This dispatch was added by one of our Nonprofit Neighbors. It does not represent the editorial voice of The Rapidian or Community Media Center.
Rendering of houses planned for the Wealthy Heights neighborhood.
Catalyst Radio is a weekly radio show with hosts Linda Gellasch and Denise Cheng that looks at the behind-the-scenes of Rapidian reporting as well as grassroots and nonprofit efforts around the community. The show comprises a media analysis and developments portion, interview segment and calendar of events. You can catch it on air at noon every Friday on WYCE 88.1 FM or streaming on the Grand Rapids Community Media Center Website.
Joining us in the studio is Christopher Hall, director of construction for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. Christopher shares Habitat for Humanity's plans to build 13 net-zero houses on Wealthy Street. "Net zero" means the houses will produce as much energy as they use in the form of natural ventilation, solar heating and photovoltaics. Habitat Kent is committed to LEED-certified construction, and these will be the first net-zero Habitat houses in Michigan.
MEDIA ANALYSIS
Well-known public media outlets come together to create content-sharing platform
Public Broadcasting System, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, American Public Media and Public Radio Exchange announced a partnership to develop an online platform for publishers and nonprofits to mix-and-match content from the five public media giants.
[Read more]
Recent Pew study shows a quarter of Americans communicate with their neighbors online
A recent study from the Pew Center for Internet and Democracy shows that 27% of neighbors stay in touch via the Internet. The majority follow community issues through blogs but also email neighbors and join listservs. However, the study also shows the most engaged neighbors tend to come from higher income levels.
[Read more]
Aerial mapping of gulf oil spill is getting online buzz
A project ouf of MIT's Center for Future Civic Engagement is catching the attention of tech and journalism innovation blogs across the Internet. Grassroots Mapping, an organization that puts together cheap aerial camera kits, is stitching together snapshots of the gulf oil spill taken over a thousand feet from the air. It is raising money via Kickstarter, an Amazon fundraising site, to put together more kits. The facilitators behind Grassroots Mapping believe the images will be important in future environmental legal actions. [Read more: PopTech, MediaShift, Center for Future Civic Engagement, CFCE II, NYT Bits]
Major media outlets slow to adopt hyperlinking best practices
In a recent series from Harvard's Nieman Lab, a blogger has been looking at hyperlinking usage statistics by major media outlets. Hyperlinking is a common practice on the Internet that turns certain words in a text into links to sources of additional information. The blogger did a quick survey of 262 stories from a dozen media outlets that showed an average of 2.6 links per article.
[Read more: Part I, Part II]
CALENDAR
[SPORTS + FUNDRAISER] Grand Rapids Skatepark fundraiser
1-10 p.m. on Sunday, June 20
Suggested $10 donation for competition entrants
The Clemente Skatepark committee will be holding a skate competition fundraiser in Rosa Parks Circle on a temporary skatepark construction. There will be competitions for best trick, high ollie, and game of S.K.A.T.E. as well as a large portion of open skate times for donating participants. Other elements of the event include live music, Hispanic food, prize giveaways and raffle items.
[More info]
[DINING + FUNDRAISER] Moose tracks ice cream 10,000 scoop challenge
11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Monday, June 21 at Rosa Parks Circle
West Michigan-based Denali Flavors, developers of Moose Tracks ice cream, and Country Fresh Dairy will host a FREE ice cream giveaway on Monday, June 21, the first day of summer. The two companies will give away 10,000 scoops of Moose Tracks Ice Cream at Rosa Parks Circle. For each scoop eaten, Denali Flavors will donate $1 to The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center in Grand Rapids to support programming for underserved youth.
[More info]
[ENTERTAINMENT] Queeries Film Series: Fag Bug
7 p.m. on Friday, June 25 at Wealthy Theatre (1130 Wealthy SE)
GVSU LGBT Resource Center is presenting the film "Fag Bug" in the Queeries film series' June screening. Fagbug Director Erin Davies will be present and Liz Snavely of LVNMUZIQ, whose music is featured in the film, will be playing live music before the screening.
[More info]
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