: a good or service that benefits the largest number of people in the largest possible way. So, how is InTrueFashion.org making this happen for ECHS? Through the In True Fashion apprenticeship program, students explore their creativity by:

• Participating in workshops with expert mentors.
• Observing the fashion manufacturing process.
• Developing and executing a business plan. 
• Learning how to market their business plan and handbag lines through social media. 

As great as this may be, the students need still the help of influencers (people in the public eye) to educate a larger group of people with regard to their program. And these influencers are people like you and me as well as idols such as American Idol Judge, recording artist and actress Jennifer Lopez.




A community in need that panted a seed
The ECHS students are inspired by Jennifer Lopez and her willingness to succeed from the Bronx, NY all the way to Hollywood. Now, as the students count down the clock to one of the most influential moments of their lives--graduation day--they would like to leave senior year as social good superstars. Much of their legacy is not about them but about the incoming students who will begin high school and contemplate apprenticeship. 

As a graduation gift to the In True Fashion students, you can help. Please, post this blog link on your Facebook. Tweet about the InTrueFashion program. Comment on the Youtube video these students have made for J.Lo

World change is encouraging high school students to follow their dreams, to pursue entrepreneurship. And these initiatives can be promoted with your help. All it takes is 5 minutes of your time.

That's one post, one link, one tweet that can potentially make a world of difference.

What if you could change the world? You certainly can using social media for social good.

Do you volunteer in your community? Have a "social media, social good" story to share? Would you like to keep up with the ECHS students in InTrueFashion.org? Feel free to email info@jaclynmullenmedia.com