But Getty is not the only site with free images. Buffer lists a gazillion (well, 53) other sources in 53+ Free Image Sources For Your Blog and Social Media Posts. Before sharing sites, Buffer briefly discusses Creative Commons and public domain.
Interested in public policy, the DC budget, research and information to inform and improve the caliber of public policy discussions or advocacy? This is the place for you: information and intelligence that improves advocacy is the stock in trade of this blog.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
TA: Free image sources
Legislative meeting briefing June 2
Friday, May 30, 2014
Free webinar list for June, brought to us by @WildApricot
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
TA: Visual content improves social media traction, drives sharing
Boost engagement with visuals and see the results
In addition to helping you communicate a message that is remembered, effective visuals pack a serious punch when it comes to upping your engagement. OpenView Marketing Lab’s "Beginner’s Guide to Stunning Visual Content Marketing," reports that company Facebook pages who post status updates with visuals in the form of videos and photo albums create up to 180 percent stronger engagement.
The challenges, of course, at least for the nonprofits and government agencies I know, are time and resources. Active engagement on social media platforms takes a tremendous commitment, a commitment not all agencies and organizations have. So what do we do with advice like that shared above? My thinking is this: Choose a platform or two and engage well. Perhaps commit to promoting the work of others that is consistent with our view of the world. Definitely engage rather than just post our own content.
What are your thoughts?
More from my archives (Random "historical" documents, part 4)
The post Testimony at April 19 roundtable on late March homicides contains links to must-have docs: Making the transition from the spiral of system failure to the track of youth success, Youth Violence & Homicide myths and realities, and the independent evaluation of GIP. More docs below.
Value of Positive Youth Development
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Meet the education ombudsman June 14
Monday, May 26, 2014
A new radio program, Taking Action
The program airs on Tuesdays from 1-2 PM and highlights organizing efforts around issues including fighting displacement, saving our schools and communities, preserving truly affordable housing, building community power and holding elected officials accountable. If your community or organization is Taking Action on an issue impacting your lives and would like to tell your story on our radio program, please email takingactiondc@gmail.com or call Parisa Norouzi at (202) 234-9119 with information about your show idea and they will work on fitting it into the schedule.
If you want to listen to previous programs, go to the Empower DC calendar page.
Leg meeting media briefing May 27
If you can't make it to the Wilson Building you can watch on the DC Council website.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Fabulous online slideshow tool
Holi festival by Slidely Photo Gallery
Don't worry be happy by Slidely Photo Gallery
Ward 6 Community Meeting on Public Safety & Recent Robberies
Background: There have recently been violent robberies in Ward 6. In response, CM Wells contacted MPD and the department has increased foot, car and bike patrols in the area.
Questions should be directed to Kouri Marshall, Senior Advisor and Director of External Affairs; (202) 727-8272 or via email, kmarshall@dccouncil.us.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Natasha Trethewey, outgoing US Poet Laureate
Natasha Trethewey is ending her two-year term as Poet Laureate of the United States. On the PBS series "Where Poetry Lives" she traveled the country, including a visit to the Alzheimer's Poetry Project in Brooklyn. Here she is sitting on the floor with preschoolers who'd come to visit the older residence.(SOUNDBITE OF AUDIO CLIP)
NATASHA TRETHEWEY: I'm a poet.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: I'm a poet.
TRETHEWEY: And I know it.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: And I know it.
TRETHEWEY: And my feet surely show it.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: And my feet surely show it.
TRETHEWEY: Because they're longfellows.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Because they're longfellows.
I laughed along with the kids. The interaction was sweet and showed the magic of poetry.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Keyboard shortcuts for social media
Thursday, May 22, 2014
CM McDuffie on @kojoshow May 23
Friday at noon: For #PoliticsHour, we talk Ward 5 with @CM_McDuffie. Questions? Call, tweet. We're listening. http://t.co/Mj2OC1vmbu
— The Kojo Nnamdi Show (@kojoshow) May 22, 2014
Children and poverty, a report from UVA
![]() | Graphic [from UVA] |
- How prevalent is childhood poverty in Virginia?
- How does family structure relate to childhood poverty?
- Are current poverty amelioration strategies — particularly those promoting marriage — sufficient given what we know about childhood poverty?
One of the key findings is "While children in single- and cohabiting-parent families make up one-half of all children in and near poverty, the other one-half of all poor and near-poor children lives with married parents."
I'm wondering if and how this research can inform public policy and practice in DC. Thoughts?
An update on the CAFB Mobile Marketplace and free produce giveaway
Get your Dream City read on
MLK Library says it now has 25 ebook copies of updated Dream City for loan. Thanks all for interest.
— Tom Sherwood (@tomsherwood) May 21, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
AG Irv Nathan guests on NewsTalk May 21
If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.
The history of Washington, DC in pictures
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The 1968 riots according to PoPville, Gallaudet, Getty Images, and others
The Washington Post's A City in Turmoil presents a more expansive view of the riots which started on 14th St NW and later impacted H St NE. WaPo sets the stage for the map:
On April 4, 1968, civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. His murder sparked unrest that same evening in Washington D.C. Over the next few days, violence, looting and arson enveloped the city. Here is an account of the events that damaged -- and destroyed -- large swaths of the District.
The 1968 Riots in Washington, DC, on the National Archives blog, describes some of the damage resulting from the riots. One account retold in the blog post:
Mr. Jesse McCain an African American man over the age of 50 whose barbershop at 643 P St NW, just off the 7th Street riot corridor, was made a total loss on April 5th, wrote: "I AM TOO OLD TO BE WORRYED ANY MORE I JUST DON’T WANT ANY MORE BUSINESS."
The pictures below make clear why Mr. McCain felt the way he did.
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1968: Ruins of a store in Washington, D.C., that was destroyed during the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - CIRCA 1968: soldier standing guard in a Washington, D.C., street with the ruins of buildings that were destroyed during the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
April 1968: A Black man crosses a street past soldiers and a bombed building during the race riots that followed Martin Luther King's assassination, Washington, DC. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Firefighters spray water on shops, including Beyda's, Miles Shoes, and Graysons, that were burned during the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington, DC, April 1968. (Photo by Buyenlarge/Getty Images)
Finally, consider the notes from a student recently studying the riots.
Mayor Gray's regular biweekly presser and more May 21
Great advice for social media use and life
"Aim high, it's no harder on the gun"- applies to social media interactions AND life #umbsocial
— Erin McCoy (@ErinLibrarian09) May 14, 2014
From the recap of the recent University of Massachusetts Boston social media event.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Freecycle Fete June 8
The free event will provide free tables for those interested in getting rid of their stuff. There will also be plenty of opportunity to fund new treasures to furnish your pad. But there's more than stuff to give and get. Freecycle Fete attendees can partake in karaoke, a pie eating contest, games, prizes, music (ahem - dancefloor, anyone?), and onsite food trucks.
Go to dchomebuzz.com/freecyclefete/ for more information and to RSVP.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Encouraging kids to read this summer
DC Public Library's summer reading program starts June 1 and ends August 31. The program features four age-specific themes, a reading contest, and (woot!) the Washington Nationals as the leading partner. Deets about the themes:
- Read With Me: a special program for children birth to age five and their parent or caregiver. It's never to early to foster a love of reading in your child. Visit your neighborhood library to sign up.
- Fizz, Boom, Read: for children 6 to 12 years old. Win prizes for reading. Visit your neighborhood library to sign up.
- Spark a Reaction: for teens 13 to 19 years old. Win prizes and have more fun by earning badges! Sign up online. Spark a Reaction includes a book review contest, the winners of which will receive an iPad mini. The contest deadline is August 14.
- Literary Elements: adults can join the fun. Win prizes for reading and learning new skills. Sign up online or at any library. Contests are part of this summer program, too.
Want to make reading even more fun and engaging for young children? Make a reading journal for your children. The blog Less than Perfect Parents shows you how in the post Start a Reading Journal.
Photo from [www.lessthanperfectparents.com/]; used with permission |
And remember, there's a writing contest for 5th and 6th graders (more info on the contest), "A Book That Shaped Me." The deadline is August 11.
Sound Twitter advice
Think twice, tweet once. Sound advice at #umbsocial with @JoselinMane
— amanda gray (@Seaatsunset) May 14, 2014
From the recap of the recent University of Massachusetts Boston social media event.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Policy forum: Poverty, Development and Displacement June 4
Friday, May 16, 2014
New from the DC Council: Get up to Speed on DC Budget Autonomy
Summer writing contest for 5th and 6th graders underway
I can't wait to read the entries, especially those from DC. In the meantime, I'm interested in hearing from readers about a book, fiction or nonfiction, that has had a personal impact on your life.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Mayor Gray guests on NewsTalk May 15
If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.
Woo hoo! DC designated Playful City USA 2014 community
The benefits of Playful City USA designation:
- Two Playful City USA highway road signs
- Personalized marketing activation kit that includes press releases and marketing materials to support national recognition and increase awareness
- Webinars to share and learn best practices from across the network and country
- Exclusive access to Policy Map, an online tool that enables cities to leverage up-to-date city data that can be used in combination with KaBOOM! playspace mapping data
- Opportunity to apply for grants and playground build opportunities offered by KaBOOM! that support targeted policies, programs, and infrastructure for your city or town
- Increased stature and competitive advantage for state and national grant opportunities
- Opportunity to attend 2014 Playful City USA Leaders' Summit
Free produce for qualified individuals and families AND partnership opp
CAFB is offering space to up to five nonprofits providing relevant services. Community partners are expected to be on-site from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Interested organizations should contact Paula Reichel at (202) 644-9827 or via email, preichel@capitalareafoodbank.org.
@OneCityYouth looking for child- and youth-serving orgs on Twitter
We'd love to follow more child- & youth-serving orgs. Pls tell us your DC faves!
— OneCityYouth (@OneCityYouth) May 13, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
How great is this: DC is a finalist for the 2014 Playful City USA initiative
The more than 200 cities in the running will find out if they will be designated as a Playful City May 13 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm during a Tweetup. Follow along using the hashtag #playability.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Data on biking in DC, the latest from the Office of Planning
Interested in broadband for schools and libraries? There's a video for that.
Want more information about the topic and the event? Watch the video here.
Charter school board wants to hear from parents
Sunday, May 11, 2014
LIMS gets a new look and added functionality
OP on Mother's Day
Saturday, May 10, 2014
District of Change: Making D.C. Better for the Arts May 21
In this first event in our District of Change series, we will discuss how D.C.'s transformation has affected the creative community in the city. The District has a rich artistic history, including the Go-Go scene, punk rock, the Washington Color School and other artistic movements, which flourished at a time when D.C. was thought of as a government town. As the city continues to grow and becomes more culturally connected, can artists still find a welcoming home in D.C.? How can the city continue to foster these sorts of creative movements?
Friday, May 9, 2014
Forum: Biking and Community Change in the District May 22
DHS director to leave DC gov June 28
According to the release,
"David has faced major challenges in his time as DHS director, and he has responded each time with thoughtfulness, expertise, compassion and the ability to execute a plan," Mayor Gray said. "The District’s programs for homeless families, TANF recipients and other residents have been vastly improved thanks to his good work, and for that I am very grateful."
Columbia Heights to get playground upgrade; meeting May 14
Direct questions to PlayDC via email, PlayDC@dc.gov.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Free youth event promotion: onecityyouth.dc.gov
Check out the new addition to our website: "Promote your event 4 youth 4 FREE"! Go to http://t.co/GMRsmF5CKp to learn more.
— OneCityYouth (@OneCityYouth) May 8, 2014
Save the date for ANCs: What they do, how to run, and why you should!
According to the event announcement fro Empower DC,
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs) are the most local form of elected government in DC -- and they can have a big impact on what happens in your neighborhood. Come to Empower DC's next Empowerment Circle to learn more about ANCs, including how to start the process of running for the November election. Our guests will include Gottlieb Simon of the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
Questions or to RSVP for childcare, contact Jennifer (202-234-9119, via email, jennifer@empowerdc.org).
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
3 Star Ball, a party for DC Vote's young professional supporters
CAAB's free financial ed and management classes start soon
CAAB's Money Management 101 is a five-module series made up of two-hour classes. Participants will learn how to gain control of their finances by acquiring knowledge of setting financial goals and tracking expenses, budgeting and saving, credit and compound interest, and credit reports.
There are two series: Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. People can register online, by email, or by phone. Details are on the website.
Is it time to spring clean your website?
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Safe Shores ED on the news and in Twitterverse May 7
Also on May 7, Cole will host a Twitter chat from 5:00 - 6:00 pm, before and after her live interview. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #protectkids. An easy way to participate is to use a Twitter chat tool; I use tweetchat.com.
Mayor Gray's biweekly presser May 7
The advisory provides background on the library:
The D.C. Public Library has renovated or rebuilt 15 neighborhood libraries since 2009. The new, 20,000-square-foot Woodridge Library will open in 2015. It will feature separate spaces for adults, teens and children; 40,000 books, CDs, DVDs, and other library materials; comfortable seating for 200 customers; 40 public-access computers and free Wi-Fi Internet access; a large programming room for up to 100 people; and two conference rooms. It will also be the first library to have a green roof that will also serve as space for library programming.
DPR launches text/email alert system
- For mobile only: Text 888777 Keyword: DCDPR from your mobile device
- For mobile or email: Go to DPR Alerts. The screen shot of this option is below.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Practice TA: new Youth and Media reports
- The Challenges of Defining 'News Literacy'
- Mapping Approaches to News Literacy Curriculum Development: A Navigation Aid
- Youth News Perceptions and Behaviors Online: How Youth Access and Share Information in a Chicago Community Affected by Gang Violence
- Evaluation in Context: Reflections on How to Measure Success of Your "WNM" Program
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Live near the Capper Community Center? Take this survey!
According to Torti Gallas and Partners,
The Neighborhood Community Center will be located centrally within walking distance of all edges of the community and will contain aggressive supportive services that will provide pathways out of poverty for the residents. The community center will have athletic fields which are shared with the Marine housing located immediately east of the public housing site.
Want to know more about the Athur Capper and Carrollsburg communities? Read Johanna Bockman's Who was Arthur Capper?.
Nonprofit voter registration webinar
The webinar takes place Thursday, May 15 at 2:00 pm.
Legislative meeting May 6
Chairman Mendelson's regular leg meeting media briefing, May 5
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Wild Apricot's list of free webinars for nonprofits
This list is on top of the offerings by Wild Apricot itself.
Friday, May 2, 2014
CFSA's good practice recognized in national pub
Thursday, May 1, 2014
More news about Dream City
Don't worry. The new Dream City still has lots of @marionbarryjr. http://t.co/K00M1KANaU
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) May 1, 2014
Need a camp for your kids this summer? One City Youth has the 411
New camps just added to One City Youth camp list: http://t.co/X2yfkloPFM . Got a camp to list? Email onecityyouth AT http://t.co/ryMHZpE1Gv
— OneCityYouth (@OneCityYouth) May 1, 2014