As a former TV news reporter, I watch the news and am reminded of one of the main reasons I left the business - tragedy and destruction, day in and day out, which scare the viewers into taking action to protect themselves. Go Inspire Go highlights the positive news that most news stations and newspapers don't have time for. Its stories inspire viewers and readers to take action to improve their community and help others. I've helped GIG report on a story about Lily Gordon, a teenage girl who came up with the idea to build brick ovens in Tanzania to enable the villagers to cook for and feed themselves. I also helped edit the script for Nico Castro, a 6-year-old boy with brain cancer who inspired people around him to provide Halloween costumes for other sick kids in the hospital. It's these amazing stories of strength, selflessness and courage that move me and can empower people to think less of themselves and lend a hand to others who need their help.
At the urging of my former boss, I checked out Go Inspire Go's website. Intrigued by what I saw, I sent an email to learn more and was surprised when Toan Lam himself replied and suggested that we meet up. At a coffee shop in downtown San Francisco, we met face-to-face and had the most intense, energetic conversation about his vision for GIG and the possibilities seemed endless. I was hooked. As someone who's done marketing and communications for nonprofits and online communities for a long time, I knew how hard it was to get positive stories in the media that build hope and help people to feel inspired to *do something*. GIG is exactly that - a multimedia platform that uses storytelling and social media to spread the word about unsung heroes and their amazingly empowering stories. GIG stories prove that small acts of kindness can and do ripple out to big changes.
I believe in Social Media for Social Change, and when I went on my own personal journey to make this reality I found Go Inspire Go (GIG). Not only had GIG taken the high velocity world of blogging, vlogging, and social media and turned it into a force for good, it was also utilized for civic change. Meeting Toan Lam the founder of GIG will forever have changed my life. Focusing on small acts of kindness that ripple out to big change, local everyday heroes, and inspiring civic engagement in the youth is a blessing of all things wonderful, beautiful and inspirational. Being able to meet Toan and his infectious desire to help others help themselves helps continues my journey of self discovery every day and provides me with the knowledge to create good news, with great people, for a good cause!
Need some inspiration? Look no further than Go Inspire Go (GIG). I got involved with GIG a few years ago when I met founder Toan Lam who quit a successful job as a broadcast journalist to focus his time and talent on telling stories of everyday heroes. From teaching youth to find what inspires them through GIG Spark to showcasing a 6-year-old brain cancer patient who is bringing Halloween spirit to other sick kids in his hospital, GIG has done an amazing job of showing how small acts of kindness can ripple into big social impact. I'm a proud board member and look forward to continuing to support GIG's work!