The Friday Edit – Links I’m Loving

June is just around the the corner, and it gets me thinking a lot about what my creative summer projects will look like. I often use the summer to focus on planning and brainstorming. I treat September like the new year in many ways, so summers spent cleaning up strategic plans, assessing what worked and what didn’t, and brainstorming, are all things I look forward to as the weather warms up.

Do you have any summer projects you’re working on? Let me know in the comments! Would love to learn how you put your summer to work – or not! All good.

Here’s some of the things I’ve been reading and learning about this week:

Speaking of summer projects, here’s a piece by John Haydon on 4 Creative Summertime Fundraising Projects

The InterAction Forum is coming up in Washington DC from June 20-22. InterAction’s Forum convenes leaders from a variety of sectors, and is one of the largest gatherings of international development and humanitarian professionals.

I enjoyed this piece from Beth Kanter in SSIR about Turning Empathy Inward. The piece discusses how if nonprofits are to function well, they need to promote compassion and understanding not just toward the people they serve, but also toward fellow employees. Worth a read and a share.

Looking for a great grad gift? FEED just released their first jewelry line and these lovely ‘cuffs for a cause’ are minimalist, lovely, and give back.

Yep, it’s true. Taking regular breaks from your work, as Science of Us explains doesn’t just make the day go by a little faster — it also makes you a more productive employee, leaving you mentally refreshed and reenergized for all the things left on your to-do list.

We talk here a lot about the positive effects of social media for social good, but that isn’t always the case. Social media has contributed to the conflict in South Sudan. During the re:publica in Berlin, activists from South Sudan and abroad described how rumours and hate speech on social media is fueling the violence. Read and watch the video here. Eye-opening, to be sure, and a discussion that needs to be explored much more and with people and communities on the ground.

And lastly, a laugh. This gave me a chuckle. 13 Awkward Moments for Nonprofit Employees [GIFs]

Have a wonderful weekend.

Photo by Visual Intermezzo/Colorful lanterns and lamps hanging in the market at Marrakesh, MoroccoCaroline Avakian, Socialbrite’s Managing Partner, is a global development communications strategist in the New York City area with a focus on strategic communications, technology, and innovation. Contact Caroline by email, see her profile page, visit her website, follow her on Twitter or leave a comment.