“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.

RSVP: via Meetup (nice, but not necessary)
Questions?: contact philly@net2tuesday.org

Whether you’re a newbie or an old hand, we’ll use our August meeting to share thoughts about how particular Web 2.0 technologies have been used (and could be in the future). We’ll have an open, facilitated discussion about various elements of the Web 2.0 landscape. Those who are unfamiliar can ask questions; those who are experienced can share insights and tips; and we can all envision how these tools might be applied to our present circumstances and dreams.

January’s Net Tuesday will be about Blogging for Nonprofits.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a blog or want to make your existing blog more effective, we’re planning a program that will :

• feature nonprofits that are using blogs successfully to raise awareness, raise funds, find volunteers and achieve their mission -- and how they are doing it
• share techniques, strategies, tools and resources for effective nonprofit blogging
• explore thorny issues , such as how to reconcile the need for a blog to have a personal voice, yet also represent the many voices of an organization

We'll be using an "open panel" format, featuring some local non-profit bloggers, including:

• Andrew Schwalm and the First Person Arts blog and Malcolm X Park Blog
• Daniel Pantano and the Academy of Vocal Arts Opera Blog
• Judah Ferst and the Buzzing 4 Change blog
• Larry Blumenthal and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton blog
• Maryann Devine and the smArts and Culture blog

In addition to an informative, interactive discussion about issues confronting new and veteran nonprofit bloggers, we'll have lots of practical tools and opportunities.