social media | SCI Social Capital Inc.

Getting Engaged and Connected: Lessons from Somerville

Submitted by Dan McConvey on Thu, 02/07/2013 - 2:47pm

This is a picture of a street sign that says "Somerville"

How did you get involved in your local community? Well for me, it was my grocery store closing. I walked into Johnnie’s Foodmaster and was greeted with “STORE CLOSING” signs everywhere. West Somerville would be without a grocery store for at least half a year or more. I’ve lived in Somerville for about a year and half now and despite trying to keep up with what is going on locally, our grocery store abruptly closing came to me as a surprise. I wanted to get connected with people who dealt with issues like this or at least had more information for me. I got onto the city’s website and started looking into various meetings that were going on pertaining to issues and projects in the city.Read more

Leveraging Social Networks in Times of Crisis

Submitted by Candice McLaughlin on Thu, 02/07/2013 - 12:43pm

Much has been written about the importance of social capital and social networks when unexpected crises strike a community. Recent events in Woburn have made this fact even clearer.

The week of January 24th was marked by bitter cold. SCI received a phone call from a local resident who had been without oil in her home for three days. She had run out of her fuel assistance and had contacted SCI hoping that we would be able to connect her to resources for emergency fuel assistance.

We contacted as many local fuel assistance resources that we could possibly think of only to be told that the funds had been depleted. Not even Joe-4-Oil had funds at this time! Reacting quickly, we asked the oil company that typically fuels this resident's home if they would be willing to match a donation to fill her tank and they agreed. The delivery truck was immediately on the way on faith that SCI could generate funds from the community. Read more

Extending Our Impact Beyond SCI

Submitted by Candice McLaughlin on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 4:14pm

Nonprofit professionals are well aware that sharing information and collaborating with other organizations is important to help sustain the nonprofit sector and the communities we serve, especially since nonprofits are often strapped for resources. At SCI, we may not have extensive financial resources, but we do have quite a bit of knowledge on particular topics that we enjoy sharing with the community at large.

During 2012, SCI offered frequent trainings and presentations on social capital and related topics. These trainings have helped over 300 individuals strengthen their ability to build social capital in their communities.

David Crowley, President and Founder of SCI, moderated a panel on the topic of "Social Capital in Action" at the Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts annual meeting. Over 80 Massachusetts philanthropists were in attendance, and practical ways to build social capital in communities were generated from this discussion. Read a brief summary from it here.Read more

Become an SCI AmeriCorps Host Site

SCI is accepting applications for additional SCI AmeriCorps Host Sites. Please review the information below and submit your application or any questions to AmeriCorps@socialcapitalinc.org. Please review the information below before looking at the attached application and position descriptions. The deadline for applications is June 14, 2013 or when all slots are filled so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Information about being an SCI AmeriCorps Host Site

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a program that engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps State members in this program commit to serving 1700 hours of service from September through the end of June.

What is SCI?Read more

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Upcoming Training: Keys to Social Media Success for your Business

Submitted by Candice McLaughlin on Thu, 04/18/2013 - 2:23pm

Join SCI President & Founder, David Crowley, for "Keys to Social Media Success for your Business" at the Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce!

Details:

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Fisher College

1 Arlington Street

Ball Room

Boston, MA 02116

5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Registration

6:00 - 6:45 p.m.

Welcoming Remarks

Dr. Thomas McGovern, President, Fisher College

Presentation/Speakers

"Keys to Social Media success for your business"

David Crowley, President & Founder

SCI Social Capital Inc.

6:45 - 7:15 p.m.

Q & A

Closing Remarks

7:15 - 8:00

Networking

Read more

4 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Success

Submitted by David B. Crowley on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 5:18am

Last week I had the difficult task of narrowing my list of tips for nonprofits using social media to three or four of the most important points. Presenting on the topic in the past, I've offered seven or more pointers that apply across social media platforms. But I knew the crowd at the Social Media 101 for Nonprofits I was presenting at Google Cambridge as part of a HandsOn Tech Boston workshop series would be eager to get into the details of how to use Facebook, Twitter and Google+ effectively. So I boiled my points down to three initially, but I really felt like my fourth point warranted its own category. These points were presented after talking about 6 Benefits to Nonprofits Using Social Media, which I blogged about last week. Enough prelude, on to my 4 Keys to Nonprofit Social Media Success!Read more

7 Benefits for Nonprofits Using Social Media

Submitted by David B. Crowley on Fri, 03/08/2013 - 6:51am

Wednesday I had a chance to present a "Social Media 101" workshop for nonprofits at Google's Cambridge offices. The event, coordinated by HandsOn Tech Boston, was well-attended by nonprofit professionals eager to put the relatively new social media tools to use in service of their missions. Before delving into the mechanics of how to read Facebook Insights or get tweeting, I felt it was important to share how social media can help nonprofits achieve our goals. I came up with six important benefits we have found using social media at Social Capital Inc. that I thought could apply to many other organizations as well. I came up with a seventh key bonus point while writing this. Here is the list:Read more

Volunteer Opportunity: Social Media Team

Submitted by Candice McLaughlin on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 3:31pm

Volunteer Opportunity

Social Media Team Member

Purpose/Objective

To further spread news about SCI and about local events coordinated by SCI and other community partners through social media outlets. SCI staff and AmeriCorps members have been actively engaging the community through social media and would like to create an expanded network of people sharing our content to increase the reach and impact.

Location

This work can be done from any location where you have an internet connection.

Key Responsibilities

Share designated posts on Facebook
Re-tweet designated tweets on Twitter

Qualifications

Basic knowledge of Facebook and Twitter.

Read more

7 Ways Social Media Can Enhance the Soul of the Community

Submitted by David B. Crowley on Sat, 12/01/2012 - 9:55am

I paused to capture the first snowflakes falling on the red wooden footbridge, trying to highlight the contrast with somber grays and browns of the woods on this brisk first day of December. I'd share the photo as part of my Foursquare checkin, pushing it out to Facebook and Twitter as well. Such an action is now a regular part of my walks by the pond near our home; but stepping back, I can see how social media can be a powerful tool for those of us interested in the soul of our community.Read more

Tech for Engagement: 7 Skills Needed

Submitted by David B. Crowley on Sat, 10/06/2012 - 7:09am

How can technology be leveraged to increase community engagement, and ultimately help transform our democracy? Building on its important Tech for Engagement grant funding, the Knight Foundation convened a Technology for Engagement Summit at MIT earlier this year. Fortunately, for those of us interested in the topic who didn't have a chance to participate, we can read about the summit highlights through this report released earlier this month. This report captures some of the innovative Tech for Engagement initiatives and discusses some of the challenges in building the field. Read more