Forum Activity for @deb-wisniewski

Using a listserv or group to create "community"?

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

I totally agree, Greg about the issue of subgrouping. I've used Google groups and have liked them, although they've "simplified" them in the last year or so, which actually means that you can do less with them. My hunch is that they are trying to make each of their tools focus on one function and that people would then use combinations of google tools for what they want to accomplish.

Ning is the platform we use for ABCD in Action and it is pretty good in terms of being able to develop discussion categories and groups. Members of this community seem to be getting the hang of using it more and we're always looking for ways to make it more user-friendly.

At the same time, I'm using Ning for two other online communities and they haven't been as successful using it. I'm trying to explore why that is (I should mention that none of these online communities have a connection to "place" - they are each organized around a central theme or interest.)

Members of those other two communities are very happy with getting up-to-date information & resources, but are reluctant to post anything or to interact with each other. We're currently surveying the members of those two communities so I'll have a better idea of what's working and what's not for them.

I keep coming back to the question reflected in the title of Mike Green's book, "When people care enough to act". What would make the members of those online communities care enough to act - in this case, to act online?

Using a listserv or group to create "community"?

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

There are a couple of interesting resource I just came across about using technology to connect communities.

The first is a report, called Neighbors Online, from the Pew Internet and American Life Project. It's about how Americans use online tools to keep informed about and involved in their communities. Steven Clift offers an analysis of this report at: http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/858" target="_blank">http://blog.e-democracy.org/posts/858

The other resource is an website for hosts of neighborhood e-lists, placeblogs and community social nets - it's called Locals Online and is worth checking out.

Using a listserv or group to create "community"?

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

I live in a neighborhood that has a Yahoo group. It started in 2000 and currently there are over 240 people who are "members" - however, I think there are only about 15 that actually contribute on a regular basis (that's just a guess). But I think that there are lot of "lurkers" who read but don't post.Our local alderperson is very active on the list. She shares news with us, solicits our ideas and opinions, and is very responsive to concerns & questions. Our local community center that posts events and activities for people to get involved with... Sometimes they're looking for volunteers or donations, but just as often they're telling people about a new class being offered or the daily menu at the teen-run cafe they have.Neighborhood issues are often debated... we recently had an on-going debate about whether people who use gas-powered snowblowers are "earth-friendly" (I live in Madison WI - this is not an unusual discussion!) This was after we had a blizzard and received 14+ inches of snow.Sometimes I see the yahoo group as a place for people to gripe. That's happened a few times. But it seems that that the members of the group monitor each other.Mostly it's a quick & easy way to share information with lots of people. It's been especially helpful when there have been neighborhood events and people are trying to get the word out. Lately, there's been a sustainability movement bubbling up in the neighborhood and this group is using the yahoo group to tell people about it.So do these ideas create "community"? What do you think?
updated by @deb-wisniewski: 10/25/16 02:08:10PM

URL links to technology and community projects

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

thanks for posting these, Susan. also great meeting you on hangout. Looking forward to more conversations about what you're doing...

URL links to technology and community projects

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

Hi we agreed to use this space to suggest links to projects we are working on or interested in.

I'm a researcher with the University of New Brunswick and the National Research Council in Canada and currently have several community-based projects going, all with partners.

This first one is currently called VideoCom and is changing its name soon to First Nations Innovation: Enterprise ICT Development. It's just been funded for another 5 years to 2017. We're looking at how remote and rural First Nations are using technologies for community, social and economic development. There's links to lots of publications so far:

http://videocom.firstnation.ca

Another one is called First Mile and it's more about community ownership of broadband infrastructure:

http://firstmile.ca

Also one of our research partners, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, is a tribal council serving very remote fly-in communities and we are working together on an e-Community project that's just starting up:

http://e-community.knet.ca/

Looking forward to more links and more discussion! Best wishes from Fredericton, Canada. Susan

updated by @deb-wisniewski: 10/25/16 02:08:10PM

On Line Community Neighbourhood Human Resource Catalogue, Investment & Exchange System

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

This is very interesting, Douglas. I'd love to take a look at this when it's up & running...

On Line Community Neighbourhood Human Resource Catalogue, Investment & Exchange System

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

Here in LaSalle-Gardens a 1955 federal housing development 15 neighbours are joined in a Mutual Aid Group focused on livelihood generation and sub-issues. Another 100 families are actively interested signing a local petition of support to develop local economy through an online Community Neighbourhood Human Resource Catalogue, Investment & Exchange System HRC/CIES. Indigene Community as part of the Sustainable Development Corporation, a Canadian Non-Profit Corporation since 1994 is inspired by indigenous economy, heritage, knowledge and sustainability.https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/home/membership https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/relational-economy/4-community-investment-exchange-system A web & software developer in Hartford Connecticut is working on a website with the interactive ability to:

1. Allow citizens to become members on-line. We ask members to invest 10$ as our basic share-ratio value. We presently have 3 small local businesses interested in being part of the system.

2. Once members to be able to post goods (new & used) and services on line in text format onto their own web-page as part of our site. We group our service providers into Production Societies so as to self-monitor the range and quality of services. Our non-profit charges 7% / transaction as administration fee and 8% / transaction as a required investment in progressive ownership. Progressive ownership of social shares we call 'ratios' provide votes to members in their Production Societies, Consumer groups, Supplier groups and other caucuses (Iroquois = 'grouping of like interests') as well as representation to the Corporate board.

3. We charge fees for posting pictures, web-links, audio and visual as per web-usage.

4. Members invest contributions as 1. Founders, 2. Workers, 3. Suppliers & 4. Consumers with incentive benefits for larger share owners. All these stakeholder accounts are interactive in a system of credits and debits for Vendor goods & services provided or Consumer goods & services received. Fees and charges may be deducted from a members account credits, which is always required to be positive.

Our goal is that recognition of these local investment & exchanges will empower citizens to interact, join together in diverse specialties to generate local to international economies. As members use local goods and services, develop livelihood, recycle goods and services, hire locally and develop a pool of local investment capital which can be used for investing in owning our multihome housing, local business and ecological-economic health. www.indigenecommunity.info Douglas Jack douglasf.jack@gmail.com

updated by @deb-wisniewski: 10/25/16 02:08:10PM

Infrastructure/technology for basic necesities

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

Hi there! I've enjoyed reading some of the discussions on using information technology and social networks in community development, and I'd love to hear about any thoughts/ideas on a different area of technology: infrastructure and and the ever-so-common phrase "appropriate technologies" for increasing access to basic necessities. I studied ABCD with Jody and John, graduated in Mechanical Engineering, and now manage water supply and basic sanitation projects in Bolivia. Every day I try to incorporate the asset-based approaches I learned to doing international engineering projects, and would love to improve by learning from the work and thoughts of others!

Anyone know of organizations, people, literature that applies Asset-Based approaches to Engineering Development (ABED if I may)? There are certainly specific challenges of using ABCD for technology and infrastructure projects, but also specific opportunities. Some opportunities:

-I've found that doing an asset-based assessment in the front end of the project really helps, because when engineers come into a community asking about project needs the community's expectations shoot through the roof!

-Also, the effect of an asset-based approach on a program/project's sustainability canespeciallybe seen in engineering projects, because the use/non-use of local resources determines how long a physical structure will be in place and operating.

Some specific challenges:

-The best technical option is usually not the best ABCD option (though theoretically, the best engineering option should take into account the whole context)

-Outside resources are often necessary. Designing a bridge should be done by a structural engineer. The way I rationalize this is that the long-term goal when it comes to technology and infrastructure is not necessarily self-sufficient communities; very few neighborhoods in more developed countries maintain their own water and electricity systems. In most cases, this is the role of thegovernment.

Therefore, these technology and infrastructure projects might bring in outside resources, but should create a stronger, permanent connection between the community and those outside resources like a county technician, a water pump supplier/repairer in the nearest city, and government funds available for infrastructure projects.

I'm interested in hearing thoughts, even from those not directly involved in this field. What other challenges/opportunities might I run into? What Asset-Based tools/mindsets have I not mentioned that could be helpful to these types of projects? What might it look like to use ABCD in things like community sanitation improvement? Road and building repairs? Energy provision? Water technology innovation?

In your opinion, is "Appropriate Technology" an asset-based approach?

updated by @deb-wisniewski: 10/25/16 02:08:10PM

Examples of using online tools for community building

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

Thank you Ron for sharing this... I can't wait to explore it in depth! It sounds really interesting...

Examples of using online tools for community building

Tips, Tools, Strategies, and Technology

Thanks Rodney. I'm a big fan of Google so no worries about that! I may be working on a project later this year that is focused on how local communities are using technology, so I may contact you again about this when that project gets started. thanks for sharing all this info.