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NORTH COAST VISIONARIES is an inspiring documentary about local social entrepreneurs premiered on KEET-TV March 12, 2009 at 8:15 p.m. and re-airs on Friday, May 1 at 10:00 p.m.

KEET-TV marks its 40th year of providing inspiring and educational public television programming to northwestern California with a new local production NORTH COAST VISIONARIES. Through a community outreach grant from FRONTLINE/World, KEET-TV has produced a new documentary about some of Humboldt County’s social entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurs create new and sustainable markets and services that benefit underserved communities. Their ideas leap beyond charity to find systemic solutions to poverty, education, health and social justice.

Image Description NORTH COAST VISIONARIES, produced by KEET-TV producers Sam Greene and Claire Reynolds, focuses on innovative programs: Internews, an international media development organization; The Blue Ox School of Traditional Arts, a high school of traditional arts for at-risk youth; and Economic Fuel: The Humboldt County Student Business Challenge, a privately funded program to train and fund burgeoning entrepreneurs; and Economic Fuel grantee Wild Chick Farm.

The program starts with true social entrepreneurs Eric and Viviana Hollenbeck, who have taken the profits from their successful millworks business to create a historic park and found The Blue Ox School of Traditional Arts, a community school program made possible by a partnership between the Blue Ox Millworks and Historic Park and the Humboldt Office of Education. Blue Ox students earn their high school diploma while participating in a family environment, creating original works of art, building feelings of self-accomplishment, and learning valuable skills such as woodworking, blacksmithing, ceramics, automotive repair, that will be of use to them in all walks of life.

NORTH COAST VISIONARIES moves to the efforts to improve the local economy and quality of life in our region with a feature on Economic Fuel: The Humboldt County Student Business Challenge and its founder Rob Arkley and Coordinator Kathy Miller. Economic Fuel: The Humboldt County Student Business Challenge is a business plan competition for students from College of the Redwoods, Humboldt State University, and recent college graduates who reside in Humboldt County. Economic Fuel supports student entrepreneurs by providing seed capital, offering business workshops and forums, and creating the opportunity to develop relationships with business professionals through an advisor program. Economic Fuel grantee and pasture-raised poultry farmers Wild Chick Farm is also featured. Sarah and Matt Brunner discuss how the community benefits from the healthier option of humanely raised and processed poultry.

The final segment of the program takes us around the world with a feature on Internews Network President and founder, David Hoffman, and Senior Vice-President for Communications and External Affairs, Annette Makino, who discuss how the work of the nonprofit media development organization creates healthier communities through the free flow of locally produced, editorially independent information. Based in Arcata with offices in 35 countries, Internews trains and supports local media around the globe to provide news and information for their communities. The organization has worked to strengthen independent media in over 70 countries worldwide, from Afghanistan to Yemen. Internews works to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.

Each organization provides perspective on their goals of improving the lives of individuals by offering tools for empowerment and success varying from a handful of students, to the local business community, to the developing world. Providing our community with examples of innovative and positive business ventures may offer glimpses of possibilities and the sparks of inspiration needed to foster future local social entrepreneurs. The overall goal of our project is to encourage viewers and participants to consider the triple bottom line of the social, economic and environmental results of their actions.

A copy of NORTH COAST VISIONARIES on DVD may be purchased for $15 plus $3 shipping and handling. Orders may be placed by phone at 707-445-0813, by mail at P.O. Box 13, Eureka, CA 95502, or by email via our contact page.

Funding for the FRONTLINE/World Social Entrepreneurs Series and educational outreach is provided by the PBS Foundation through a grant from the Skoll Foundation.