Document Actions
Skeptical Optimism
Tackling the ‘Big Stuff’ on the World Wide Web
Why open up to the world, and why now?
I’ve never before had an internet presence. But when I recently updated my previously-barren Facebook profile, I discovered what the web can do. In the next 24 hours, dozens of messages poured congratulating me on getting engaged….something which had happened a full year before!
It wasn’t until that happened that I started to comprehend the power that is the internet. I had a good grasp on what the internet could do for facilitating concrete ideas and plans – FORGE was built on instant communication across long distances. But what about the big ideas? What about the paradigm-shifting conversations that will transform our society?
We can all see the strange revolution that is happening online, where the little man behind a computer screen has been steadily inching power away from the gigantic news corporations that have dominated our society for centuries.
But – what is this really going to change? Will the internet revolution simply enable more people to bellow their questionably-formed opinions into the virtual oblivion, or will it actually enable new thoughts and possibilities to arise? How do we separate the substance from the screaming?
The internet is simply a tool. It can be used however we choose to use it. Everyone on the Social Edge knows that we CAN use the internet to advance the our understanding of the questions that sit at the root of the evolution of humanity.
But to me, the community on Social Edge is not nearly large enough. The internet has given a voice to the masses. But does it also summon the masses to lend a collective ear?
I don’t want a soapbox. I want inspired community conversation, like the kinds we have when crowded around the campfire under the Zambia stars. Whether the internet can be optimized for this, I intend to find out.
I hope I’m not screaming too loudly.
Wow!
Hmmm... where do I start? Your question is a great one.. how do we on the internet separate the substance from the screaming? There is so much NOISE.. that you just can't hear a damn thing! Oops for my language :) As for the community on Social Edge not being nearly large enough.. yes, one community I wish we had more of was donors.. (like me...)
Well.. let's see... when I hear screaming in my head.. and I've heard all kinds of screams... I use different methods to create an inner peaceful silence so I can really listen... really listen...1) try to find a quiet physical space... I found that using the computer at a monastery really got the juices flowing ... there's something about sitting in a meditative silence 2) when you can't find that quiet space, create an internal mantra like repeating the same word... "peace".. or even when that fails...create an internal pendulum... 3) pay attention to synchronicity when odd events coalesce together at the same time ....
as for donors not being on Social Edge... perhaps a host of reasons... this is stream of consciousness so don't hold me to these... a)too much emphasis on philanthropy (and downplaying charity)... what's so wrong with charity? I need to write an article on that.. b) donors need some anonymity, or if they identify themselves as donors.. then they need some assurance they won't be bombarded with funding requests.. this is a hard one since you all need money.. but trust me.. it's better to hold off on asking for money in this kind of forum c) if you think you're crazy spilling your guts in starting a non-profit.. stories of giving are even more private... I know mine is. I hold them dear to my heart. I rarely tell people why I give. So why should other donors really share those gems of stories that you would if you had some wine and talked underneath the stars?
Well, that's all for now. Forge Ahead. I call it a leap of faith. We all have to do it if we want to grow... whatever our station is.. be it donor, philanthropist (even Bill Gates!), social entrepreneur, activist... to be human is to be finite.. but to be truly HUMAN is to leap into the unknown trusting in something bigger than ourselves.
how all this translates to the web... well we'll leave that to the experts. :)
What if SV folks took "sabbaticals" and then came back to Silicon Valley to improve the Web?
Based on my experience... and observing other techies who are or have taken time off from the tech world... at some point, we (myself included) have to wonder - what if our newly discovered sense of philanthropy/charity/social do gooding were integrated with our prior talents in the tech world? If we were truly grounded in our newly minted "changed selves" then we would no longer fear being "tainted" by some of the shit (sorry for my language) in the tech space... or for that matter any other corporate endeavor? Most of us though... we want to leave that world completely behind - for a host of reasons.. perhaps it was too fast paced and left no balance for a personal life - perhaps there were too many ethical quandries - too much gray and not enough purity of spirit - the list is endless.
But what if... people who are called to do good... are at some point called back? Wow! I know for sure a few individuals who could perform a HOST of marvelous miracles... that is if they had enough support. All of us need support.
Take the owner of this site... what he has learned in the movie making business... now apply that to the tech space... and you've got social edge. Images. Deeper than most youtube videos. I have yet to see a youtube segment that just plays the stillness and flutter of leaves blowing in the wind. Even if you added sound effects for the wind... at least for now... I hope we never do... we can't simulate the feel of the wind in our faces as we watch the leaves fluttering in the wind and the sunlight streaming through the branches.
I wish for most of Silicon Valley to step away from their computers and spend more time with nature. Biking sure - is fun! But how about just stopping our bikes... sit on the grass and really feel the moment and the beauty of creation.
I don't know... but somehow... if we could step away long enough from our computers... maybe that's one way we can learn to improve the web. Give and ye shall receive. Amen! to that! One would be surprised just how much one learns by giving. What we give away we regain in a thousandfold. That I testify without a shadow of a doubt. If not in our lifetime, then in the next. Ok - I'm sliding more into theology.. that's a signal for me to stop.
Hope this helps. Keep working guys... you'll get there. :)
- s. all those who thirst for a challenge... come to the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, and hang with the vets... somehow I think it'll be good for everyone involved.
- p.s. Oh yeah... software... hmmm... why is programming language just linear? And does that inherently pose some limits to what we are able to create? Just stream of consciousness typing...
And many thanks to all those seen or unseen who have or are helping to build a new Genesis.
Clara
Improvements to Social Edge?
Instead of just posting blogs chronologically, could we have the option of sorting them by "subjects"/"user name"/and matrix-pattern that shows the links amongst the bloggers for that blog subject? So that users see a diagram of the "connection" among the bloggers...to see the social networks... so that upon re-reading our own blogs (which I admit I do A TON) I can quickly spot WHO has responded to my blogs subconsciously or consciously. And therefore can quickly tell a "LinkedIn" version... where I can add individuals to "my" social network on social edge... and therefore be prompted to read "their" blogs on various subjects.
Improvements to Google
at bottom of page.. instead of Goooooooooooooooooogle with numbers below.... what about like a volume control UI so that users can play with the "randomness" with some sort of user control so they can slide left and right until some "timer" goes off synchronously between user and Google to find a random website different from the top 1-5 returned results?
On google.co.kr.... what if "colored" dots were arranged in a circle rather than in a linear format...? with some "light light grey" marker to signal to the user that they can click on the center of the circle...which does......tbd. And with the newest computers that have built in cameras... with permission from user.. google can track eyeball movements to verify when users looking at "dots" vs. "center empty white fire space."
Definitely, there's something about giving users "white space" to think between searches. People need to "clear" their mind chalkboard occasionally --- so that they are not bombarded constantly by information but are "given" breaks - to "think" and "invest time" in their search box to write the most pinpointed combo of search key terms.
iGoogle... interesting competitive version to Yahoo. "still need to incorporate white fire space... somehow."
What if rather than 3 points of entry to Google (tradtl google, iGoogle or Yahoo version, and google.co.kr or desktop version)... google came up with ONE point of entry that syncs the strengths of all three points of entry?
What would that look like?
One point of entry leading to infinite openings
where all those who felt/feel "disempowered" by the evil empire find incarnate creative ways to open doors of answers for their customer base.
One point of entry... what does that look like? Definitely tunneling through the center of the circle like a laserbeam...Google needs to come up with that ONE entry.
and create a new business model.. where one WINS only if competitors WIN too! An upside down version of plugging in "ISVs and OEMS and ..." to an OS in order to win. Need some sort of standardization to win against the "evil" (:) empire.
Pace, Pyungwha, Peace to all.
Building an organization, just like starting a business
Hi Kjersten, I've read your messages and visited your web site. I understand how you've started this organization based on your understanding of a need, and how it has grown based on what you've learned, and what resources you've been able to raise and reinvest.
I know how difficult this is because I've been on this same path for the past 15 years. That's when I and a small group of volunteers decided to help the city of Chicago have comprehensive tutor/mentor programs in every poverty neighborhood.
We were launching a new program for teens in one high poverty area, and could have simply done what most other non profits do, focusing all of our time and resources on building this single location. Yet we realized that it might take six years for our first few 7th graders to be finishing high school. In a city of more than 200,000 kids living in poverty, that seemed like to small of an impact over too many years.
We saw a void in leadership. No one had a master database of tutor/mentor programs. Thus, no one was leading a consistent marketing effort intended to connect volunteers, donors and ideas with every program in the city. Only those with brand name, or with celebrity or high profile leaders were successful at getting funds. Only a few high profile neighborhoods were consistently in the media.
We decided that to help our own kids more we needed to create a system that would help kids in every volunteer-based tutor/mentor program in the Chicago region.
We had no money when we started, but commited to splitting half of any money we raised to this vision of helping all programs.
It's been a struggle every year to find the dollars we need to do this work. When the Internet became an option, we launched www.tutormentorconnection.org as way to share our knowledge with more people, and a way to attract potential volunteers and donors. Now that is connecting us with people all over the world, such as in this forum.
I have been able to keep my organization growing by constantly learning from others, and by sharing what I'm doing via a constantly expanding web site. I've also engaged volunteers throughout the organization, so that as they become owners they also become leaders who help reach out to investors.
I encourag e you to visit http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2007/05/mapping-tutormentor-connection-strategy.html and review our strategy.
While we focus on Chicago and you focus on Africa, there are many parallels. By me building a knowledge center I'm able to host events that focus on the needs of all tutor/mentor programs, not just my own.
I feel there is a need for someone to be building a similar knowledge base focused on issues in Africa, Asia, and all of the organizations who need help, not just a few. Because of how people like Bono are focusing on Africa, if someone were maintaining a database of youth or health organizations in Africa, and mapping this information to show where they are, and what they do, that web site might become a resource for these celebrities to focus their aid. That would be a benefit to the organization who is hosting.
The career you've chosen is a difficult one. People's attention is focused on so many other things it's difficult to get a consistent part of that attention focused on someone else's problem, especially if that problem is in other cities and countries.
Finding others who have a similar passion, and understand the challenges, and building a social network with them, will be one way for you to constantly re-charge your batteries to keep you involved in this work.
Good luck to you.
Mapping information
Dan,
would you email me and let me know when would be a good time to talk over the phone... I'm really curious as to what you mean by mapping... but I prefer to converse the old fashioned style and hear your voice.
clara.jong@gmail.com
Web 2.0 and the host of new opportunities
Hey Kjerstin,
As one of those people who congratulated you as soon as your wedding became official (i.e. it went live on Facebook), it was fun to read this post!
I think that the internet has a couple key functions:
Organzing tools - this is the power you, me and other activists and advocates are trying to keep up with - we now have task management tools (basecamp), communication tools (google), fundraising tools (care2.org) etc!
I think one of the most important trends though is that more and more companies are looking to integrate those tools with social networking so that communities of people who share similar values and goals can actively grow.
I think Change.org is one of the coolest examples of this - they've brought together fundraising and advocacy tools and situated them within a dynamic social community who can search for eachother, join "change" communities who want to see specific problems solved, view what their friends are interested in, share news and videos about different challenges and social opportunities, etc.
I think this is exactly the right direction - digital spaces that allow us to both sustain offline connections and grow our virtual communities - hopefully to the ends of making them offline communities as well!