Fast Forward Core Beliefs

Just re-read my previous post from a year ago reaffirming Fast Forward Fund's core beliefs as we move to complete our 1st phase of start-up and our 3-yr-commitment to Clinton Global Initiative University. Except for the notable absence of snow, virtually everything rings true today.
I stand by Fast Forward's core beliefs:
* Investment activism. We all make a difference with our daily financial choices. Investing is action.
* Leveraged impact. Investing in a collective social fund allows young people to leverage relatively small individual resources into large-scale impact.
* Accelerated change. More inclusive, expansive philanthropic models enable youth to accelerate, or fast forward, their participation as social investors advancing innovative solutions to global challenges.
* Lifelong Giving. Cultivating philanthropic social investment among young adults creates lifelong givers and engaged global citizens.

Global Impact Week NYC!!!

It's a big, fast & forward (hopefully) week for Global Impact in NYC: between the Clinton Global Initiative, Social Good Summit, UN General Assembly, my 9-yr-old son's 5th grade back-to-school night, I'm swamped! And my head is swirling with questions, concerns, ideas about all the potential for social change as the world's great thinkers & doers converge on NYC this week. Intending to blog from both CGI & SGS, my first question is really what are the right questions to ask. I'm hopeful that I'll be present, alert, inquisitive, and open enough to engage in fierce conversations and seize (or create) opportunity. If you are not attending these gatherings, nor even in NYC for that matter, send me your questions! If you'll be there, ask me in person! Good luck and much gratitude for all those struggling and working so hard for social impact, always and especially this week! And good luck in 5th grade, James! Along with all the sons and daughters of your generation, you are the reason we are committed to global impact in nyc and around the world.

How to make a difference? Fast Forward Giving!

How can youth make a difference through Social Investing? EnvisionGood TV poses this question as title for recent interview profile they did on Fast Forward Fund (FFF), as part of their series on social entrepreneurs. Share your comments here or directly on the video!

One great way young adults are making a difference is by joining our Don't fall back...FAST FORWARD! campaign. The response was so enthusiastic, we're extending the campaign throughout this giving season. We need your help to blow this campaign through the roof! Check out three ways you can help : donate, promote, or suggest ideas for the campaign.

Students learning about Fast Forward through the fall '09 BGIA class recently heard first-hand about making a difference with two outstanding, back-to-back guest speakers: first Lara Galinsky wowed us during our site visit to Echoing Green, then we were inspired by Michele Kahane (until recently of Clinton Global Initiative, now Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at the Milano New School of Management), during her visit to BGIA. Both founding members of FFF's Board, these leaders are making their mark.

Fast Forward favorite CGI thoughts

Here are some of my favorite CGI snippets of the past few days (I shared these on twitter, and reviewed to retrieve some of my passing thoughts during the swirl of Clinton Global Initiative):

• Fola Adeola, The Fate Foundation: "What we hold in our hands is a compass, so we can write our maps as we go along"
• Marilyn Carlsen: "holding up a mirror to ourselves may be best thing we can do"
• Nick Kristoff: "need metrics of quality, not just quantity"
• (not sure who said this, but it's good!) @CGI: "what is done to children they will do to the world"
• (me!) : Why are 4 billion poor people "bottom of the pyramid," not "global majority"?

Fast Forward Fund was honored to get a glimpse into CGI this year, and happy to post guest blogs at change.org!