From blogs and podcasts to social networking, if you are having a hard time sorting out which of the emerging social media tools would be beneficial to your organization, an article published by Idealware might help. The December 2006 article reviews the numerous social media tools nonprofits and social ventures are using to build visibility and raise revenue. And a Philanthropy News Digest article I wrote called the ABCs of Podcasting highlights ways Bay Area organizations such as KQED, Cal Academy of Sciences, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture are using new web-based technologies, particularly podcasts, to tell stories and broadcast their messages to wider audiences.

Every month it seems that a new free web tool emerges. While most are free, it is a good idea to be selective since the free version might include unwanted advertisements and it will take an investment of time to learn how to use the tools effectively and build content and connections. In the San Francisco Bay Area, you can also learn about these new tools at the annual NetSquared conference, which is taking place in San Jose, California this year. Or you can hear presentations by social entrepreneurs at monthly NetSquared events in San Francisco.

I recently learned about an innovative and growing online community called New Routes to Community Health, which is a project funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. With social media, one of their goals is to promote the exploration of cultures, achievements, and challenges of immigrants.

And to listen to a collection of audio recordings about Bay Area changemakers, check out Britt Bravo’s Big Vision Podcast. Britt is also one of the organizer’s of Net Tuesday.

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My old friend from college Kivi Leroux Miller, a prolific blogger and the principal of EcoScribe Communications based in North Carolina, just tagged me with a meme - a tag that allows a blogger to pose a question to other bloggers and track responses across the blogosphere, according to Wikipedia.

Using a meme, Kivi invited me to answer the question: Who do you write for?

I am writing this blog for anyone interested in positive social change. Have I captured everyone? I am grateful to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there are myriad nonprofits, philanthropists, cooperatives, social enterprises, and individuals with missions to build healthy and sustainable communities. I would like to pass on some of their stories, ideas, and successes.

Here are just four examples from a very long list:

The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment in Oakland, California believes that “environmental protection and community regeneration must go hand in hand and are inextricably linked to a healthy economy.”

Rainbow Grocery, a worker-owned cooperative in San Francisco’s Mission District, strives to buy locally, supports fair labor practices, donates to local nonprofits, and promotes composting, reuse, and recycling.

Literacy for Environmental Justice has a mission “to foster an understanding of the principles of environmental justice and urban sustainability in our young people in order to promote the long-term health of their communities.”

World of Good is a social enterprise that promotes the principles of fair trade through its sales of handmade items crafted by artisan groups around the world. They also re-invest 10% of their profits in artisan communities through a nonprofit partner. For their first year of operation, they published a document called the “World of Good Social Impact Report 2006.”

In future posts, I will continue to highlight upcoming events, inspirational stories, and real-life examples of nonprofits, socially-responsible businesses, and individuals who are driven by progressive values and vision. Since I am also keen on the use of technology to democratize the media, broadcast more voices, and help organizations run more effectively, I will be posting tips and strategies for using software and web-based tools for project and campaign management, data collection and outcomes tracking, and communications. I will also be writing about nonprofits who are using new earned income opportunities to diversify and build sustainable funding sources. I welcome your ideas!

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