The Buzz 4-27-12

Our quick read on the top tweets, news, and buzz circulating in the field of changemaking this past week. Tell us, what's got you talking? And what do you want to be talking about?

• Late last week, Hillary Clinton announced a partnership between the Skoll Foundation and Development Innovation Ventures at USAID. A $44.5 million alliance, they will work together to identify and fund high-impact social entrepreneurs. By demonstrating impact, their goal is to encourage more public and private investment in the sector. A big move for social impact—we can’t wait to learn more! http://ht.ly/aAPvJ

• Earth Day 2012 was last week—reminding us of the enormous beauty of our planet, but also the serious burdens we are putting on it with a growing population and few resources. Innovators are working hard to solve the world’s biggest environmental problems, from food systems to climate change, to green technology to sanitation. Seven stories from the field: http://ht.ly/aAzF5

• The Global Philanthropy Forum convened people from the nonprofit, investment, and philanthropy sectors from around the world last week. Tracy Palandjian, one of the co-founders of Social Finance in the US, shared her perspective of the development of the social impact bond in the UK and its potential across the oceans. It turns out, 2013 might be a pivotal year for getting the bond off the ground in the US: http://ht.ly/aANRV

• Ben Duda, Executive Director of AmeriCorps Alums, shares his journey to finding his career with meaning. With dreams of going to the Olympics, to a first job with the Little League, and then a formative experience in a science factory, Ben discovered his path after an internship and a speech from Harris Wofford. After 4,000 hours of service in AmeriCorps, he is looking for ways to more deeply engage the nearly one million alums of the program. His advice: if you fail, fail forward. Look for opportunities that challenge you to keep moving ahead. http://ht.ly/aAAlL

• Tony Wagner, a professor and founder of Harvard’s Change Leadership Group, just published a new book: Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World. He explores innovators’ childhoods to understand where the seeds are planted, and how and what parents and educators can do to support innovative thinking. We’re intrigued because we’ve found that most people find their most meaningful careers by remembering what they were most passionate about at an early age. Read it and let us know what you think: http://ht.ly/aAOks

• We announced the finalists for the Black Male Achievement Fellowship on Friday! In partnership with the Open Society Foundation, we seek those social entrepreneurs who are dedicated to improving the life outcomes of black men and boys in the US. More than 1,000 people answered our call and their applications were inspiring and even heart wrenching. Learn more about the sixteen finalists and send them your congratulations! http://ht.ly/aAOZO