When Chris Brogran stops the press to summon good deeds, people sit up and take notice. Beth Kanter (with prerequisite trust in spades) raised $3,000 in one hour at Gnomedex to send her sponsored Cambodian student back to college for another semester. The game changing Social Actions widget (below) makes it possible for any plugged in individual to highlight campaigns on a blog or profile. We Buzz Binners are committed to a better place.
The ChangeBlogging meme has arrived. On a meta level – not just the three question blog-a-long at the end of this post. Eyes are shifting from the internal “me” meme to a season of “we” and “us.” The winds of change are welcome – and overdue.
A year ago there were about 15 notable nonprofit and philanthropy bloggers. Today dozens of voices regularly discuss community and global change, often in relation to the role of the social Web. (Check out the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Give & Take blog roll for a solid starter list.)
The unofficial and growing network of Changebloggers is another testament to the trend toward good. Changebloggers, as defined by Britt Bravo, are “people who are using their blog, podcast or vlog to raise awareness, build community, and/or facilitate readers/listeners/viewers’ taking action to make the world a better place.” These actions occur across nonprofits, government, corporations and the general civic sector.
Here’s the great news: Social media platforms give anyone with a little reach and commitment the ability to influence, if not outright persuade. You needn’t be solely focused on societal impact to afford changeblogger tendencies. It’s a question of what are you influencing and to what end?
DC: Setting the Stage for ChangeBlogging Results
One of the iDistrict’s most remarkable qualities is its focus on community change. As one example, marketing, PR, Web and social media gurus gather each month at NetSquared‘s Pimp My Nonprofit event. We listen first, then offer digitally-derived insight and ideas, one nonprofit at a time. A meeting of the minds plus a way to contribute locally.
This fall, DC will be one of 35 cities visited by NetSquared’s Alex Steed. He’s touring the U.S., meeting with millennial activists about “the future of organizing.” We won’t be letting him out of here that easily, however. Alexandra Rampy (a.k.a. SocialButterfly) is rallying local changebloggers to meet with Steed. Our goal is to unite interested parties around something good (TBD). From there, we can do just about anything.
That’s setting the bar pretty high for Valley and NY folk.
If you were here with me, I’d make a toast. Instead – to help formally launch a new wave of social activism – a new meme. Three questions (with my answers):
- What is one change – big or small, local or global – you want to see in your lifetime? I’ll kick off with a big one. Poverty has to end. There is plenty of plenty to go around. The U.N. Millennium Development Goals are here to motivate.
- Who is already working this issue that you think others should support? Microfinance groups, like Kiva but beyond. Opportunity International, Grameen Foundation, Global Giving’s microcredit programs, and small micro-enterprise initiatives happening here in the U.S. and abroad – to name a few. Social capitalism at its best.
- How are you going to use your Web/tech/marcom skills to further this cause? (Or, what are you already doing that works?)
I have badges on my personal blog for several of the above groups, and support a few of them too. That’s not enough! I hope to get more involved with NEST, a local group that provides microcredit loans to women artisans in developing countries, and brings their wares to market in the U.S. They’ve already dipped their toes into PR and social media but could use some additional support.
Tagged in this meme (we’re all changebloggers in some way!): Minjae Ormes, Ike Pigott, Alex Rampy, Holly Ross, Jake Brewer, Josh Chambers, Colin Delaney, Maddie Grant, Andre Blackman, Mark Drapeau, Sarah Marchetti, Ryan Moede, Christian DE NEEF and Kenneth Yeung.
Peace.
Qui – I love it! You say it much better than I. =) I’ve added this post to the event’s site too. DC is the capital of change, so let’s show Alex Steed what we’re made of. I’ll respond to the meme by the end of the week!
We are open to any ideas/suggestions in the planning. Look forward to hearing from some of you after Qui’s inspiring call to action.
Awesome – can’t wait to put some thought into these questions and respond. Lately my brain has been heavy with thoughts and ideas, of course related to improving health campaigns and health communications.
Looking forward to the event with Alex. This is the year of change, in more ways than one.
Honored to be a part of this, Miss Qui! Wish you were here w/me at the #DNC08 madness.
Thanks for spreading the word about Changeblogging!
This is an excellent post! Thanks!
I just donated to Alex’s cause — let’s see if we can’t all help him out. Last year, when I was raising money to go to Cambodia I was scared to death that I wouldn’t be able to raise the money and make the trip. Let’s help out Alex.
http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2008/08/let-the-change.html
Beth,
Thanks for posting on this! Qui and I were just exchanging emails that perhaps the DC event could raise money for Alex’s trip…as he is spreading the Changeblogger and Changemaker message throughout the U.S.!
Excellent meme! Thanks for starting it (and thanks to Britt for her Twitter post that clued me into it to begin with).
I’m completely inspired by all the activity I’m seeing in the “make the world a better place” arena. So much positive potential!
So many thanks to everyone for all of the help, well-wishes, and organized fundraising, etc.
Further, these guided questions are fabulous.
And finally, if anyone has any questions regarding the tour, or suggestions regarding who I should visit, please, please, please let me know. I look forward to meeting everyone at Alexandra’s organized event.
Can’t help but notice synchronicity with today’s post on my blog!
http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/between-the-i-and-the-we-a-critical-space-for-sustainability-strategies/
I set up a Changeblogger Network Ning group today to help folks connect with each other.
This is terrific – thanks Britt, Alexandra, Alex, Beth, Andre and others – hope all will join in regardless of geographic location. Must go join the Changeblogger Ning network and donate to Alex’s tour now!
True, I’m 2.5 pints into the evening unravel… but this post is getting me very excited. I’m feeling empowered by the idea that we in the nptech space have reached a tipping point toward unbound positive change enabled by network technology.
To answer Qui’s Questions:
1) Change I want to see in my lifetime:
Mainstream media becomes irrelevant, tied to the decline of one to many advertising.
2) Who is working in this area that we should support:
The tragedy of networked social change is that it leaves out many of the key players — the most marginalized and the most creative. We need to be supporting organic farmers who haven’t touched a computer since 1995; we need to be directing resources to the would-be computer whizes whose governments prevents internet access; and we need to think not in terms of platforms, social enterprises and NPOs but instead in terms of practitioners… individuals who know how to use social media for social change and can most readily connect outstanding individuals with the resources to get incredible work done. Think Alex Steed.
3) What will I doing to advance the cause:
Well, aside from playing a role in the development of the widget embedded above, I’m thinking laterally in support of the nptech tech / social activism sector. I’m committing myself to developing an ecosystem of online social activism in which nobody owns the technology that facilitates social change. I’m convinced that ownership of the changeblogging technology and concrete progress toward social change are mutually exclusive. For changeblogging to fulfill its potential, practitioners need to assert their/our control of the technology that helps us do what we do best. Ownership leads to more superficial opportunities for civic engagement.
My big prediction: Facebook’s relentless effort to own the technology for social networking will marginalize it as a force for social change.
Anyway, these are my two revolutionary cents from Brattleboro, VT, a city that provokes big ideas.
All the best,
Peter
Peter – “I’m committing myself to developing an ecosystem of online social activism in which nobody owns the technology that facilitates social change.”
This is bold. But I agree that it has to be a shared experience. Even if it’s simply a matter of how users perceive and integrate their experience, rather than thinking about “platforms” (e.g., Facebook).
Peter will be speaking about Social Actions at NetSquared DC’s September event (details TBD). A great opportunity to meet and give feedback to one of the social sector’s finest.
Thanks, Qui + The Buzz Bin. I think that Washington DC has a chance to become the “Social Change Valley” of the U.S. One key would be getting the ecosystem of the many, many non-profits, activists, and lobbyists here (ie, people who care about ‘stuff’) to embrace and use the technologies as part of their day-to-day lives. I also don’t think that on the surface anyone should be excluded; I’m a scientist and I work for the military, and look! there I am on Mashable.com, writing about EPA enviro-blogging, DNI’s Intellipedia, and humanitarian Twittering. Outside ideas are often very useful! Mark
Fabulous post…I’ll be paying it forward on Shaping Youth.org shortly, but also wanted to add that Changebloggers that fall into the 18-25 category for digital media learning (widgets, games, changemakers, social networks) should consider applying to the HASTAC/MacArthur Foundation competition, as they’re eager to get the word out to educators/youth eager to make a difference using technology as the conduit!
Check out their Young Innovator Awards ($5-30,000)to help changemakers out there! http://www.dmlcompetition.net
And Britt, thanks for setting up the ning, I’ll add their event to the site. Oblige, Amy.
Amy Jussel
Founder/Exec. Dir.
http://www.shapingyouth.org
This is a really fantastic post, and one that I have already shared with my colleagues here at Grameen Foundation. You are absolutely right that bloggers have a huge opportunity to do a lot of good and influence their community to do so as well. Thanks for starting the conversation.
Rebecca Booker
Grameen Foundation
Thanks Mark – that’s what a lot of us are trying to do and it’s great that you are playing such a tremendous role.
@Amy – great tip on the Young Innovators Award. I know a few brilliant minds that should win! Appreciate the plug on Shaping Youth, too.
@Rebecca – Thank you for all you’re doing at Grameen. You guys are heroes.
Here we go…
1. What is one change – big or small, local or global – you want to see in your lifetime?
Bridging the digital divide! Both in our rich western society and (much more so) in the developing world, there still is a digital divide which means that despite what one may think when on facebook or twitter, the vast majority of the world population does not have access. Quality internet access means communication, expression of opinion and possibly democracy, education in remote areas, etc. It could also mean the survival of languages and cultures which are disappearing at a fast pace, it could open doors to autonomy or at least reducing dependence, maybe fair trade to be in the hands of the producers instead of intermediaries, certainly a channel for minor local/remote productions that currently have no way to access the market, etc.
2. Who is already working this issue that you think others should support?
There’s a number of initiatives such as the One Laptop per Child project by Nicholas Negroponte, but they are not as successful as one would wish, especially not in Africa. The European Union’s Lisbon strategy aims at reducing the digital divide internally (among other mostly competitive goals) and part of it’s development programme aims for an inclusive Information Society in developing countries.
3. How are you going to use your Web/tech/marcom skills to further this cause?
Up to now, my efforts went elsewhere – I started loaning through Kiva several years ago. My contribution has gone mostly to woman initiatives because they are a driving force in black Africa. I am now also sponsoring an initiative in the Dominican Republic. The money is invested in projects that reduce dependency/create autonomy. Beyond the personal, I have been thinking about my company’s social responsibility, and I plan to invest a small % of my company’s annual profits in projects starting this year. Thereby, my focus could/should switch to the digital divide issue…
Thanks, Qui. Is this the same Qui I met at the Blog Potomac earlier this spring? Nice to “virtually” meet again. Are you participating in Blog Action Day?
Rebecca
Returning to the blogosphere after a summer hiatus, I want to add my thanks to Britt for all the effort to gather and to Qui Diaz and the commenters for the inspiring contributions changeblogging meme.
I’m eager to see what gets created from this, what happens in D.C. and what we can get going here in the West.
What is one change – big or small, local or global – you want to see in your lifetime?
The change I would like to see in my lifetime is this that the meme reaches its unimaginable potential linking those who need food, support, care, and respect with those who have extra to spare through large on-line communities and their regional live communities.
Who is already working this issue that you think others should support?
I think any group or organization that seeks to share wealth from those who have to those who need, any organization seeking to redirect the consumer economy to a sharing economy, or any group promoting tolerance and “right speech” in the media and in the world should be supported to our fullest capabilities.
How are you going to use your Web/tech/marcom skills to further this cause? (Or, what are you already doing that works?) I am going to continue promoting the stories of those who are creating possibilities for change, increase my participation in groups that can accelerate change (yay! changebloggers) and keep learning ways to be more effective at all of the above.
Cheers to all of you, Chris
Great post on Changeblogging and all the happenings over on the other side of the country. It’s exciting that Alex will be out here in the Bay Area in November. I am happy to have stumbled upon this post thanks to SSIR and can’t wait to keep up with your blog from here on out.
Thanks!