The Story
My name is Drew Little, and I'm a Web Social Entrepreneur/Economic Activist that's on a mission to use the web to help end youth poverty, promote diversity in the tech field, and provide an outlet for the youth to pursue their passions as a career.
Our current economic system has left a lot of gaps in our communities, and this emerging phenomenon called "The Sharable Economy" is a way for us to fill them.
Its sparking innovations such as community currencies, couchsurfing, carsharing, co-working hubs, social enterprises, and much more.
We've been learning about these innovations through media outlets such as Sharable Magazine and many other blogs.
However, most of these innovations in this country are happening on the West Coast. How can someone such as myself, who lives in Richmond, VA, get in intimate view of how they work?
What if I traveled to the West Coast, interviewed these pioneers myself, and actually see these models first hand?
Why not document the findings into a web video series so many others can learn about these phenomenons as well?
There's much talk about implementing alternative solutions to get us out of this economic crisis. With your help, we can bring awareness to these successful models that's not covered by major media, and develop partnerships with these pioneers to scale these ground-breaking models at college campuses.
The Impact
According to the National Inflation Association, the real unemployment rate in America is now 22% and 60% of college graduates who are lucky enough to find a job, are receiving low skilled jobs where a college degree isn't even required. Furthermore, the Dollar continues to lose its value day by day. We are currently in the worst economic crisis in history, and we have to start developing sustainable solutions now or face serious consequences.
As you may know, all major change happens at the collegiate level. This web video series will spread throughout our vast network of college students, and we feel they in turn will share it with their friends and family, resulting to a mass awareness to these innovative solutions. This will be the first step in creating in change we seek.
What We Need & What You Get
We're looking to raise $2,000 to send me to the West Coast (San Francisco, Portland, Seattle) for 30 days to interview pioneers of The Shareable Economy and document their words of wisdom & models into a web video series.
The funds will take care of airfare, a netbook (I have an old Dell Inspirion 1300 :( that needs to be plugged in to work), food costs, and some clothes (I gave away 90% of my belongings to the homeless - see video to learn more).
I will also need some couchsurfing sponsors and guides during my stay (Whom I will document in the series as well). I plan to stay in San Francisco for 2 weeks, Portland for 7 days, and Seattle for 7 days.
If we don't reach our entire goal, I will set up Skype video interviews with each pioneer and ask them to send videos of their models in action. We will then compile that footage into a web video series.
We're offering a variety of perks, so please take a look at what we're offering to those that help.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you'd like to see this become a reality as much as we do, but can't make a pledge (or already have); please feel free to share this with everyone you know! Spread the word via Facebook/Twitter/Blogs/News outlets or any other place that more people will find out about it. Don't forget, Indie GoGo has some great "share" options right here on this page, so check them out and spread the word!
Drew Little