This month's Net Tuesday will be on "crisis response" and social media.
Recent crises — whether caused by nature (like Haiti or Katrina) or by humans (like the London subway bombings or PA budget cuts for arts and culture) — have been met by a new type of response virtually unavailable just a decade ago. Social tools, including Facebook and Twitter, GIS/mapping applications, mobile technology, image and video sharing services and others, have been used in ways that are creative, widely participative and, often, surprisingly effective.
“Crowdsourcing Change” will be a highly participatory event where attendees will have an opportunity to help three "Social Changers" who are using — or trying to use — the social web for the common good.
Presenters will first explain the change they are trying to achieve through social media. Attendees, with the help of a moderator, will then provide feedback, ideas, constructive criticism and concrete instructions to help the presenters succeed.
The three presenters will be:
Megan Barnes of Dignity Housing, a non-profit organization established by people who were formerly homeless to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty confronting low-income and homeless families and individuals in Philadelphia. Read Dignity Housing's project description.
Darlene Cavalier, of ScienceForCitizens.net, a place for citizens to find out about, take part in, and contribute to science through recreational activities and research projects and for scientists to tell eager citizens about your work and get them interested in helping out. Read ScienceForCitizens.net's project description.
Medard Gabel of EarthGame, who is working with the UN on developing a giant “dashboard” for the world, a 32 foot by 8 foot high-definition video wall will be a permanent installation at the UN Headquarters in New York where millions of people will see it. There will also be an interactive web version. The purpose is to provide an overview and status report on what is happening right now on Spaceship Earth. Read EarthGame's project description.
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Two Liberty Place, 32nd Fl
50 S. 16th Street
Philadelphia, PA
More and more nonprofits and social change activists are using social media and social networking tools to promote their causes, engage members and raise awareness and money. But are these efforts worthwhile? What should you measure? And how?
Join us for a practical, interactive panel discussion to address these questions in the context of your own social strategy. Learn more about how to judge whether your efforts with social technology are having the effect you envision. And how to consider measurements and metrics as you plan new strategies.
On our last Net Tuesday (December 1), we held the Philly Net Tuesday Book UNclub at Robin’s Bookstore. The idea was pretty straightforward… We would discuss books in Net Tuesday’s scope of interest: social networking/media, nonprofit technology and social change. (That’s the “biblio” part.) And we would use the style of an unconference, in which participants set their own agenda. (That’s the “social” part.) As far as any of us knew, this wasn’t really done before. (And that’s the “experiment” part.)
We were fortunate that Lindsay Tabas video recorded parts of the evening (and also led one of the book discussions). She put together a really great, short piece that nicely captures the spirit of the evening. Thank you, Lindsay!
This event will be about mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) for non-profit and social change organizations. Facilitated by Jeremy Hefner from Avencia, it will include panelists and practical how-to guidelines.
What you'll learn by attending:
How can you present your message geographically?
Matthew Fisher of Night Kitchen Interactive will share the upcoming PhilaPlace.org resource which is working to "illuminate the history and culture of Philadelphia's unique neighborhoods" through an interactive map of personal stories connected to specific locations.
