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A Day in the Life of Mom 2.0 by Marsha Lanier

Our guest blogger, Marsha Lanier is definitely doing extraordinary things for the planet.  Her mission is to "maximize the power of the technology revolution to create a just, peaceful and sustainable world." We interviewed Marsha for the upcoming episode of See Jane Do which features women who are taking part in the online revolution.  Women who are connecting others and creating positive change through the use of social media. 

A Day in the Life of Mom 2.0

By Guest Blogger Marsha Lanier 

As I drink my morning tea and check my email, I notice I have comments from my daughter on the social network site we share.  She's "tagged" me in her pictures from the beach.  I click through to Facebook and smile; even though we are hundreds of miles apart, I feel so close to her.

I see some “notifications” so I check those and find that my feminist organizer friend has blogged about the upcoming International Women’s Film Festival.  I can get half price tickets if I mention I found out about it on Facebook. 

I’ve also been notified that my best friend has uploaded some new music to his Myspace page so I check that out and send him some marketing suggestions I learned about at the TechSoup conference, where cutting edge solutions for changing the world are awarded monetary prizes. 

The moderator for the improv group I consulted for last year has uploaded a video about how to deal with the financial crisis and keep your sense of humor.  So I watch and comment on that (along with dozens of other folks around the globe who have taken their classes).  One of their African dance instructors is promoting an upcoming event in Morocco so I click through and see pictures from last year’s trip.  Looks enticing and I plan on saving my pennies to go next year.

I realize I haven’t signed up for a Burning Man camp and even though it’s months away, I want to know who I’m going to be camping with so I check out another social networking site, Tribe.net, which is more “freak” friendly than the university student dominated Facebook.  There I read profiles about the women artists and get answers to questions about water storage and the best kind of outerwear for the cold nights.  I post that I need a ride to the next regional event and within minutes I hear back from 3 folks offering to carpool.

I’m working an environmental conference coming up soon, so I check email for their press release and post it to yet another social network site, Ning, known for it’s privacy options. 

Then I get a “Twitter” from a couple of Silicon Valley colleagues I met at the Women in Tech conference, “She’s Geeky.” (They’re discussing their trip to the Austin indie music festival “South by Southwest (SXSW).”  I learn that one of my favorite performers, Margaret Cho, is there, so I order her book from the library.)  We’d created a wiki, a living document which can be easily updated by people from many different locations, at the last conference so I send that to another colleague.

A non-profit I volunteer for has requested info on how to grow their international organization and where they can upload a recent presentation, so I steer them to Slideshare where they can watch Power Points and get feedback from presenters all over the planet.

I head over to LinkedIn, another social networking site for professionals, to check on the Green Economy group I moderate there and find that a British colleague is planning a conference on the environment.  I send that to my son’s girlfriend who’s working in London.  I also see there’s an upcoming free webinar on a topic I’ve been wanting to learn more about and sign up for it.

After I read an online newspaper story about a successful environmental initiative in Philadelphia, I check the site to see if they have social bookmarking.  Sure enough, they do, offering links via Digg, Delicious and many others.  So that makes it really easy to share the news feed with my peers with just a click.

The women’s group I attend needs to plan an upcoming meeting and the facilitator is having a hard time coordinating 20 women’s schedules.  I send her the link for Doodle, the online calendaring tool, to save her some time.

I check the RSS (real time updated) feed for my other daughter’s blog and find that she’s uploaded pictures from the park where she jogs near her Buenos Aires apartment.  Then I read a friend’s post about how she’s coping with her mother’s dementia.  I send her a link to the Area Agency on Aging which has tips for caregivers.

My website designer has uploaded the video of President Obama wishing Iranians “Happy Nowruz,” (Persian New Year).  He’s overcome with emotion as he describes what it feels like to finally have his much denigrated culture actually given a warm embrace by such a powerful world leader.

Finally, I wind up back at Facebook where I find that a dear friend I haven’t talked to since middle school has found me and invited me to her lovely home in Chicago.  I can see her recent knitting project online and compliment her on it.  “Yes, I’d love to come!” I write back; “in fact, I’ll be there in July for the BlogHer conference.”  I smile to myself feeling absolutely giddy that I get to see her again at a venue which celebrates thousands of female bloggers.

It’s only 9 am; I’m still cozy in my pink sock monkey pajamas but I’ve already traveled around the globe via Web 2.0 (interactive) tools.  I’ve not only engaged friends and family, I’ve gotten a lot of work done. 

How did I end up here?  A middle aged woman using all kinds of tech tools which didn’t even exist a few years ago?  My love for my kids and my passion for social justice motivated me.  I saw how Obama, a community organizer like myself, was using Web 2.0 tools to engage his constituency and I watched how my kids stayed in touch with their friends when they were home from college on break.  And I decided to attend every conference I could on how to use these tools to promote the issues that I care about.  I became inspired by the stories of women around the world, just like myself, who were posting about their lives, both the mundane details and the big life changing moments.

And I became convinced that we are shifting the world, bit by bit, toward equality.  That we are coming to know one another across oceans, across national boundaries, across ethnic, class and accessibility barriers.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother shared her stories with me at the kitchen table while we were canning tomatoes fresh from her organic garden.  Now I can sit and hear stories from women all over the globe without leaving my home (or my locally owned, fair trade coffee shop)!

If you’d like to learn more, or tell me a story about what you like to do online, please drop me a line, or post, or tweet! 

I’d love to hear from you!

(And a very special thank you to SeeJaneDo’s Elisa and Leta for highlighting so many inspiring stories on their show!)

-- 
Marsha Lanier, MSW
Director, MMP Consulting
marsha@spiritbodymind.org

www.spiritbodymind.org

415-678-6303 mobile
530-265-0323 H/O

Marsha uses Web 2.0 tools to create a more just, peaceful and sustainable world:

Facebook:
http://profile.to/marshalanier

LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mmpconsulting

Want to learn how? 

 

Jane Mail: She's Creating a Legacy at Home

I'm a firm believer that being extraordinary means sharing your passion and going above and beyond the standard norm.   It's about doing your part and being exceptional at whatever your contribution might be.  We received this inspiring note from a mom who is creating a legacy at home.

I am a big believer that change starts at home. It is a part of our everyday life to recycle, recycle, recycle. We have begun doing such a good job that we had to request an extra receptacle from our disposal service because of the sheer volume of our bi-weekly "contributions".

We are also frequent contributors to Goodwill. Anything and everything that is still in good shape and can be used by another family is donated to charity to live another day without being tossed in the land fill. Because this is a way of life for my children, I feel very proud that our good habits are creating a legacy that will only expand with each generation that follows us. I am the CEO of my own grassroots operation!

Marlene Linke

What are you doing at your home to enhance the planet?  We'd love to share your story.

Check out Marlene's blog, Mom-O's Blog at http://mommosblog.blogspot.com/. 

Elisa

Getting Back to the Basics: Three Economical Ways Women Go Local with Food

See Jane Do has interviewed numerous women who are getting back to the basics in order to enhance the planet, improve their quality of life and save money.  Following are three economical ways they have gone local with their food. 

Subscribe to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

We met Cindy Pawlowski at Riverhill Farm (co-owner is extraordinary woman, Jo McProud).  Cindy subscribes to a CSA and picks up her box of fresh, locally grown food once a week during the summer.  Cindy pays about $25 per box a week.  Each box includes anywhere from twelve to fifteen different fruits and vegetables.  Some families even split the costs and share a subscription.

Check out Local Harvest to find a CSA in your community.

Click here to listen to Cindy share with us her favorite part about joining a CSA.

 Raise Chickens in Your Backyard!

Yes, I really have friends who are raising chickens.  These are moms who probably wouldn't even classify themselves as farmers. They just enjoy getting fresh local eggs directly from the source.  My friend Kim convinced me that raising chickens isn't too difficult and it's quite inexpensive. 

Jeanne Heida gives a breakdown of the costs and claims that she saves $150 per year by raising chickens.  This person built a coop for $40 but you can also buy pre-made coops.  With a small investment to purchase the chicks, a ready to made coop, and feed, Kim had homegrown, fresh eggs within a couple of months.  She says that six chickens should be plenty.

Kim isn't the only one who is getting back to the basics, Sunset Magazine featured several folks who are raising chickens in the April 2009 edition. 

My family is strongly considering raising chickens in our back-yard and Leta's mom is already doing it. 

Click here to listen to Leta's son witness a chicken actually laying an egg.

Shop at a Farmer's Market

Everyday extraordinary woman, Reinette Senum started a Saturday farmer's market in Nevada City, CA last year.  The market is a volunteer-based operation and includes music, animals, face painting, and of course delicious, organic and local food.  During the off-season, farmers in our community initiated a weekly soup night and community gathering.  What a great idea.

Our small community has at least five farmer's markets that take place within the summer and fall.  One of our favorite family traditions is to walk to the market every Saturday morning to buy a fresh baked chocolate croissant before they run out.  I've saved money by purchasing my veggies directly from the farmers and it's a wonderful way to connect with folks from my town as well.

What are women doing in your community to get back to the basics with food?  We'd love to share their stories.

Elisa

She's Making History in Our Community!

In celebration of Women's History Month, See Jane Do is broadcasting a conversation with eight prominent leaders from our community who are leading the way to enhance the planet and  are making their mark in history.

Listen this Wednesday, March 25th from 1:00-2:00 pm on KVMR or listen online at www.kvmr.org.

On International Women's Day at the Gather the Women event, I facilitated and participated in a fish bowl conversation.  Tune in as we discuss redefining leadership and women leading the way generation to generation.

Click here to listen to the conversation on KVMR.

This Mom Fought in Iraq, Now She is Fighting For Our Planet

Thursday March 19th, 2009 marked the 6th anniversary of the Iraq war.  What does that mean for us as women?  Are we better off than we were before?  For Lindsey Campbell, this question is very personal. 

Four years ago she served along with men and women on the battlegrounds of Iraq.  Standing at 5 feet and 2 inches tall her gear almost doubled her weight totaling 200 pounds.  Her first introduction to Iraq was driving a humvee and leading a thirty-eight vehicle convoy across the stateline.

She says that women have to prove themselves in the military and as a result, women often have to do more than the guys in order to gain respect.  Lindsey jokes that the army often puts the "girls" in the front line because they're often shorter and not as visible in the fox holes. 

Upon returning from Iraq, Lindsey is serving in the "front lines" in another way.  Lindsey gave birth to a beautiful girl and is going to college with the $37,000 the army provided for tuition.  She is also sharing her wisdom through her passion for music.  Check out her song "Not the Same" about her experience in Iraq. 

Lindsey also expressed a new awareness around politics and what's really going on.  She's fought in Iraq and now she if fighting for our planet.  In fact, Lindsey is one of the organizers of the Earth Day celebration at her college. 

Lindsey has a different opinion of the war now than she did going in.  While she says it was one of the best things she ever did in her life, she also said that there is no way she would ever want her daughter to serve in the military.  She is going to college. 

Click here to listen to my interview with Lindsey on the KVMR evening news.  She is truly an everyday woman who is doing extraordinary things or as a listener recently said, "she is an unsung hero."

Norma Henry is Doing Her Part by Learning About Our Past

Norma Henry might be retired but that hasn't slowed her down.  She continues to do her part for the planet by volunteering at an animal shelter.  And as a fan of genealogy , Norma also stresses that we need to know where we come from in order to come together.  She is an everyday women doing extraordinary things.

Do you know a women doing extraordinary things for the planet?  See Jane Do would love to share her story.

Get inspired and informed in two minutes!  Click here to listen to our interview with Norma Henry.

Lilly Marie is Doing Her Part by Supporting a Department of Peace

Find out how this peace activist is working to transform policies around peace and work within her own community to encourage peace as a patriotic practice.  Do you know an everyday women doing extraordinary things for the planet?  See Jane Do would love to share her story?

Get inspired and informed in two minutes!

Click here to listen to our interview with Lilly Marie at an International Women's Day event.

A Conversation with Jean Shinoda Bolen and Women Leading the Way

Almost a year ago I had the idea of fusing my passion in media with the stories of people who are transforming their lives.  It was then I picked up Jean Shinoda Bolen's book, Gather the Women, Save the World.  I was instantly touched by Shinoda-Bolen's tenacity to unite women in order to make a difference.  In fact, I love Jean's quote and refer to it often on our website and materials, "when women gather together, sharing stories is what we naturally do.  This is how we learn and find encouragement, allies and ideas."

Today, one year later, I had the opportunity to interview Jean and discuss the importance of women coming together in order to lead the way.  In our interview on this See Jane Do special on KVMR , Jean also shares her experience at the United Nations World Conference on Women where she serves on the advisory board.  Jean also suggests what we can do to ensure that the WCW will occur again. 

Also featuredin this episode are interviews including; Grass Valley's youngest city council member, the co-founder the Hospitality House and co-owner of the Holbrooke Hotel, peace activists, social media leaders and more.

The See Jane Do team has been on a search to find the real stories of real women who are doing their part and leading the way for the better.

Following the empowering experience of participating in the International Women's Day event in Grass Valley, CA we shared our interviews with KVMR listeners on March 11th, 2009.

Click here to listen to our interview with Jean Shinoda Bolen on KVMR.

 

 

Tweeting, Twurling and Blogging: Women Change the World with Social Media

As women, telling stories comes naturally to most of us.  We also know how to get the word out fast.  Incorporate social networking and the on-line movement and there's potential for a social change explosion. It seems women are starting to renew our communities and the planet at an extremely rapid pace with the support of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook in addition to women oriented organizations like BlogHer and MomsRising.org. 

In pursuit of the next episode of See Jane Do we have been extremely inspired by the incredible women we've met who are taking new media to a new level.  As mothers, we were thrilled to meet the "godmother of the on-line movement" (as her staff refers to her), Joan Blades.  You know Joan, she is the co-founder of MoveOn.org.  She wanted to provide a voice for women in the White House so several years ago she co-founded MomsRising.org.  MomsRising has created an on-line movement that is transforming issues often prevalent to women, families and caretakers including; health-care, family leave, fair wages, and childcare.  "With over 250,000 members MomsRising is creating change we can see", says staff member and mother Anita Jackson. 

I met Anita at the SCHIP celebration in Sacramento.  I spotted the MomsRising group in the ballroom immediately as Jackson was bouncing her adorable 4 month old daughter on her lap.  MomsRising circulates numerous petitions, one of which was for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), bringing health-care to 11 million children.  MomsRising members contributed 135,000 letters to support this program.  Jackson was thrilled, "creating change is one click away.  MomsRising makes it easy for women to have a voice and make a difference in policy that effects family, children, and caregivers".  See Jane Do will feature more on MomsRising in our upcoming episode on March 25th, 2009 on KVMR.

New media is a wonderful way to bring issues concerning women to the table for discussion and action.  I recently read about entrepreneur Sheila Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and now co-owner of the Washington Mystics who is utilizing Twitter to create the first "Tweet-a-thon" according to the Washington Times.  Johnson produced the film A Powerful Noise which highlights the stories of three women who are persevering through severe living environments. 

Adrienne Washington reports that during the Tweet-a-thon "NCM Fathom will donate 10 cents for each Tweet - up to 50,000 Tweets - to CARE, which helps 65 million people in 70 countries become self-sufficient but focuses on women and children, who disproportionately suffer from poverty."  A Powerful Noise will premiere March 5th in theaters across the nation in celebration of International Women's Day on March 8th.

 

At See Jane Do we love a good story.   We want to the share the stories of everyday extraordinary women we've interviewed with as many people as possible, so... we've been getting friendly with Facebook.  According to iStrategy over half of the Facebook users are women.  And yes, we've taken to tweeting on twitter. 

 

We're always looking for new friends and followers.  How are you using social networks to create positive change?  Share with us at SeeJaneDo@kvmr.org. 

 

Elisa