<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Good Work Blog</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog</link>
	<description>Good work, good ideas, and good trends</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:35:42 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>‘Financial Engagement’ at Peavey Plaza promises new conversations and ideas about economic sustainability</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/press-release-join-us-for-a-unique-financial-engagement/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/press-release-join-us-for-a-unique-financial-engagement/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:08:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Friday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Collectively authored newspaper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[economic sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial independence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial interdependence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Minneapolis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red 76]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Works Progress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=240</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[November 1, 2011 (Minneapolis)—Spurred by new conversations and movements concerning economic stability and independence, A Public Thing is hosting a “Financial Engagement” at Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis on Saturday, November 5th, from 1pm till 4pm.

The public engagement event will give attendees an opportunity to ask questions of experts and each other in an effort to gain a greater understanding of what an economically sustainable community might look like.

The event is free and open to everyone. The process is simple. Once assembled, small groups will self-organize to discuss questions generated by attendees through a facilitated process. Participation will be open, public, and non-hierarchical. Each person is an active participant, either convening a conversation around a question, sharing their thoughts, or actively listening and recording what is shared as a documentarian]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/373005_265265993508587_939111230_n-1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-241 alignnone" title="373005_265265993508587_939111230_n-1" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/373005_265265993508587_939111230_n-1.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="180" /></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p><strong>For Immediate Release</strong></p>
<p><strong>Contact:</strong></p>
<p>Molly Priesmeyer<br />
Good Work Group<br />
molly@goodworkgroup.com<br />
612.239.6358</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>A Public Thing’s “Financial Engagement” event on November 5th at Peavey Plaza brings together artists, cultural producers, thinkers, doers, experts, neighbors, and more for an exchange of ideas that can change the way we think, work, and live</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>&#8220;</em></strong><em>We hope to provide a collectively-authored resource for those interested in engaging these ideas and experiences in new ways.&#8221;</em><strong>&#8211;A Public Thing collaborators<br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>November 1, 2011 (Minneapolis)</strong>—Spurred by new conversations and movements concerning economic stability and independence, A Public Thing is hosting a <strong>“Financial Engagement”</strong> at Peavey Plaza in Minneapolis on <strong>Saturday, November 5th, from 1pm till 4pm.</strong></p>
<p>The public engagement event will give attendees an opportunity to ask questions of experts and each other in an effort to gain a greater understanding of what an economically sustainable community might look like.</p>
<p>The event is free and open to everyone. The process is simple. Once assembled, small groups will self-organize to discuss questions generated by attendees through a facilitated process. Participation will be open, public, and non-hierarchical. Each person is an active participant, either convening a conversation around a question, sharing their thoughts, or actively listening and recording what is shared as a documentarian.</p>
<p><strong>Questions that might be addressed include:</strong> <em>How does our economy work? What are some strategies for creating more economically sustainable families and communities? What is the difference between a credit union and a bank? How can sharing my personal economic experiences empower others in my community? Should student loans be forgiven? What are my rights when responding to bill collectors? What is income vs. wealth? What financial education resources are available? What does financial independence mean to you? What is possible? What is needed? What is to be done?<br />
</em></p>
<p>Artists and other documentarians will be embedded in the small-group conversations to help record and tell the story about ideas discussed and generated.</p>
<p>These stories and documents will be used to create a publicly-generated newspaper that will be designed, printed, and distributed widely on “Black Friday”&#8211; the largest shopping day of the year. For many this time of year is a time of anxiety, worry about money, and also, a time of gathering. The <strong>“Financial Engagement” </strong>organizers hope to provide a collectively-authored resource for those interested in engaging these ideas and experiences in new ways.</p>
<p>Writers, artists, illustrators, and more are encouraged to <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEpKTnQzNjJRejBDR1ZjYWJYYWJ2Nmc6MQ" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEpKTnQzNjJRejBDR1ZjYWJYYWJ2Nmc6MQ&amp;referer=');">sign up</a> to volunteer to record the conversations.</p>
<p>Through this participatory event and the subsequent collectively created newspaper, a <strong>“Financial Engagement” </strong>seeks to seed, grow, and sustain a public conversation that can change the way we live.</p>
<p><strong>About A Public Thing</strong></p>
<p><strong>An experiment in two parts.</strong></p>
<p><strong>A Public Thing gatherings</strong> are facilitated using principles of <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/news/join-us/" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.openspaceworld.org/news/join-us/?referer=');">Open Space Technology</a>. Open Space works best when the work to be done is complex, the people and ideas involved are diverse, the passion for resolution (and potential for conflict) are high, and the time to get it done was yesterday.</p>
<p>Here’s what will happen: All of the issues that are MOST important to the participants will be raised. All of the issues raised will be addressed by those participants most qualified and capable.</p>
<p><strong>A Public Thing publications</strong> are co-created by participants at A Public Thing gatherings. Creative documentarians will be embedded in the gathering’s small group conversations to help record and tell the story of what was discussed and generated. A Public Thing collects these stories and documents, and uses them as the basis for a publication to be be designed, printed, and distributed within weeks of the initial gathering.</p>
<p><strong>We hope to provide a collectively-authored resource for those interested in engaging these ideas and experiences in new ways.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Collaborators</strong></p>
<p>Shanai Matteson &amp; Colin Kloecker (<a href="http://worksprogress.org/" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/worksprogress.org/?referer=');">Works Progress</a>), Sarah Peters, Molly Priesmeyer (<a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/">Good Work Group</a>), Sam Gould (<a href="http://www.red76.com/" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.red76.com/?referer=');">Red76</a>), Molly Balcom Raleigh, and a growing group of artists, designers, &amp; writers. Let us know if you’d like to be involved by emailing hello [at] worksprogress [dot] org.</p>
<p>Learn more about the event via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265265993508587" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=265265993508587&amp;referer=');">Facebook. </a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/press-release-join-us-for-a-unique-financial-engagement/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Layover passengers will see the Twin Cities in a whole new way</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/layover-passengers-will-see-the-twin-cities-in-a-whole-new-way/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/layover-passengers-will-see-the-twin-cities-in-a-whole-new-way/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:04:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=232</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A new project promises to showcase the Twin Cities to world travelers and help increase visibility, tourism, and business. MSP Tours, located at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport, is now offering self-directed audio-guided tours of the Twin Cities to travelers with layovers at the airport]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/msp-tours-logo-on.gif"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-235" title="msp-tours-logo-on" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/msp-tours-logo-on-300x109.gif" alt="" width="300" height="109" /></a><strong>MSP Tours and a unique public-transit system let layover passengers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport explore the best of the Twin Cities!</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>September 22, 2011 (Minneapolis)</strong>—A new project promises to showcase the Twin Cities to world travelers and help increase visibility, tourism, and business. <a href="http://www.msptours.com" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.msptours.com?referer=');"><strong>MSP Tours</strong></a>, located at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport, is now offering self-directed audio-guided tours of the Twin Cities to travelers with layovers at the airport.</p>
<p>In 2010, MSP served 32 million passengers, making it the 15th busiest airport in the United States. According to the Metropolitan Airport Commission, 14.7 million of those passengers were layover travelers.</p>
<p><strong>MSP Tours</strong> will target those travelers, offering them exclusive, customized tours that take off every 10 minutes and utilize the Hiawatha Light Rail Line. Each tour brings them to the light rail’s 19 destination stops, among others, and back to the airport on time for their departure flight.</p>
<p>Every tour offers unique audio tips and testimonials, all provided by the Twin Cities’ biggest experts, artists, and aficionados.</p>
<p>MSP aircraft operations are increasing every day, with traffic expected to grow by 40 percent by 2030. <strong>MSP Tours</strong> is working with the Airport Foundation MSP to enhance the airport experience and provide tourism opportunities for its passengers.</p>
<p><strong>MPS Tours</strong> is the first touring operation of its kind to offer both customer-service alternatives for an increasing number of layover passengers and a unique opportunity to showcase the Twin Cities to world travelers who are likely to return for business opportunities and repeat visits.</p>
<p>&#8220;I want to offer customized tours of Minneapolis because I love this city,&#8221; says MSP Tours owner Chieko Karlsen, a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities who has worked as a personal tour guide for more than 10 years. “It’s an opportunity to really reach people who otherwise wouldn’t see our cities, and showcase our world-renowned arts, culture, architecture, and more.”</p>
<p>With a layover of three hours or more, travelers can explore the Mall of America; Target Field; the downtown dining and shopping district; Nicollet Mall; Minnehaha Falls; the Mill City Museum; the Guthrie Theater; and more.</p>
<p>Audio guides written in collaboration with Twin Cities experts and Shutterbird Media make every tour as equally educational as it is entertaining.</p>
<p>Local musician <strong>Jeremy Messersmith</strong> even provides some tips, and travelers get to listen to his critically acclaimed tune “Light Rail” as the Hiawatha line takes them to their next destination.</p>
<p>“It’s really about showcasing the cities,” says Karlsen. “And we have the brightest minds and experts doing it.”</p>
<p><strong>Mayor R.T. Rybak</strong> provides the intro, ensuring every traveler gets to explore the city like a local.</p>
<p>Each tour costs $27.50 and includes: cost of Metro Transit Light Rail tickets; MOA tickets to attractions like Nickelodeon Universe and Sea Life; Nice Ride 24-hour subscriptions; Cardinal Bar promos; and a Macy&#8217;s Visitor Savings Pass.</p>
<p>The first tour takes off on <strong>October 1st! </strong></p>
<p><strong>Want to tour the Twin Cities in a whole new way? </strong>You’re invited! Check out one of the <strong>complimentary tours</strong> reserved just for press.</p>
<p>Friday, September 30<sup>th</sup>: 10am and 2pm</p>
<p>Saturday, October 1<sup>st</sup>: 10am and 2pm</p>
<p><strong>Contact:</strong> Chieko Karlsen at 612.232.7814 or <a href="mailto:chieko@msptours.com">chieko@msptours.com</a> to reserve your customized audio guide!</p>
<p>Meet at information booth on the lower level (tram level) by short-term parking. Park in short-term parking and enter lower level. The information booth will be immediately visible. Parking will be validated courtesy of Airport Foundation MSP, so take a ticket and bring it with you.</p>
<p>Plan for three hours, but you can do it in less if you&#8217;re in a hurry.</p>
<p>Don’t miss this opportunity to see the Twin Cities in a whole new way!</p>
<p>Check out the web site: <a href="http://www.msptours.com. " onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.msptours.com.?referer=');">www.msptours.com. </a></p>
<p>Follow us on Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MSPTours" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/twitter.com/_/MSPTours?referer=');">@MSPTours</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/layover-passengers-will-see-the-twin-cities-in-a-whole-new-way/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Twin Cities bike culture just got cooler</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/twin-cities-bike-culture-just-got-cooler/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/twin-cities-bike-culture-just-got-cooler/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:37:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=227</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here at Good Work Group, we like to think about what sort of qualities that make cities livable. Recently, Minneapolis released the Living Well report, its annual progress report tracking quality of life factors. And it looks like we are improving on front lines of decreasing violent crime, offering more affordable housing, and encouraging residents ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Bike-Fixtation.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-228 alignleft" title="Bike Fixtation" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Bike-Fixtation-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Here at Good Work Group, we like to think about what sort of qualities that make cities livable. Recently, <a href="http://www.startribune.com/opinion/126041658.html" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.startribune.com/opinion/126041658.html?referer=');">Minneapolis released</a> the Living Well report, its annual progress report tracking quality of life factors.</p>
<p>And it looks like we are improving on front lines of decreasing violent crime, offering more affordable housing, and encouraging residents to adopt alternative forms of commute like biking, walking, and public transit. While progress is good, we can always strive to do better.</p>
<p>A lack of mobility within a city is one thing that frustrates many residents. With the rising price of gas, many are feeling the pinch and are looking for other ways of getting around the city. What caught our eye and means good news for true alternative mobility was a recent addition to the Twin Cities bike culture – a vending machine that sells bike parts!</p>
<p>There are vending machines for soda pop and TV dinners and, in China, there is one even for <a href="www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/21/live-crab-vending-machine-china_n_771528.html">live crabs</a>. But in Minneapolis, we hail the arrival of <a href="http://bikefixtation.com" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/bikefixtation.com?referer=');">Bike Fixation</a>. Located within the Uptown Transit Station on Hennepin Avenue, the self-service repair kiosk is complete with a bicycle stand with tethered tools for easy repairs and an air compressor for filling flat tires.</p>
<p>The concept is the brainchild of local entrepreneurs, Chad DeBaker and Alex Anderson, who, after a particularly <a href="http://bikewalkmove.org/2011/bike-fixtation" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/bikewalkmove.org/2011/bike-fixtation?referer=');">frustrating flat-tire experience</a>, spawned the idea. The best-selling items from this red machine are tubes for remedying an inconvenient flat that would frustrate even the most mild-mannered cyclist. You could also buy cold drinks and small snacks for quick nourishment.</p>
<p>The addition of Bike Fixation is yet another testament to the Twin Cities&#8217; commitment to providing easy access to alternative transportation options. Besides being named the number one city for biking in America by the Bicycling magazine&#8211;one-upping our perpetual competitor, Portland&#8211; the Midtown Greenway reveals why our bike culture is thriving. Convenience in and an ease for getting out of our cars and onto the sidewalks and bike lanes makes the switch less painful.</p>
<p>In fact, biking is actually <a href="http://www.good.is/post/riding-your-bike-is-good-for-the-economy" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.good.is/post/riding-your-bike-is-good-for-the-economy?referer=');">good for the economy</a>. And let&#8217;s not leave out the health and emotional benefits of ditching our fuel-guzzlers.</p>
<p>If you are new to the bike/walk scene, <a href="http://www.bikewalktwincities.org" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.bikewalktwincities.org?referer=');">Bike Walk Twin Cities </a>is a great resource for getting started. Check out their website and learn how to get around safely and explore different routes. To help grow the bike culture here, the organization also launched the <a href="http://bikewalkmove.org" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/bikewalkmove.org?referer=');">Bike Walk Move</a> campaign to support an active lifestyle. (Did you know that on average, it costs a family $8,000 per year for each car it owns?_</p>
<p>Besides creating health and economic benefits, we see walking and biking as a community-building and engagement exercise that improves our connection to the city, one neighborhood at a time. So slow down and explore the city! You will be amazed to discover that hole-in-the-wall restaurant or a cool mural that you would have missed driving all the time.</p>
<p>For more info, check out  <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1770849/mapping-the-real-state-of-america" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.fastcompany.com/1770849/mapping-the-real-state-of-america?referer=');">this cool infographic</a>.</p>
<p>Better yet, go take a <a href="https://www.niceridemn.org/" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.niceridemn.org/?referer=');">Nice Ride</a>.</p>
<p><em><strong>&#8211;By Clem Auyeng<br />
</strong></em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/twin-cities-bike-culture-just-got-cooler/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New site explores Minnesota businesses with a purpose</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/new-site-explores-minnesota-businesses-with-a-purpose/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/new-site-explores-minnesota-businesses-with-a-purpose/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:02:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Good Work Group</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A new web site in the Twin Cities is looking at how businesses use social good for innovation in Minnesota. Called Porpoise, the site was launched by Adrienne Peirce, who has her MBA from the U of M and has worked in microfinancing and social-innovation consulting. Peirce, who plans on bringing other writers and social-good ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/porpoise750.png"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-220" title="porpoise750" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/porpoise750-300x74.png" alt="" width="300" height="74" /></a>A new web site in the Twin Cities is looking at how businesses use social good for innovation in Minnesota. Called <a href="http://porpoise.mn/" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/porpoise.mn/?referer=');">Porpoise,</a> the site was launched by <a href="http://porpoise.mn/about" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/porpoise.mn/about?referer=');">Adrienne Peirce</a>, who has her MBA from the U of M and has worked in microfinancing and social-innovation consulting.</p>
<p>Peirce, who plans on bringing other writers and social-good minds into the fold as the site grows, has written a series of posts about a diverse range of subjects and innovations, including new arts business models, such as Mixed Blood&#8217;s new <a href="http://porpoise.mn/mixed-blood-theater-goes-freemium" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/porpoise.mn/mixed-blood-theater-goes-freemium?referer=');">&#8220;Freemium&#8221;</a> program, and what it says about creative new ways of doing business and increasing community outreach.</p>
<p>According to Peirce:</p>
<blockquote><p>Porpoise was started to share stories and ideas related to using  business for social good in Minnesota. We are interested in social  innovation and new ideas that improve our world. That means we’ll cover  everything from mission-based for-profits, earned income non-profits,  hybrids, corporate social responsibility, and philanthropic innovations.  We are fascinated with brand new business models, as well as applying  old models to entirely new problems. Areas like renewable energy,  microfinance, and youth employment keep us interested, and over-arching  topics like cause marketing, business ethics, and technology allow us to  explore ideas across sectors.</p></blockquote>
<p>We&#8217;re looking forward to reading more from Peirce, and learning more about all of the great Minnesota businesses inspiring social change and business innovation.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/new-site-explores-minnesota-businesses-with-a-purpose/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Urban landscapes are turning into mini-farms all over the Twin Cities</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/urban-landscapes-are-turning-into-mini-farms-all-over-the-twin-cities/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/urban-landscapes-are-turning-into-mini-farms-all-over-the-twin-cities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:22:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Good Work Group</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organic farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[permaculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twin Cities]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=213</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re so excited to be working with Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers, a fantastic company dedicated to promoting sustainability, healthy foods, and gardening education all over the Twin Cities. The permaculture experts are working with homeowners, businesses, renters, and Habitat for Humanity to help transform urban spaces into sustainable mini-farms. Want a mini-farm of your own? ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We&#8217;re so excited to be working with <a href="http://harvestmoonfarmers.blogspot.com/" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/harvestmoonfarmers.blogspot.com/?referer=');">Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers</a>, a fantastic company dedicated to promoting sustainability, healthy foods, and gardening education all over the Twin Cities. The permaculture experts are working with homeowners, businesses, renters, and Habitat for Humanity to help transform urban spaces into sustainable mini-farms.</p>
<p>Want a mini-farm of your own? Contact Harvest Moon. They&#8217;ll do the work for you and help you learn all about the value of permaculture and growing healthy  food.</p>
<p><strong>Contact:</strong></p>
<p>Krista Leraas: <a href="mailto:krista@harvestmoonfarmers.com">krista@harvestmoonfarmers.com</a></p>
<p>Dina Kountoupes: <a href="mailto:dina@harvestmoonfarmers.com">dina@harvestmoonfarmers.com</a></p>
<p>For Immediate Release</p>
<p><strong>Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers are turning urban landscapes into mini-farms all over the Twin Cities</strong></p>
<p><em>Gardens by Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers are helping to bring the freshest and healthiest food to the Twin Cities </em></p>
<p><strong>April 11, 2011 (Minneapolis)</strong>-Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers are giving new meaning to the local-food movement in the Twin Cities. Led by Krista Leraas and Dina Kountoupes, Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers are a group of expert gardeners, permaculturists, and sustainable farmers who are transforming city landscapes into sustainable mini-farms all over the Twin Cities. The gardens are providing healthy food while also helping to educate homeowners, renters, and business owners about the food-growing process.</p>
<p>“Our goal is to build mini-farms that can educate people about how to grow food and the value that has,” says Leraas, who grew up on a farm and later studied cultural ecology and sustainable communities, along with co-founding the Living Green Expo.</p>
<p>Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers are designing organic mini-farms in backyards, front yards, side yards, community plots, business campuses, and, most recently, Habitat for Humanity homes. The farmers are working with three Habitat families to create mini-farms that can help feed them all growing-season long.</p>
<p>Along with creating gardens for homeowners who don’t have the time, Harvest Moon is also working to raise awareness about sustainability and provide access to healthy foods for people who don’t ordinarily have it.</p>
<p>“What’s makes us unique is that we’re teaching people who have a garden, giving them a sense of place, or the workings of nature, of the seasons,” says Kountoupes, who studied environmental education and worked with Leraas at the Permaculture Research Institute before founding Harvest Moon.</p>
<p>“Our gardens aren’t just a grocery store in your back yard, says Kountoupes. “It’s actually about teaching and sharing. I am a teacher at heart. Sharing is a part of me.”</p>
<p>Harvest Moon Backyard Farmers provide full-service gardens, which include more than 35 different vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. The package also provides weekly maintenance, compost, and watering. Harvest Moon also offers garden coaching, consulting, and design, helping to teach up-and-coming mini-farmers about maintenance, soil fertility, pest control, and more.</p>
<p>“Harvest Moon is very people-centered,” says Leraas. “It’s all about how the people we interact with are getting fed, how they value what they put into their bodies, that they’re staring to understand something about their place; they always learn something and their perception changes…and that’s our ultimate goal.”</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/urban-landscapes-are-turning-into-mini-farms-all-over-the-twin-cities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Social media for social good, and how to avoid &#8220;you&#8217;re doing it wrong&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-ideas/social-media-for-social-good-and-how-to-avoid-youre-doing-it-wrong/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-ideas/social-media-for-social-good-and-how-to-avoid-youre-doing-it-wrong/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:56:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=190</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tons of year-end-focused articles touted social media&#8217;s big leap this year. The NYT, for example, noted that Facebook users jumped from 350 million in 2009 to 600 million users in 2010. In fact, there were huge numbers both for that Zuckerberg start-up and for Twitter, which signed on more than 100 million users in 2010. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Fairtrade-cocoa-farmers-i-006.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-195 alignright" title="Fairtrade-cocoa-farmers-i-006" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Fairtrade-cocoa-farmers-i-006.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="276" /></a>Tons of year-end-focused articles touted social media&#8217;s big leap this year. The NYT, for example, noted that Facebook users jumped from 350 million in 2009 to 600 million users in 2010. In fact, there were huge numbers both for that Zuckerberg start-up and for Twitter, which signed on more than <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/12/16/twitter-stats-2010/" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/mashable.com/2010/12/16/twitter-stats-2010/?referer=');">100 million users</a> in 2010. Yet along with all of those numbers and story accolades, there were a handful of social-media detractors, too&#8211;marketers and journalists who called &#8220;social media&#8221; the most <a href="http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2930697" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2930697&amp;referer=');">overused phrase of 2010</a>, and some wondering if it had peaked.</p>
<p>Of course, we respectfully disagree. Annoying phrase? Maybe. But our vote goes to &#8220;natural-cut fries.&#8221; (Seriously. What are those anyway?) And by no means has it peaked. In fact, we&#8217;re just starting to see its real potential. The power that social media has for social entrepreneurs, small companies, and grassroots campaigns is exponential, and at the same time, like marketing, its end results hard measure. But unlike static advertising and marketing, we can see it amplify in real-time, as conversations about ideas, grassroots efforts, and campaigns begin to manifest themselves in real-world conversations, serving as catalysts for change.</p>
<p>An article in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2011/jan/14/using-social-media-for-social-good-for-social-enterprises" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.guardian.co.uk/social-enterprise-network/2011/jan/14/using-social-media-for-social-good-for-social-enterprises?referer=');">the Guardian</a> last week did a nice job of summarizing how social enterprises are using social media to their advantage. It&#8217;s fairly basic, as it should be, since so many businesses and organizations find social media confounding. The author outlines easy ways to engage your audience, such as:</p>
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">So, on your Twitter profile, for example, you could introduce yourself  and explain what you do for your organisation, to create an open and  personal feel. Then, a good first content post should consist of  something that will interest your target audience. For example, some  recent news from your industry with a comment from you giving your  opinion. Try asking: &#8220;What do you think?&#8221;. Showing your interest in what  others have to say is vital to engagement, even though it is OK to  disagree in a polite and constructive way. Aim to create a sense of  community rather than to simply build your contacts.</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">This is great advice, since engagement and listening are key. But it also leaves businesses and orgs new to social-media wide open for the drumbeat of &#8220;You&#8217;re doing it wrong!&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I&#8217;m not going to list examples, but I will outline three of the ways folks do it wrong so that you can avoid pitfalls, best represent your brand, and affect change. Don&#8217;t take it personally. You&#8217;re not alone. But you&#8217;re &#8220;you are &#8220;doing it wrong&#8221; if you&#8217;re:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>1. Not providing a service:</strong> Social-media is an extension of your campaign and brand. You should be using it to provide a <em>service</em> to people. Are you simply marketing to them? Or are you providing them with news and information that is educational and interesting and can help further your identity? For example: Let&#8217;s say your company is a small, sustainable architecture firm. Can you use Twitter to talk about sustainable services in your area beyond just architecture? Can you become a valuable and trusted resource for your mission and local sustainability? Can you help amplify your brand and your mission by extending it into conversations that educate, inform, and inspire?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>2. Spammy McSpammy: </strong>We all know this person or organization. It doesn&#8217;t matter if they&#8217;re connected to a good cause or not; retweeting everything or auto-tweeting/filtering 100 posts a day simply because they include relevant hashtags just feels spammy. No one wants to be spammed, even if it is a Minnesota &#8220;meat.&#8221; Just because something has #fairtrade #eco #green #sustainable doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s valuable to your readers/audience. All too often a Twitter feed loaded with hashtags can feel more like marketing than real engagement. Respect your readers first. Make it about them, not just you. Be aware of the conversation first, and don&#8217;t let auto filters do the work for you. It&#8217;s the conversations that are relevant, not the hashtags.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>3. Thinking about followers instead of valuable engagement:</strong> See above&#8211;the hashtag over-user is also guilty of this. But others are as well, such as the folks who follow <em>everyone </em>under the chirping Twitter moon just so they can get a follow-back. Think wisely about the community you are creating. It shouldn&#8217;t be simply based on followers, but engagement. It&#8217;s the same rule that we at GWG have for media ads: Why would you place a banner ad on a site that has page views from all over the world instead of on one that has maybe way fewer page views but speaks directly to and with your core audience?</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Remember: Your goal is to provide something of value. And that&#8217;s impossible to do when you have only page views/followers (e.g. the &#8220;Fools Gold of the Internet&#8221;) in mind. Think about engagement and true community instead. Think about your story: How do your conversations connect to your story and mission? Think about what you are <em>creating</em> instead of what you are immediately getting in return.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In other words, dear friends of the internet and social good, remember this mantra: Provide a service. Provide value. Provide respect. Provide community engagement, outreach, and education. If you&#8217;re doing this, you&#8217;re doing it right. This is how you stand out as a leader in social good and social change.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">&#8211;Molly P.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-ideas/social-media-for-social-good-and-how-to-avoid-youre-doing-it-wrong/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>3 ideas that can make your business and the world a little bit better</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-ideas/3-ideas-that-can-make-your-business-and-the-world-a-little-bit-better/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-ideas/3-ideas-that-can-make-your-business-and-the-world-a-little-bit-better/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:02:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daniel Pink]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=162</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about work and what it means, especially as I talk to clients who look to convey what they do and love to others.  But every once in a while a client will ask me, &#8220;How do we convey our mission and story to our customers?&#8221; And the inherent problem is, ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/rear-view-mirror.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-181 alignleft" title="rear-view-mirror" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/rear-view-mirror-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>I&#8217;ve been thinking a lot about work and what it means, especially as I talk to clients who look to convey what they do and love to others.  But every once in a while a client will ask me, &#8220;How do we convey our mission and story to our customers?&#8221;</p>
<p>And the inherent problem is, their mission and story is all over the place. As an editor will say: They totally bury the lede. Deep, deep, deep, where no one could find it even with all of the key search words written in front of them.</p>
<p>These are organizations that, especially in a new economy, are  grasping at new business ideas with windmill arms; they&#8217;re tossing a ball into a spinning wheel and hoping it lands somewhere not scary; or they&#8217;re in a business for all the wrong reasons (mostly profit over passion and people),  and have an environment of uninspired and burn-out workers to prove it.</p>
<p>Yet there is hope, ye withering ones. More and more businesses are focusing on and finding success in a purpose-driven mission.  Author/creative thinker <a href="http://www.danpink.com/" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.danpink.com/?referer=');">Dan Pink</a> says there are three necessary elements for happy businesses&#8211;and happy people: autonomy; mastery; and purpose. Personal and professional satisfaction (and the most creative, inspiring ideas), he says, come about when people feel that they are self-directed; that they are challenged, learning, and making a contribution; and that they have a transcendent purpose. All businesses should, in fact, have a purpose motive that goes well beyond profit, Pink says, in order to be truly successful.</p>
<p>As Pink says in this fantastic, inspiring video (it&#8217;s 10 mins. long, but I encourage you to watch it all!): &#8220;When profit gets unmoored from purpose, bad things happen&#8230;Bad things like lame services, crappy products, and uninspiring places to work.&#8221; However, even in this economy, companies that are flourishing are animated by a larger sense of purpose.</p>
<p>Quote of possibly the Century: &#8220;If we start treating people like  people,&#8221; Pink says, &#8220;and not assuming that they&#8217;re simply horses, if we  get past the ideology of &#8216;carrots and sticks&#8217; and look at the science…we  can build organizations and work lives that make us better off, but  also the promise to make our world just a little bit better.&#8221;</p>
<p>How&#8217;s that for Good Ideas?</p>
<p>I watch this video every now and then for a little bit of inspiration: It reminds me why I do what I do every day, and makes my sense of purpose even stronger. Plus, the animation is really fun, making Pink&#8217;s ideas come to life even more.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="410" height="288" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6XAPnuFjJc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="410" height="288" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6XAPnuFjJc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>&#8211;Molly P.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-ideas/3-ideas-that-can-make-your-business-and-the-world-a-little-bit-better/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sustainable paper: Good for the environment, and your project</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-trends/sustainable-paper-good-for-the-environment-and-your-project/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-trends/sustainable-paper-good-for-the-environment-and-your-project/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:22:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>karen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eco-friendly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FSC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stewardship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are hundred upon hundreds of paper brands, sub-brands, textures and styles to choose from. Gloss versus matte is just one of the decisions that can affect your brand, your design, and virtually every decision that has been made with your project&#8217;s success in mind. Laid or feltweave, cream or bright white, there is one ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are hundred upon hundreds of paper brands, sub-brands, textures and styles to choose from. Gloss versus matte is just one of the decisions that can affect your brand, your design, and virtually every decision that has been made with your project&#8217;s success in mind. Laid or feltweave, cream or bright white, there is one essential question that can make your choice a little less complicated:</p>
<p>How can you choose a paper that will support the integrity of your project and the environment?<span id="more-130"></span></p>
<h1>FSC 101</h1>
<h2>The Real Weight of Your Paper Choice</h2>
<p>Good Work Group recommends using paper that is FSC-approved. The <a href="http://www.fsc.org" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.fsc.org?referer=');">Forrest Stewardship Council</a> advocates for fair-practice <strong>economically</strong>, <strong>socially</strong>, and <strong>environmentally</strong>, and it is the only <strong>globally-valid standard</strong>.  FSC&#8217;s certification system is also recognized by <a href="http://www.isealalliance.org" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.isealalliance.org?referer=');">ISEAL</a>, an agricultural social auditing organization and leader in setting new standards for best-practices.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/fsc-logo.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-131 alignnone" title="fsc-logo" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/fsc-logo-286x300.jpg" alt="Forest Stewardship Council" width="286" height="300" /></a><strong><br />
FSC stewardship includes (among many others):</strong></p>
<p>• best-practices and responsibility in forest management<br />
• worker and human rights<br />
• community relations and assurance that basic needs are met<br />
• replenishment of seed trees in logging areas<br />
• conservation of rare, threatened, and endangered species<br />
• biodiversity (maintaining all living species)<br />
• watershed protection and erosion prevention</p>
<p><strong>The FSC advocates for the prevention of:</strong></p>
<p>• toxic chemicals<br />
• illegal harvesting of timber</p>
<h2><strong>Use the FSC Logo</strong></h2>
<p>In order to sport the FCS logo on your print and marketing materials,  you must be approved by the FSC, and have met the following guidelines:</p>
<p>• Use FSC-approved paper<br />
• Use an FSC-approved printer</p>
<p>Read more about <a href="http://www.fsc.org/printers_publishers.html" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.fsc.org/printers_publishers.html?referer=');">using the FSC trademark</a>.</p>
<h1>*The* Sustainable Paper List</h1>
<p>Good Work Group&#8217;s top brand picks for FSC-approved paper manufacturers*:<br />
*Not all papers created by these companies are FSC-approved. Check the certification list below for the full list of FSC-approved papers.</p>
<p>Domtar<br />
Finch Paper<br />
Fraser Papers<br />
Mohawk<br />
Neenah<br />
New Leaf<br />
Smart Papers<br />
Wausau</p>
<p><strong>Full List of FSC-approved papers:</strong><br />
<a href="../wp-content/uploads/2010/07/fsc-cert-cond.pdf" target="_blank">January, 2010</a> (PDF)</p>
<h2>Printing With a Conscience</h2>
<p><strong>Affordable Online Printing</strong></p>
<p><strong>48 Hour Print</strong> is an affordable online printer that is now FSC-approved.<br />
<a href="http://www.48hourprint.com/greenprinting.html" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.48hourprint.com/greenprinting.html?referer=');">www.48hourprint.com</a></p>
<h2>Buying Sustainable Paper</h2>
<p>You can purchase your own FSC-approved paper for printing at your   home or office, or to bring to your local low-volume printer.   Oftentimes, your print cost will be reduced, in some cases up to .70   cents per print! Purchase FSC-approved papers at your local paper   warehouse, or online. Here are a few options (note that not all papers   available are FSC-approved; you can use the Sustainable Paper List   outlined above as a starting point.):<br />
<strong><br />
Xpedx</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.xpedx.com" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.xpedx.com?referer=');">www.xpedx.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Paper Papers</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.paper-papers.com" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.paper-papers.com?referer=');">www.paper-papers.com</a></p>
<h1>Quality Paper for Any Budget, Sustainability Included</h1>
<h2>Good Work Group&#8217;s Quality Eco-friendly Paper Picks</h2>
<h2>Neenah Environment®</h2>
<h2><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Neenah-Recycling-Poster.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-144" title="Neenah-Recycling-Poster" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Neenah-Recycling-Poster.jpg" alt="Neenah Paper Recycling Poster" width="600" height="400" /></a></h2>
<p>Though one would never be able to tell by its sophisticated appearance,  Neenah Envioronment® is a 100% recycled paper (30% post consumer). This  beautiful archival paper is made with 100% green energy and certified by  the Forest Stewardship Counsel (FSC). A clear choice for any  organization or company that aligns with sustainable or green  initiatives.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Press: </strong>Offset or Digital<br />
<strong>Recommended for: </strong>Stationary and business cards, brochures, booklets, posters, fliers, direct mail<br />
<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<h2><strong> Domtar Cougar® DigitalChoice™ Super Smooth </strong></h2>
<p>(part of Domtar&#8217;s EarthChoice® family)<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/DomtarEcoFocus.jpg"><br />
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-137" title="DomtarEcoFocus" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/DomtarEcoFocus.jpg" alt="Domtar EarthChoice®" width="444" height="353" /><br />
</a></strong></p>
<p>If you&#8217;re looking to maintain high-quality standards and get the job  done on low-end budget, Cougar® DigitalChoice™ Super Smooth  is your  paper. This archival paper is certified by Rainforest Alliance, Forest  Stewardship Counsel (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and  it&#8217;s recycled content uses 10% post consumer.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Press: </strong>Digital<br />
<strong>Recommended for: </strong>Stationary and business cards, brochures, booklets, direct mail</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-trends/sustainable-paper-good-for-the-environment-and-your-project/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Authentic storytelling: Why it matters</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/authentic-storytelling-why-it-matters/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/authentic-storytelling-why-it-matters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:19:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[authentic storytelling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cause marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non-profits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transparency]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=123</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here at Good Work Group, we&#8217;ve been getting lots of questions about authentic storytelling. Prospective clients  are interested in having their story told as a means of connecting with the community, and they want to learn more about how to do it. And here&#8217;s what we tell them: An authentic story reveals who you are ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/popcorn.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-125 alignleft" title="Landscape" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/popcorn-300x202.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="202" /></a>Here at Good Work Group, we&#8217;ve been getting lots of questions about authentic storytelling. Prospective clients  are interested in having their story told as a means of connecting with the community, and they want to learn more about how to do it.</p>
<p>And here&#8217;s what we tell them: An authentic story reveals who you are and what you stand for. It goes beyond organization history to tell a compelling, rich story about what you believe, why you do what you do, what problem(s) you&#8217;re trying to solve, and what inspires you to do it.</p>
<p>To be sure, an authentic story isn&#8217;t greenwashing. It&#8217;s transparent. It&#8217;s purposeful. It&#8217;s community-focused. It reveals the motivations and missions of entrepreneurs, pioneers, and idea-generators. Of products, innovations, and initiatives that have the power to affect change or do &#8220;Good Work.&#8221;</p>
<p>In other words, authentic storytelling is journalistic, revealing, and affecting. The image above is an example of just one aspect of authentic storytelling: It helps to recount the story of a 50-year-old popcorn stand in New Ulm, Minnesota that was a fixture every spring and summer for more than half a decade. While the business might be small in nature, the impact it had on the community and its history was significant, all of which is revealed in strong, authentic storytelling.</p>
<p>Below is a guide sheet we give clients to help them start thinking about their authentic story and how we can best tell it. We believe everyone has an important story to tell&#8212;and that growth and connection lie in those stories. We admit it: We&#8217;re sort of geeks about telling a good story. And here are just a few reason why:</p>
<p><strong>WHY AUTHENTIC STORYTELLING MATTERS</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>What’s happening now:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>We are in the Era of Cause Consumers: It’s not what you say, but what you do. It’s about “social investments” instead of monetary investments.  It’s about what you think instead of what you produce.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Remaining authentic and relevant in a cause marketplace depends on four things: creating a credible product or service; having a responsibility to the community; providing a clear, transparent message; and allowing customers to become part of that message, and part of that community.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>According to the 2008 Cone Cause Evolution Study, 85 percent of respondents said they have a more positive image of a company when it supports a cause they care about.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>What authentic storytelling does:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>It helps companies take a leadership role in the community; develop and nurture a relationship with the larger community (e.g. your customers); create an emotional connection that inspires community, drives action, and increases profits.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It establishes trust.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It reveals who you are, why you matter, and how you stand apart from the competition.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>What authentic storytelling is:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Our approach to authentic storytelling helps inspire interaction, leadership, awareness, and connections. Good stories help you reach new customers by defining:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>WHO </strong>are you? Who are the people in your organization? How do they help it grow? What do they stand for?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>WHAT </strong>distinguishes you from others? What problem are you trying to solve? What drives you? <strong> </strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>WHERE </strong>do you implement your strategy? Do Goggle, social-media, and real-time discussions all tell the same story?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>WHEN </strong>do you interact with your clients?<strong> </strong>Is your story always being captured?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>WHY </strong>do you do what you do? What value and meaning does your organization/business have to you/the community?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>HOW </strong>do you continue to share your values, engender trust, and create community in all of your client interactions?</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>How authentic stories are told: </strong></p>
<p>We believe storytelling is holistic, powerful, and crucial to your bottom line. That’s why we start by helping you define your:</p>
<p><strong>Strategy: </strong>How does your organization think? What are its goals? What is its purpose?<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Mission: </strong>What problem or problems are you trying to solve?<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Subject/Hero: </strong>Who or what is at the center of your story? And what are they doing that’s unique?<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Identity: </strong>What is at the core of who you are? How can words and images convey your company’s essence?<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Meaning and Purpose: </strong>Storytelling helps give meaning and purpose to both your internal and external clients. It helps empower your organization’s culture and engender trust with the community. And it helps you grow, thrive and create successful outcomes.</p>
<p>Want to learn more about authentic storytelling and how it can help you grow and do Good Work? Get in touch with me today at molly[at]goodworkgroup.com.</p>
<p><em>Image from U.S. National Archive. <strong>Original Caption:</strong> This 50-Year-Old Popcorn Stand Is a  Fixture in the Community of New Ulm, Minnesota. Each Spring and Summer  It Is Located on Center Street. The Town Was Founded in 1854 by a Group  of German Immigrants. It Is Still Predominately a Farming Community  Although It Owes Its Growth Since 1950 to Manufacturing Companies That  Have Moved In. in the 1960&#8242;s the Business District Had Vacant Stores and  Needed Refurbishing. with Community Effort the Business District Was  Revitalized.</em></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/authentic-storytelling-why-it-matters/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Good List: Weekend to-do</title>
		<link>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/the-good-list-weekend-to-do/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/the-good-list-weekend-to-do/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:20:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Molly Priesmeyer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Good Ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fair Food Fight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good list]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[local artists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[local food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MN Original]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/?p=111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Friday evening promises plenty of all things good, with the new TPT show MN Original celebrating its debut and the creative community at Mears Park, and the Fair Food Fight party at the Rau + Barber Building celebrating and promoting local foods with plenty of eye-opening discussions and a menu of items from favorites like ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/27534_137154956297156_6912_n.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-112 alignright" title="27534_137154956297156_6912_n" src="http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/27534_137154956297156_6912_n.jpg" alt="MN Original" width="223" height="140" /></a>Friday evening promises plenty of all things good, with the new TPT show <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=137154956297156&amp;ref=ts" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.facebook.com/home.php_/event.php?eid=137154956297156_amp_ref=ts&amp;referer=');">MN Original</a> celebrating its debut and the creative community at Mears Park, and the <a href="http://www.fairfoodfight.com/blog/el-drag%C3%B3n/very-yummy-fff-night-fri-july-23" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.fairfoodfight.com/blog/el-drag_C3_B3n/very-yummy-fff-night-fri-july-23?referer=');">Fair Food Fight party</a> at the Rau + Barber Building celebrating and promoting local foods with plenty of eye-opening discussions and a menu of items from favorites like the Corner Table and Fulton Beer. It&#8217;s so hard to say which to choose.</p>
<p>On one hand? You could wind up with wayward pen marks from a Bic you used to draw with local artists like Andy DuCett and Jennifer Davis in the Drawing Club at Mears Park. On the other? It could be covered in steamy juices from a brat from the Modern Cafe. So let&#8217;s make it simple: Check out both! All you need is a bike, a bus, a car, a magic carpet, or that one tree-trunk-looking flying-dog thing from <em>Neverending Story.</em></p>
<p>The MN Original party starts in Mears Park at 5pm, promising interactive and arty events like the Drawing Club. Along with making art with local artists, you can enjoy live performances by  <a onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.thegoodnightsleeps.com/?referer=');javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.thegoodnightsleeps.com']);" href="http://www.thegoodnightsleeps.com/">Caroline  Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps</a>, <a onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.myspace.com/nachitoherrera?referer=');javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.myspace.com']);" href="http://www.myspace.com/nachitoherrera">Nachito  Herrera</a>, and the <a onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.myspace.com/madripplemusic?referer=');javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.myspace.com']);" href="http://www.myspace.com/madripplemusic">Mad Ripple  Hootenanny</a>, and food for purchase,  courtesy of <a onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.barriotequila.com/?referer=');javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','www.barriotequila.com']);" href="http://www.barriotequila.com/">Barrio  Tequila Bar</a>. The Fair Food Fight gathering begins at 6pm but promises to go late, with DJ Danny Sigelman behind the turntables spinning plenty of classics and local favorites for the local-foods smackdown.</p>
<p>Eat! Draw! And be merry!</p>
<p>For more info, check out <a href="http://www.fairfoodfight.com/blog/el-drag%C3%B3n/very-yummy-fff-night-fri-july-23" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.fairfoodfight.com/blog/el-drag_C3_B3n/very-yummy-fff-night-fri-july-23?referer=');">Fair Food Fight</a> and MN Original&#8217;s <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=137154956297156&amp;ref=ts" target="_blank" onclick="pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.facebook.com/home.php_/event.php?eid=137154956297156_amp_ref=ts&amp;referer=');">Party in the Park</a> Facebook page.</p>
<p>&#8211;Molly P.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goodworkgroup.com/blog/good-work/the-good-list-weekend-to-do/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

