Archive for October 28th, 2009

Halloween Costume Ideas at Charlotte Goodwill

October 28th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Living

Recently I met Bo Hussey reach him here he is doing some pretty cool things at Goodwill Southern Piedmont (Charlotte). Bo is a smart-bold guy who is using social media tools like YouTube in innovative ways to build brand awareness and expand the Goodwill mission here in Charlotte.

Bo knows Social Media and he is ahead of the curve (for non profits) in using tools like YouTube to get the word out about Goodwill – a perfect example is this video on the best place in Charlotte to get creative about your 2009 Halloween Costume – watch the video and many more here at Goodwill Southern Piedmont channel on YouTube (and then read more about Goodwill’s mission below and on their website! (oh and check out one of my recent Goodwill costumes – Paula Dean meets Julia Child – scary)

“Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms started Goodwill with the idea that people could earn a living collecting donated goods, repairing and selling them – that a job was better than a handout.  “Not charity, but a chance,” he always said.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont began providing services to people in this region in 1965. The Southern Piedmont territory includes 13 counties in North Carolina and five counties in South Carolina. Locally, Goodwill has a retail store or provides services in eight of these 18 counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lancaster, Lincoln, Union and York Counties.

Although Goodwill has grown in the past 100 years, we cannot rest while so many people still need our services. The demand for Goodwill’s employment and training services continues to increase as a result of the changing economy. This increasing demand magnifies Goodwill’s need for donations. Last year, Goodwill received more than 875,000 donations of clothing, household items and furniture totaling more than 54 million pounds from the Southern Piedmont region of North and South Carolina.”

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 1 Comment »

Quick – Name the East Coast “Tech Mecca”?

October 28th, 2009 categories: Charlotte Living, Real Estate News

Not so easy is it? DC? New York? Orlando? New England tried, Richmond? OK maybe Raleigh’s the closet thing but then you don’t think of Raleigh as a hotbed for iconoclastic techies with start up ambitions – you think Nortel (they still around?), SmithKlineblahblahblah. No I’m talking more about a thriving entrepreneurial community where people ride bikes to work and play ping pong and vintage pinball all day – they don’t really but you get the picture. (and of course better snacks)

I was reading Neal Peirces’ column about Barcelcona’s transformation from rusting industrial shell to an “entrepreneurial city” based on technology and the “knowledge economy” – I thought hey nobody’s doing this on the east coast (YET!!!) why not Charlotte read Peirce’s Washington Post column here

So here’s the thing I think Charlotte could and should be the East Coast “TechMecca” did I just coin a phrase? – I think I did! I like that but no matter what we label it I think there is a huge opportunity (JOBS) for an east coast city to grab this distinction – right now- before its too late! We have a lot of things already in place:

• Charlotte is a leader in motorsports / high tech automotive development – wind tunnels etc
• Between Charlotte- Murdoch Research Institute-Raleigh we’re part of a distinct tech region
• BMW is here, NASCAR, Google and Apple are nearby too
• Our great hospital system will rely heavily on new tech innovations
• Our textile heritage could fire up nano and specialty fibers/fabrics
• We have UNCC and their business incubator facilities
• BIG and other entrepreneurial groups
• our oft maligned school system is just waiting (and will rise) to feed into a community vision like this
• We also have a thriving and astute social media / web community – we could (maybe we already do) lead here

and that’s just what I can think of off the top of my head….

We can do this! We’re big enough to take this on and we’re stable enough (lucky) that we can build on what we have – all we need is a plan, a vision and a collective zeal like that put forth by cities to host the Olympic Games! Charlotte is a happening place with a great circulation of new people we need something to get behind something like an Olympic bid – except in this case it would be a drive for something lasting (JOBS) unlike the fleeting  3 week glory of the Olympic games! And of course don’t forget better snacks!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 1 Comment »