My older sister Linda Goyer Lane is part of the “sandwich generation”— people who care for their aging parents while simultaneously supporting children of their own. When my parents began needing 24 hour care about a year and a half ago, Linda stepped up to help me care for them in a big way. She and her two sons (one in high school and one in college) have all made sacrifices to care for Mom and Dad as she began traveling to Arizona for one or two weeks at a time to join in their care. I serve as my parents’ primary caregiver, but like so many working caregivers, without Linda’s help, I couldn’t care for my parents and get my work done.

Read more on AdLibbing.

Climate change, education reform, obesity prevention, cancer … name your issue. As communication professionals, we’re all tackling very complex social problems that call for very complex solutions.

I don’t have to tell you–grabbing the attention of target audiences you need to engage, regardless of your issue, is an uphill climb. You have to overcome a fragmented media landscape and substantial message clutter.

That’s why, no matter to whom you are talking—consumers, donors, volunteers or policymakers—you need to be clear and single minded.

That’s where research can make the difference.

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Some nonprofit organizations have organic roots in music – through a mission that benefits music education, a history of celebrity musician supporters or a legendary charity concert.

But, music is universally loved. It moves us emotionally and connects us with the world.  Every organization or social action campaign can benefit from using music to connect with their supporters. On Spotify, a free and legal music streaming service, you can turn 20+ million songs into shareable playlists that drive action.

Read more on AdLibbing.

Taking care of an older loved one can be a tough job. Share your thanks with a caregiver in your life.

What’s one way to get social marketers thinking about the teen demographic? Dress in a penguin suit! At least, that was what DoSomething.org COO Aria Finger did for her presentation about the 25 and under demographic last week on Halloween.

The truth is: Aria and her team would have grabbed our attention even without the penguin suit. Some of the stats they provided about young people were truly astounding: ’

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I first saw “Mortified” (the show where real people read writing from their most awkward years) at the Make-Out Room in San Francisco years ago. I loved the show so much, I invited them to perform at a an event I produced and became a long-time fan and friend of Dave Nadelberg, one of Mortified’s founders. Today Mortified is releasing its first full-length documentary film, and I interviewed Dave “just for fun” and to share our mutual love of teen angst with AdLibbing readers.

Read more on AdLibbing.

Attention all high school and college students: make an anti-distracted  driving video and you could win the Hunter Garner (pictured above) Scholarship.

Did you know that 1 in 5 kids faces hunger in this country? Help fill their fridge with FeedingAmerica.

Have you ever been out with friends and they nonchalantly tell you that they just got a new car, are buying a house, planning a fancy wedding, are taking a trip, have paid off their loans or have begun saving for their child’s college education?

And then you get a sinking feeling and wonder: “How do they do that?” Or: “What am I doing wrong?”

Read more on AdLibbing.

Happy Halloween from the Ad Council family!