social enterprise media

The online changes we’re making have been swift and decisive; however, from an emotional and personal point of view they’ve been very difficult. From a business perspective and a sustainability viewpoint, they’ve been no-brainers.

IWalk IWrite, The Storyteller’s Arms and IRide IWrite as websites and online publications have been absorbed into the new format for Making Me Magazine (MMM). These sites no longer exist.

Why did we do this?

There are a number of reasons. Mainly, to pool our resources and focus on one area in order to achieve our objectives as a social enterprise. The publications are nor dead. They are resting and they will eventually form part of some of the long-term aims of Making Me as an organisation and way of life.

What’s with this social enterprise thing?

isca media is a socially driven company applying market-based strategies to achieve a social purpose. Our business models are developed to pursue our mission.

Revenue will be used to support a social aim. We will, for example, be able to employ individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to work alongside accomplished professionals in media as well as develop, mentor, fund and support many adults who desperately require a helping hand to start over.

How are we doing this?

Funds raised will be invested into the aims of the social enterprise.

Currently we’re recruiting key people to help us achieve our goals. We’re strengthening our legal and administrative team. We’ve some incredible volunteers and experience as part of the collective. By strengthening our team, our commitment, our business practice, our collective approach as well as our directives, we’ll be giving ourselves the best chance of fulfilling our social aims.

Changes to Making Me Magazine

One of the key principles of the new format will be that 50% of the online content will be free. The rest will be by accessed via a small monthly subscription. We also have the support of key strategic partners, individuals, sponsors and professional organisations all of whom understand and support the principles of Making Me, the people involved and care about futures not pasts.

Dealing with difficult issues

A quick glance at the new MMM format will clearly indicate that we’ll be covering many subjects (both in editorial and news) that we’ve not, previously been involved with. MMM will have no political or religious affiliation though. The only core principle will be one of equality and equal opportunity.

We’ll be publishing and announcing the short and long-term aims over the coming weeks/months including the plans to produce a print version of Making Me Magazine as well as community-based projects working with vulnerable adults and support organisations.

We celebrate the unique value of the individual

Making Me was founded by isca media and is dedicated to supporting adults in the ultimate creative process of building a life.

Making Me consists of creative professionals and volunteers. Our experience and expertise spans filmmaking, fashion, photography, writing, journalism, business and marketing to charity fund-raising, psychology, pharmacy, parenthood and social-work.

We gravitated together and found that despite surface diversity, our lives were shot-through with common threads. We all found pleasure, expression, connection, income or strength via creativity. We also shared the belief that the benefits of creativity were not always easily accessed by the very folks that need them most.

So we decided to pool our resources, to share them out amongst ourselves and with anyone else who wants in.

Et voilà, Making Me and isca media.

What Do We Do?

Making Me gives voice to often marginalised, stigmatised or misunderstood people. It is a focal point for identification and understanding and inspiration. We believe that we each have a talent, a unique song. Sometimes it just needs shaking awake or coaxing out by an enchanting melody, a rhythm that fires the heart or the impassioned voices of others who’s belief in the lyrics and joy in singing drowns out every drop of self-consciousness.

That’s what we do – support people to find their voice, to cultivate passion, imagination, purpose and the myriad other essences often stripped because of tough or difficult times.

The very same voices and passions can then be channelled into creating art that dispels the myths and ignorance that perpetuate struggles.

Art bypasses logic, learned prejudice and confusion and touches the universal elements within us. All this is accomplished without aggression or proselytizing; the only confrontation is between the creator and viewer and their own beliefs.

Making Me is a safe place to explore and experiment with our own back-catalogues of experience. A place to share and draw strength from others traveling similar paths.

Creativity and community are the foundations at the heart of Making Me.

Through mentoring, training, professional and peer-support over a range of creative areas and through a diversity of media.

Through work experience, vocational training and paid work opportunities via commercial isca media projects.

What’s next?

We will collaborate with other organisations and facilitate joint, community projects, training, demonstrations and exhibitions of work by creatives who are on the path of recovery or who incorporate these themes to raise awareness, inspire and challenge negative preconceptions.

We welcome all sorts; anyone who doesn’t consider themselves to be creative but who has a story in their heart, fire in their soul and an urge to express.

Philosophy

We believe in community, in the concept of a creative-family, not just as a principle to aspire to, but as a sustainable way of life and business. Developing connections fosters helps to grow tangible, observable wealth and enduring social capital. We acknowledge the fundamental need for financial security and celebrate entrepreneurship but believe that it is not solely through competition, but cooperation, that communities thrive and individuals can achieve.

We encourage and support writers, journalists, photographers & filmmakers committed to developing their craft.

We create opportunities for these crafts to be seen, heard, read, via our projects and sites.

We share our collective knowledge and skills and invite others to contribute by imparting theirs.

We support business and enterprise whilst embracing global communication outlets in order to maximise reach.

We support people by providing a communications infrastructure that illustrates potential markets, connects existing people and projects and presents their products and skills to a wider audience.

Summary of core values

Celebrate the unique value of the individual.

Developing a creative family.

Mentoring and personal development of creative family members.

Sustainability – socially, economically & environmentally.

Equality of opportunity.

Celebration of diversity.

Entrepreneurship, enterprise and innovation.