Sharing Lessons on Connecting Neighbors Online - Inclusively, May 16 Online Event

[Steven Clift]

On the edge of open government is an interest in how the public can use both information and online engagement built on top of open government to get things done in their community. Let me suggest that the challenge is even greater - it is simply not good enough to build online systems where those who already show up come to dominate online too. In my many visits with governments, they would often cite the lack of representativeness of online participation to dismiss its validity ... so if you dig into this report you might find lessons you can adapt to your own efforts to at least make them more reflective of the great diversity of Chicago. - Thanks, Steven Clift

Two very exciting things to announce:

1. Inclusive Social Media - 60 Page Evaluation Report Released, Online Event:

         Details: http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1420

         May 16 Online Event:  http://inclusivesocialmedia.eventbrite.com

         (Thank you NCDD, America Speaks, the DDC, etc. for co-sponsoring event.)

    

2. New Inclusive Community Engagement Online project launched:

         Public Campaign (St. Paul start):  http://beneighbors.org

         Details: http://e-democracy.org/inclusion

While we announced our new $625K grant in Minnesota, we wanted to package it up with our finalized in-depth evaluation of our inclusive online community forum work in lower income, highly diverse, high immigrant neighborhoods before reaching out widely. The evaluation report is full of "aha" details for anyone seriously hoping to use online tools to connect people beyond those "who already show up." We figure globally 100 folks will really read the evaluation cover to cover and we want at least 10 of you to join us for an in-depth discussion of its findings on May 16.

The new three year Knight Foundation funded initiative not only includes going deep and inclusive with 10,000 ~daily participants in St. Paul, it also includes active lesson sharing across as many communities as are interested.

We will be doing "free" lesson sharing (and peer to peer learning as we have a lot to learn ourselves) initially via the "Locals Online" community of practice which has over 300 members who already connect local people online. Join us:

    http://e-democracy.org/locals

We are also considering webinars, e-trainings, and in-depth outreach assistance services for interested partners late 2012/2013 forward. Per the grant, Knight Communities are pre-paid so to speak (lesson sharing, a few possible site visits, etc.): http://pages.e-democracy.org/Knight_communities - So let us know - te...@e-democracy.org - if you live in one of those Knight cities and want to help spread "how to" lessons on both inclusive community engagement online and online neighbor connecting in your area. 

We of course are interested connecting with any local effort - be it community foundation funded, volunteer-led, institutionally-based, etc. -  seeking to build _inclusive_ community engagement online. Please get in touch: te...@e-democracy.org

This summer we will be extremely busy with our diverse outreach team - http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/1412 - in field recruiting thousands of new members one at a time. (Yes, the secret to inclusion online is the paper sign-up sheet at diverse community events.) So, if you want to get involved now, join our Projects online group and offer up your services: http://e-democracy.org/projects  In 2013 and beyond we will be adding some next generation online engagement experiments and ramp up our lesson sharing and work with other interested communities. Plant the seed now!

Thanks,

Steven Clift

E-Democracy.org

Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com

  Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.org 

  Twitter: http://twitter.com/democracy

  Tel/Text: +1.612.234.7072