Greetings WhatGives!? givers and readers,
I’m enormously excited to be your new Cause Correspondent. Some of you may recognize me from my editorial and video work with the social action network Causecast. You may have also read a few of my social good features on Mashable. For those of you who don’t recognize me from any other self-promoting social medialized journalist in cyberspace, please allow me to share my journey into the cause ecosystem, as well as my future plans with the WhatGives!? editorial team.
I wanted to be a journalist ever since I can remember, but I wasn’t always certain of my beat. (And what’s a writer without the right beat?) Being on the floor of the New York stock exchange was invigorating. Covering movie premieres, the Oscars, and the Grammys for CNN was a dream come true. But there was something missing from my endeavors. After the closing bell rang and the lights went down in Hollywood, I wasn’t certain of my purpose.
Then one day, I met someone whose good will, determination, and quest to help others changed my life. His name is Jesse Billauer. After enduring a tragic accident that rendered him quadriplegic, he and his brother Josh Billauer founded the Life Rolls On Foundation, an advocate for individuals living with spinal cord injury. The inspiration and motivation LRO gives to its community to live life to the fullest no matter what the circumstances stayed with me, and sparked my undying passion to support and tell the stories of Good Samaritans around the world—and they are everywhere.
They’re in rock and roll.
They’re on the red carpet.
- Talkin’ Twitter and Activism with Natasha Bedingfield & Wyclef Jean
- Slash on the Los Angeles Youth Network (LAYN)
They’re traveling the country to be heard.
The convergence of social media, social action, big brands, and entertainment has reached a beautiful point—the beginning. I want to bring humanitarian visions and the stories of activists joining forces with businesses and celebrities to the fore. I want to let people know that while parts of our world are in crisis, there are great minds and hearts making the dream of change a reality. It’s happening. And everyone can be a part of this change. Whether you’re a millionaire philanthropist, or a volunteer who can contribute your own unique skills and talents to spreading a message, there is always a need and room for your energy.
I’m so incredibly fortunate to have found my beat—my calling. From the red carpet to rallies to the long open road, I’ll be delivering stories of social change to WhatGives!? every week.
Thank you for being a part of this journey 
It’s going to be one hell of a ride!
Sincerely,
Your Cause Correspondent, Melissa Jun Rowley
Related Posts
Tags: Causecast, Invisible Children, Jon Bon Jovi, Kristin Bell, Life Rolls On Foundation, Los Angeles Youth Network, Mashable, Melissa Jun Rowley, Natasha Bedingfield, Slash, social good, social media, Wyclef Jean
OMG–Love hearing this news! I’m very proud of you Melissa, as well as the What Gives team. You’re all doing great things and I can’t wait to see, and hear, more about how you’re helping to change the world.
Congrats!
Karen
Awesome, way to go, Melissa! This sounds like a perfect fit for you. How lucky for the What Gives team to have your good energy onboard! Congrats! : )
[...] of cause, brands, and celebrity has steadily become my niche. As I wrote in my first Whatgives!? post, do-gooders are everywhere. We’re entering an exciting time in the social action space. [...]
[...] I wrote in my first Whatgives!? post, do-gooders are everywhere. We’re entering an exciting time in the social action space. [...]