We are committed to doing the best possible work. We will only publish a few things each day to start — to ensure that every post, audiocast, and contribution from our partners is of the highest quality. Starting with a bang, our team will focus its attention first on the 2012 SXSW Interactive Festival, one of the biggest stages when it comes to technology and innovation.

Let me know what you think about what you find there.

Going to SXSW? Leave a comment or send an email to storyideas@newempirebuilder.com and we’ll let you know where we’ll be.

Can you help us spread the word!

Twitter:
Do you want to discover startups, nonprofits, & companies shifting how the world works? Visit http://www.newempirebuilders.com #sxsw

Facebook:
Check out www.newempirebuilders.com today and discover the startups, nonprofits, & companies shifting how the world works. They’ll be bringing the people and ideas that can change the world starting with SXSW.

A More Detailed Exploration:
I am pleased to announce CauseShift has moved to the high energy world of MassChallenge on the 14th floor of the Fan Pier building in Boston’s bustling Innovation District. Thanks to my work on the Startup America Partnership launch, I met John Harthorne, CEO and co-founder of MassChallenge, last spring and have served alongside him on the Startup Massachusetts working group since then.

Over the past couple months, I have spent time with him and his team helping them prepare for their first SXSW Interactive Festival. From these interactions, it became clear we had great synergy and it would make sense for me to move my operations inside their robust ecosystem.

CauseShift’s first day in MassChallenge coincided with the MassChallenge 2012 Launch Event. I choose to believe Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino spent time here today to officially welcome CauseShift to the Innovation District. I blushed from all the attention. [You can't shake me of this belief and you can't prove otherwise].

What is Boston’s Innovation District?
According to its official website, the Innovation District is:

“A new approach is called for on the waterfront – one that is both more deliberate and more experimental… The massive expanse of the South Boston waterfront, with its existing knowledge base, opportunity for growth, and world-class infrastructure is ripe to produce world-class products and services.”

-Mayor Thomas M. Menino

What is MassChallenge?
Simply put, MassChallenge is a robust ecosystem for the world’s best startups. Here’s how they put it:

We help early-stage entrepreneurs win.

We connect entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch and succeed immediately.

Our primary activities include running an annual global accelerator program and startup competition, documenting and organizing key resources, and organizing training and networking events.

I’m looking forward to the connections and opportunities that come from being located in such a high density of companies and people. The Innovation District is attracting high quality companies. Even more good times will ensue when SchneiderMike, Eric Leist, and the rest of the Allen & Gerritsen crew move in down the street.

So when you’re in Boston next and want to swing by to say hello. Just ping me and we’ll give you a tour. If it’s a gorgeous day, we can grab a table at one of the many harborside restaurants and break some bread.

The New View from CauseShift HQ

A More Detailed Exploration:
As I entered 2012, I took a step back to define a content game plan for myself. Last year, I experimented with a couple different approaches but decided I needed to take some of the advice I give my clients. With that in mind, I crafted a content game plan that involved publishing my thoughts, ideas, and observations on established media properties, plus launch the weekly Finish Strong! Newsletter.

You’ve been able to get a taste of the newsletter, since I post the introduction to it here. Now, I want to share some of my recent articles and posts showing up elsewhere with you:

Anthropology News
Exploring Some of the Critiques and Criticism of Activism by Robert Saunders
One of my Rally the Cause posts from 2009 was used in this piece examining critiques of “slacktivism” to offer a counterpoint.

Chronicle of Philanthropy/Christian Science Monitor
Social Businesses May Provide Creative Way to Help Haiti
With the solid editorial direction of Peter Panepento at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, I reworked my original Rally the Cause post on Social Business in Haiti into a sharp enough piece to also get picked up by the Chrisitan Science Monitor.

Chronicle of Philanthropy
How to Use Technology to Inspire Healthy Habits
I had the fortune of running into a Cambridge, MA-based startup seeking to inspire people to take small positive actions. Since it reminded me of something American Cancer Society did, I put this piece together.

Mashable
Nine Ways to be a Social Good Hero in 2012
With some support from my friends at Antler Agency, I put together a collection of ways people can make a difference. Look for more to come with Mashable. 

TechInterruption (#Techi) from Allen & Gerritsen
In this Great Debate segment, SchneiderMike, Eric Leist, and I debate the merits of Path 2.0. Filmed shortly after its release, I just want to acknowledge my position hasn’t changed (smile):

That reminds me, I have a deadline to meet.

Real life interactions are great. Your time is limited. So find a balance.

Here’s a calendar anyone in the Social Impact sector needs to consider:

February 3
2012 Wharton Social Impact Conference
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

February 15
Sustainable Business and Social Impact Conference
Duke University
Durham, NC

February 20-23
Social Business Week 2012
National University of Singapore
Singapore

February 25-26
Social Enterprise Conference
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

February 27-March 2
Strategy for Good Summit
Online Speaker Series
www.strategyforgoodsummit.com

March 1, 2012
Social Enterprise Symposium
Center for Social Value Creation
University of Maryland
College Park, MD

March 9-13, 2012
SXSW Interactive
Austin, TX

March 10-16, 2012
NOLA Entrepreneur Week
New Orleans, LA

March 28-30, 2012
Skoll World Forum 2012
Oxford University

March 29 – April 1, 2012
IMPACT National Conference 2012
Steson University
DeLand, FL

March 30, 2012
PSFK Conference NYC 2012
New York, NY

April 20-22, 2012
Unite for Sight Conference
New Haven, CT

April 22-25, 2012
SOCAP International 2012 Symposium
Baltimore, MD

May 3, 2012
Guardian Activate Summit 2012
New York, NY

May 3, 2012
Launch Fest 2012
New Orleans, LA

May 3-4, 2012
99% Conference
New York, NY

May 9-11, 2012
Big Omaha
Omaha, NE

May 30-31, 2012
Cause Marketing Forum
Chicago, IL

June 5-6, 2012
Health Data Initiative Forum III
aka The Health Datapolooza
Washington DC

June 13-14, 2012
2012 Conference on Scaling Impact
New York City

Did I miss a conference or event you? Please leave a comment with its details and I’ll be happy to add it.

While I cannot confirm or deny the latter, I can confirm Finish Strong! is hitting inboxes every Friday starting this week.

Finish Strong! will be your fuel for making things happen in the Social Impact sector. Each week, we will feature news, highlights, analysis, and encouragement to corporate dogooders, nonprofiteers, social entrepreneurs, and networked citizens. All packaged in a concise, irreverent way.

If the subscribe button doesn’t appear, you can sign up here today!

A More Detailed Description:
With the holidays approaching, you might not be thinking of January yet, but you should. The Ad Club, a hundred year old organization, is hosting the Non Event at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge on January 25. To be eligible to win an award, you need to submit your entry/entries by January 6.

The Non Event Awards are open to all non-profits and creative teams working to help non-profits from across the country. Categories include Best Advertising Campaign, Best Social Media Campaign, Best Use of Television, Best Use of Out of Home, Best Use of Print, Best Use of Radio, Best Use of Digital/Interactive, Best Website, Best Brand Identify System, Best Publication or Brochure, Best Self-Promotional Video, Best Fundraising Campaign, Best PSA, and the Non-Profit Partner of the Year.

So starting thinking now about the work you’ve done this past year and schedule time to submit your work by the January 6 deadline. With the number of categories, you have a great chance to shine a bright light on your great work at the awards ceremony and resulting press coverage. I’ll be there, since CauseShift has joined as an event partner.  Best of luck with your submissions!

Learn more and submit your work here.

On November 17, I am headed to Haiti along with a select group of entrepreneurs to help Haiti Partners chart the next phase of a very exciting initiative bringing together education and entrepreneurs. It’ll be my second time there and this time I want more people to come along for the journey.

While huge numbers of people stepped forward immediately after the 2010 earthquake, most everyone has moved their attention elsewhere. Unfortunately, people in Haiti still have great needs, especially the children of Haiti.

“We really believe for Haiti to improve significantly not only is there a need for improving education in general terms, but specifically helping children to grow up learning more entrepreneurial skills.” –  John Engle, Haiti Partners

Only 8% of Haiti’s schools are publicly-funded, leaving the rest to charge fees too expensive for many families. As a result, nearly 50% of school-age children aren’t enrolled in school, and those who are often receive a poor education from teachers who lack adequate training and materials. While the government is working to make free, quality education available to all children, it will be many years before this goal is realized.

In the meantime, Haiti Partners (co-founded by John Engle and Kent Annan) has teamed up with Grameen Creative Lab to pilot social businesses at seven Haitian schools that Haiti Partners supports, financed by loans from SAP and Accenture.  The purpose of the program is twofold:

1. Create sustainable revenue streams that reduce their reliance on school fees and outside support
2. Develop a culture of entrepreneurism among administrators, teachers, students, and parents that will help create jobs and drive economic growth in their communities

The goal of this month’s trip is to assess the program’s current progress and generate a strategy to attract significant numbers donors to support the program long-term. You can read more about the program in this news article.

SInce you can’t come in person on such short notice, I’d like for you to become an “investor” by making a gift.  The first ten people to donate $50 or more will be recognized as “Series A Investors” in this endeavor. As a Series A Investor, you will receive amazing karma for your investment in the future of Haitian children and families. I’ll also throw in a special gift from Haiti and a special video message from the team while we’re there.

I need to raise $1,000 and I hope you will join me in making a gift. I’ve started things off by making the first gift: $500. Yay! We’re already halfway to the goal. Can you pitch in and make a donation that is meaningful to you?

The Beyond Cause Marketing Summit 2011 serves as the first trial run of Sandbox Sessions. Over the coming few weeks, we will share videos, articles, and guests posts generated because through the September 16 event. In addition to the new website, we have created a new Facebook group to allow people to continue the conversation. Be sure to visit Sandbox Sessions and let us know what you think.

If you’re a brand interested in learning how Sandbox Sessions can help you create greater meaning, purpose, and relevance for you in the marketplace, we welcome your email or your Tweet.

This half-day summit will feature a rapid-fire gauntlet of 1:1 interviews of leading practitioners and thought leaders from a variety of fields before participants break into cross-disciplinary teams to develop and propose ideas and solutions for implementation.

Learn more and register at http://beyondcausemarketing.com. Early bird tickets on sale now for just $35 until 8/19.

Beyond Cause Marketing is proud to be a featured event of FutureM Week. You can purchase your pass to this weeklong series of events focused on the future of marketing at bit.ly/futurempass. Use “CauseShift” as your discount code to get 20% off the regular price.

#SXSW Interactive Scholarship Program 2012: http://ow.ly/5XSg3—
SXSW (@sxsw) August 08, 2011

Are you using new media to solve a social issue? You can be one of five recipients of the SXSW Interactive Scholarship 2012 program – each recipient receives a free badge to this year’s SXSW Interactive festival.  All it takes is a compelling 300-word essay.

This program is open to everyone in any sector and from anywhere in the world.

Read the full story at SXSW.com here.