![208: How to Make Meaningful Media Content - FirstStage.org]()
January 19, 2021
Host Kariesha Martinez interviews Antonio L. Davis, Jr. Digital Marketing & Content Manager of FirstStage.org. Organic social can feel like the unsung hero of audience engagement. It feels almost random what content works and what doesn't. This week on the pod, we talk with Antonio Davis about how he is able to listen to his audience and create content that engages his audience and represents them at the same time. Listen as he walks us through his strategy for utilizing user-generated content for his organization while making sure the audience his organization serves is heard and represented.
Antonio Davis is a content creator, who believes in the power of writing and digital marketing.
As the Digital Marketing & Content Manager at First Stage, one of the nation's leading theaters for young people and families, he’s leading the organization’s digital growth efforts. Most notably the Google Arts & Culture collaboration, bringing 10 of First Stage’s plays to its global audience through immersive exhibits. He’s also a freelancer — providing multimedia content creation services to individuals, groups, nonprofits and agencies.
Org. website:
Org. social:
Facebook: First Stage ()
Instagram:@first.stage
Twitter: @FirstStage
LinkedIn: First Stage
YouTube: First Stage
Personal:
Instagram: @leandre_davis
Twitter: @Leandre_Davis
LinkedIn: Antonio L. Davis, Jr.
First Stage
Founded in 1987, First Stage is one of the nation’s most acclaimed children’s theaters and the second-largest theater company in Milwaukee.
First Stage strives to be the national leader and driving force behind the creation of the best and most innovative plays for family audiences, theater training programs for young people, and education initiatives for our schools and our community. These three interwoven programming pillars are accessible to, and reflective of, our increasingly diverse community. Through our exceptional leadership, dedicated team, and commitment to financial sustainability, First Stage will broaden the reach and impact of our transformational programs, thus enabling dreams to be fulfilled, hope to be fostered, and families to enjoy the lasting legacy of a profound shared experience.
January 11, 2021
Host Kariesha Martinez interviews Cami Hawkins, CEO of Austin-based non-profit, Marathon Kids, to talk about her experience creating a flexible workspace and how other organizations can implement one for their employees.
Cami discusses:
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Job share: For increased flexibility, Cami has hired people on a job share basis which entails hiring two people to do one job, each working 20 hours a week.
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How she adapted during COVID: Marathon Kids already offered a flexible work culture, but she has made it even more flexible by letting people take off during the day to help their kids with school.
Marathon Kids engages kids in a positive, simple, goal-driven program that challenges them to run the equivalent of up to four marathons over the course of a season or school year. It allows kids of all abilities to unlock their potential, one mile at a time.
January 4, 2021
Our guest Greg Baldwin, CEO of VolunteerMatch discusses the historical drop in volunteering in 2020. Overnight listings and attendance to in-person volunteering events fell off a cliff as stay-at-home orders rolled across the country in March. VolunteerMatch has released Quarterly updates on the state of US volunteering that we discuss.
There were some spikes in virtual volunteering but as Greg puts it "You can't build a house over ZOOM". There are many reasons to be optimistic for a V-shaped recovery as vaccines roll out and a potential surge of people ready, willing, and able are more motivated than ever to volunteer in the US.
December 22, 2020
Host Kariesha Martinez interviews LaQuida Chancey, the founder of Smalltimore Homes. Baltimore, like many cities, struggle with housing insecurity which has been made even more dangerous during COVID and now the winter. LaQuida's solution is simple: build homes, small ones. These micro-shelters offer protection from the cold and allow social distancing for people experiencing homelessness.
Smalltimore Homes, is driven by a single goal; ending homelessness. This simplistic goal can be reached by creating more affordable housing through micro shelters and tiny homes. Their approach is informed by comprehensive research studies and high-quality data evaluation. They strive to build strong communities, productive relationships and make a positive impact on all of their pursuits.
December 14, 2020
Kariesha Martinez and George Weiner exchange ideas for using Spotify playlists to increase the impact of nonprofits. Public playlists can be completely customized and embedded on websites and across social. This medium can be used to thank donors, motivate volunteers or even educate stakeholders. There many was to start playing with this tool for free and they are explored on this episode.
December 14, 2020
A quick fun holiday intro for our seasonal holiday Spotify playlist. Enjoy: https://wholewhale.com/playlist
December 7, 2020
This week's interview with Adam Szarzynski, founder of Addressable walks through how their writing robots are helping thank tens of thousands of supporters. Adam created the company around a writing robot created by his father and then created a service for nonprofits to retain and re-engage donors.
Their work has shown supporter lists that receive these personal handwritten notes have had response rates as high as 19%. Adam discusses strategies and timing for preventing lapsed donors.
November 17, 2020
On episode 201 our host Kariesha Martinez interviews Firdaus Kharas the author of Creativity: Key to a Remarkable Life. With great nonprofit examples of how creativity has been used to save lives in public health, Firdaus shares some of the key lessons from the book.
Buy the book on Amazon
About Firdraus Kharas
Hailed as the "modern equivalent of Dr. Seuss," Firdaus Kharas is a master global communicator and humanitarian who has influenced hundreds of millions of people's lives for the better. Desmond Tutu calls his creative work, which has been viewed by more than a billion people worldwide, "outstanding" and "powerful." A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he was named one of the world's "50 Most Talented Social Innovators" and has received more than 110 awards, including the prestigious Peabody Award.
November 9, 2020
On the 200th episode of the podcast George Weiner, Chief Whaler and Megan Anhalt, Chief Strategy Officer discuss what a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris America mean for nonprofit giving.
They also discuss five major trends across the technology landscape that will impact the way nonprofits need to plan for 2021.
