By Guyana RPCVs (General public)

2008 MARIO SAVIO YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MARIO SAVIO MEMORIAL LECTURE & YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD INVITES YOU TO NOMINATE A CANDIDATE FOR THE 11th ANNUAL YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD. THE AWARD THIS YEAR CARRIES A CASH PRIZE OF $6000, DIVIDED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE PRIZE-WINNER AND HIS OR HER ORGANIZATION. This award is presented to a young person (or persons) with a deep commitment to human rights and social justice and a proven ability to transform this commitment into effective action. The nominees should have demonstrated leadership ability, creativity and integrity. Specific eligibility requirements are: * Under age 30 by 9/1/08 (preference will be given to applicants under age 26); * Engaged in activism for social change, promoting the values of peace, human rights, economic or social justice, or freedom of expression; * Acting within the context of an organization, social movement, or larger community effort; * Considered an inspirational leader or motivating force by others in that context; * Based in the United States, although work may be international in scope; * Able to attend award ceremony in Berkeley, CA (Nov/Dec; expenses paid). * Preference will be given to candidates who have not been widely recognized and do not have personal privilege or a strong institutional base of support. This award honors the late Mario Savio (1942-1996), who came to national prominence as a spokesperson for the Berkeley Free Speech Movement in 1964. His moral clarity, his eloquence, and his democratic style of leadership impelled thousands of his fellow Berkeley students to struggle for, and win, more political freedom, inspiring a generation of student activism. Savio remained a lifelong fighter for human rights and social justice. NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY JULY 31st, 2008. Nomination forms and additional information are available at www.savio.org or e-mail savioatsonic.net.

• Comments (0)

By Jake Brewer

Last week I was in the Dallas airport with my laptop out as I waited for my flight back to Portland.  I looked up just in time to catch the glance of a woman in front of me as she looked at my upturned screen.  Her mouth curled at the edges in a smile.  She asked, "where'd you get that sticker??"

I smiled too.  I knew what she was talking about.  A lot of the people on Idealist's staff have a sticker on the front of our laptops with the Idealist yellow, blue, and green dot .  That's what she had been stooping down to see. 

I replied, "I work for an organization called Idealist.org and the sticker is our logo."  

"It IS Idealist!  You work for them?! Oh my god, I LOOVE y'all!  Two years ago my sister and I found a place to volunteer on your site, and just a few months ago I started working at the same place.  ...Also, I loved that email about the socks.  It was so inspiring... and CUTE!"

Not so much my review, I suppose, but it is the regular encounters such as this which make working for an organization like Idealist so rewarding.

• Comments (1)