Category: SmallChangeNews

News of little individuals using whatever limited resources they have to make a real and positive difference, stories of “not helpless.”

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Cultivating Grassroots

Chris Macrae has an interesting (and complex) web of blogs on sustainability, grassroots, value, trust-flows, globalization and more. This is an interesting entry point: Searching 30000 Grassroots Projects for Humanity by 2010.

Some of the projects listed are not what I would expect in a list of “grassroots”, but maybe the definition is up for review, toward a marriage of corporate and community activity. I guess my own definition still revolves around local, individual responsibility and action, driven and directed by personal passion rather than organizational strategy. Even if organized strategies do emerge.

Grameen Bank would be an example of local, personal initiative snowballing to the level of global organization. Their core work is still driven by and grounded in personal responsibility for local lending and administration. I’m less clear about whether the activities of private citizen and former president Bill Clinton qualify as grassroots efforts, even as I suspect they do much good. And what of experiments like SmallChangeNews.org? Is there a minimum threshold for initiative?

Catalytic Communities is something that absolutely qualifies as a genuine, and effective, grassroots effort. Let’s not forget that they still need a few dozen supporters by Saturday, 31-December to pledge $10 per month to cover core funding for 2006. Please join us in pledging, if you can.

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Small Change Feeds/Needs Global Community — Now Offers Free Trip

What a deal. Pledge $10 a month to support a fantastic community program, and if 199 others do the same, you could win a free trip to Rio. Doing good doesn’t get much better than this. What’s more, 133 people have already signed up, so only 66 more needed — but the deadline is NOW — December 31st!

The goal is to raise core funding for Catalytic Communities, founded by my friend Theresa Williamson, to serve some of the poorest parts of Rio and replicate their successes around the world. It’s as simple as $10 a month!

CatComm is developing, inspiring and empowering a global network of communities to generate and share solutions. CatComm connects communities through spaces both physical and virtual. The “Casa” model networking hub in Rio de Janeiro offers a space for face-to-face events and Web access for community leaders across that metro region. A Community Solutions Database and other online tools make searchable, detailed, community-generated solutions to everyday challenges available across languages and borders.

Join us, if you can, in supporting this good work — and if we reach 200 pledges, you might get to go see it for yourself, in Rio. This is SmallChangeNews at it’s best.

Please do link to this, and spread it around, if you can!

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Harold Pinter: Upon Us All

Some days ago, I received from my friend Tim Reeves a copy of the speech delivered by Harold Pinter on the occasion of his recent receipt of the Nobel Literature Prize. Pinter is a famous british playwriter, born in London of jewish descent, and has long been a human rights activist. His biography and a bit of his speech…

…As a citizen I must ask: What is true? What is false? Truth in drama is forever elusive. You never quite find it but the search for it is compulsive. The search is clearly what drives the endeavour. The search is your task. More often than not you stumble upon the truth in the dark, colliding with it or just glimpsing an image or a shape which seems to correspond to the truth, often without realising that you have done so…

…I have often been asked how my plays come about. I cannot say… Most of the plays are engendered by a line, a word or an image. The given word is often shortly followed by the image… The first line of The Homecoming is ‘What have you done with the scissors?’ The first line of Old Times is ‘Dark.’ In each case I had no further information…

…A writer’s life is a highly vulnerable, almost naked activity. We don’t have to weep about that. The writer makes his choice and is stuck with it. But it is true to say that you are open to all the winds, some of them icy indeed. You are out on your own, out on a limb. You find no shelter, no protection – unless you lie – in which case of course you have constructed your own protection and, it could be argued, become a politician…

…I believe that despite the enormous odds which exist, unflinching, unswerving, fierce intellectual determination, as citizens, to define the real truth of our lives and our societies is a crucial obligation which devolves upon us all. It is in fact mandatory…

What have you done? Dark. Truth. Obligation. No further information. 2006. Is Upon Us…

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Free Geek Chicago – Computer Recycling

This just in from David Eads and friends, who’ve started a computer recycling project called FreeGeek Chicago that gets old machines refurbished and distributed to poor folks who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a machine. Can you help them with resources?

The idea is to do something akin to Working Bikes but with computers — we take old systems and rebuild them into simple Linux based boxes that we sell for $50 for a full system (keyboard/mouse/monitor) and responsibly recycle anything that we can’t use. We’re also starting an adopt-a-computer program where people can come in to our space and we’ll teach them to tear down a system and build a new one, and how to do a basic Linux installation. Then they get to keep one of the systems they’ve built.

This is a great example of SmallChangeNews, ordinary folks using what they have (and can get) to meet the needs and make a difference for others. They’ve had lots of demand for systems, and lots of interest in building from geeks and others, but it looks like the donation stream is too thin to support the level of demand. Contact FreeGeek Chicago.org if you can help!

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Support CatComm at PledgeBank

PledgeBank is doing this year, in grand style, much of what a number of us have been working on since last year, in small ways, as SmallChangeNews. Theresa Williamson, an Omidyar Network friend and colleague has posted this there:

“I will set up a $10 monthly donation to CatComm (or $120 annually) but only if 399 other people will too, and only if one philanthropist will match our joint donations dollar for dollar.” — Theresa Williamson, Founder and Executive Director

Deadline to sign up by: 31st December 2005 So far… 39 people have signed up, 360 more needed

Meeting this pledge will make CatComm permanently sustainable! It’s as simple as $10 a month! Catalytic Communities’ mission is to develop, inspire and empower a global network of communities generating and sharing solutions.

CatComm connects communities through spaces both physical and virtual. The “Casa,” our model networking hub in Rio de Janeiro offers a space for face-to-face events and Web access for community leaders across that metro region, while our Community Solutions Database and other online tools make searchable, detailed, community-generated solutions to everyday challenges available across languages and borders.

Theresa and CatComm are doing some really fantastic work in Rio. We could use more of her model up here in the States and elsewhere around the world. This funding will help make that possible. Please support CatComm as you are able!

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Donors Choose

The DonorsChoose mission is to improve public education by building an online marketplace where teachers describe and individuals can fund specific classroom needs. DonorsChoose envisions a nation where students in every community have the resources that they need to learn.

The small-scale giving opportunities at DonorsChoose was part of the inspiration for my ongoing SmallChangeNews experiment. I found them again today via Mort Meyerson‘s philanthropy page.

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Splash

Finally getting back to work on SmallChangeNews, merging all of those postings into this blog, merging the practices, too.

Along the way, I consider that a short break would do me good… go next door, have a little workout in the pool. Blissful isolation. Then I notice how much of my work I will take with me, even there, underwater.

It seems that when we make our own minds our primary work, we never really do get to leave the office. Splash.

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Help Project K.I.D.

Project K.I.D. that’s “kids in devastation” …is a new project going gangbusters on the ground in the hurricane zone down south just now… they have a good start made and have a chance to grow this sort of response into a permanent part of disaster relief plans nationally. see their blog for latest news.

they are getting lots of attention and doing great work, but they are scrambling for onsite volunteers, and a bunch of other resources. have you any way of getting the word out to facilitator/educator folks who might be able to help with this, as on-site volunteers? or might be able to get the word to still others? They are also listed at VolunteerMatch.org — search on “Biloxi (39530)”

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Virtual Disaster Relief

This from Dina

I’ve been taking turns manning the virtual call centre we have set up using Skype… What amazes me though, is that I can volunteer my time, sitting in my living room at home in Mumbai India, and be of use to help those seeking information about their loved ones who are missing on that other side of the world.

via Chris

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New Social Models

Dave Pollard posting some guiding principles for Next-Society Models. Among a nice round list of 11 principle characteristics, I especially like his suggestion that new social models should be replicable but not necessarily scalable:

If the model only works in special rare circumstances, it’s probably not a very useful model. But there is some evidence that small is beautiful, and some of the best models in the world just don’t scale. In that case, don’t make ’em bigger, just make more of ’em. The Waldorf schools might never scale to a centralized global system, but they seem to work very well as a replicable, tweakable model.

Was surprised to see that Dave had eluded the net of my blogroll. That’s been fixed, under Blogs. See also a whole new blogroll section called Gifts. Many of the things listed there are indeed replicable, if not scalable. Remarkable, as well.

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How to Help in New Orleans

This from the Philanthropic Enterprise email discussion group today…

The Mennonite Disaster Service is highly recommended by the American Friends Service Committee as being the best, most experienced disaster relief organization dealing with housing, the very needy, and US situatins. The web site is www.mds.mennonite.net/Home. They are viewed as being much less constrained by institutional barriers than the other charities, and far more able to get to the truly destitute who do not trust readily.

That said, I still like the idea of friends helping friends of friends. If there’s no admin cost involved, person-to-person, then there’s no need for tax deductibility. Just give, you know, the old fashioned way, without a receipt. Here, for instance, is the campaign for my friend Rose Vines. Her house is a few blocks from the wet side of the picture in the last post.

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The Invitation

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

Just got off the phone with Raphael Peter who is leading the effort (blogged yesterday) to organize Global Playback performances about kindness, and the rest of what’s working, all around the world, on World Kindness Day, November 13th.

I’m looking forward to more conversations about how that global process might feed, and be fed by the blogosphere, using an sCNN-like model. In talking through various technical options, media/awareness needs and the overwhelming workload of what he’s working to organize globally, the invitation got cooked some more.

Here are some of the things that could be actively invited in a single, simple webpage, within the bounds of the kindness project or any other initiative…

1. SEND… your stories of kindness, of what’s working, of little individuals using whatever small resources they have and making small changes that make a big difference… of little individuals feeding the good that already IS, and in so doing, making MORE of it. (These could then be posted automatically to a weblog).

2. POST… if you already have a weblog, post your stories about kindness, what’s working, small changes that are making a big difference… and blog others that you see doing this as well. Tell your own stories and help bring attention to other bloggers who are blogging the good.

3. CREATE… if you don’t have a blog, but are interested, perhaps there is a local group, a Playback group, a block organization, chamber of commerce, local foundation, church or youth group where the good is bubbling up, as kindnesses, as little individual initiatives making a difference, as small donations for important, but small and local projects. Here are three levels to start at: easy (if you already have a website) – easier – easiest

4. LINK… to a homepage! …and then tell us so we can link to you. Even if you don’t have a weblog or website, you can put our web address (http://www.smallchangenews.org) in your email signature. Invite friends! (Someday, maybe all this will be handled more simply and directly by tagging.)

5. CONTACT… the people you see showing up here. Feed their stories and their work with attention, energy, resources, referrals, and your own small change! Feed the good that already is.

The idea is that most all of this input could be handled in a self-organizing, all-tech, easy-tech way, with the results simply spilling out into one big blog ticker.

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Global Playback: Acts of Kindness

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

Imagine this: On November 13th, World Kindness Day, people around the world gather in theaters, town squares, churches, and village centers and share personal stories of Acts of Kindness. Moments come alive as they are enacted by skilled Playback theater troupes; communities experience the positive, honoring message of our potential for doing good.

Members of the Int’l Playback Theatre Network have formed a Global Coordinating Committee and have invited playback companies from all over the world to join in a coordinated, world-wide day of performing stories with the theme “Acts of Kindness and Missed Opportunities”. To date, 53 companies have shared their excitement for performing on November 13th.

We are looking for for collaborations, sponsorship and support to primarily, get the word out that we are taking a positive stand for human goodness. We will model, globally, the act of reminding and remembering what is working in our lives, what we can be grateful for and from this position, look to meet the challenges that concern all of us.

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Omidyar.net Members Conference

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

A few dozen of us had a fabulous weekend here in Chicago, at the first-ever Omidyar.net Members Conference. I blogged the conference in my new and WordPress-improved PeaSoup personal weblog. Will be upgrading sCNN to WordPress as soon as there’s time, btw.

Meanwhile, the weekend was full of learning and connecting, and the result is that there is tons of work to be done on sCNN. I wore myself out facilitating and participating simultaneously, but the good news is that much is coming clear. For instance…

PROTOTYPE: While I keep trying to believe that this whole endeavor is settled, I learned that in software lingo, it’s probably closer to a prototype than a finished production. It’s alpha version at best, still far from beta. I’m taking some comfort in this acknowledgement. That there is much yet to do need not diminish that there is much done and learned here, too.

PURPOSE: For something just more than a year now, I’ve struggled with what sCNN really wants to be. Really *IS*. I figured that out on day three of the conference: sCNN exists to feed the good that already is! …to feed money, resources, people, attention and energy (not necessarily in that order). …to feed technology tools, models, experience and support. …and to feed the stories of individual initiatives to more and more would-be givers and collaborators, via tech like RSS syndication feeds!

PEOPLE and WORKSPACE: The other big thing step forward is a partnership that was formed among several people and projects, and the creation of a shared workspace at Omidyar.net. That will let all of our projects move forward individually, but be informing and informed by the work and progress of others. From the sCNN perspective, it means more potential suppliers of project news and more users of the expertise that is developing here.

Stay tuned here for some more specific project, people and resource links that turned up along the way.

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African Youth Conference

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

The Strategic Intelligence Conference is a “meeting of minds” among youths between the ages of 17-27 scheduled for 1st and 2nd October, 2005 in Lagos. The theme for the conference is “ INVENTING THE FUTURE OF AFRICA”. The conference is hosted by Achievers Consortium International , a purpose-based youth movement aimed at raising the next generation of young leaders who will change the face of Africa and impact the world.

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Help Somebody

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

This via The Philanthropic Enterprise email group:

The July 4 WASHINGTON POST had an obituary by Joe Holley of Thomas Cannon, the Richmond, Virginia postal worker who gave away $150,000 furing his lifetime even though he never made more than $20,000 a year. I thought this paragraph was of interest:

“Mr. Cannon made it known that he was opposed to a foundation carrying on his philanthropy after his death, since a foundation would require a bureaucracy and reams of paperwork. Nor did he want his name attached to anything. What he wanted in his honor and memory, he told the (Richmond) TIMES-DISPATCH, was simple: ‘Help somebody.'”

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Why sCNN Matters: London

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

The BBC is posting comments from ordinary individuals, following the revelation that the London bombers last week were most likely British, young and died in their attack. Here is what I submitted for posting:

Somebody mentioned Timothy McVeigh earlier. Think also Columbine and other youth rampages in the USA. Religion and nationality are only the circumstances, the veil. The root problem is that many many young people can’t think of any way to make a difference in this world. This opens them to the possibility of this disastrous path.

It has never been more important for all people to discover their own unique and powerful capacities for making good things happen in this world. Thinking about the events of last week has renewed my sense that sCNN matters, as one small drop in a rising and essential tide of “little individuals” initiating small changes that make a big difference.

Youth are as ripe for good as for bad, and I’m more interested than ever in where we are turning that potential to the good. This shift of emphasis, from religions and nationalities to youth and direction, opens new space for positive movement.

For the last nine months, and for at least one more week going forward, sCNN publishes from London, UK.

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Resource Network: Social Edge

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

Social Edge is a program of the Skoll Foundation that was inspired by Jeff Skoll’s commitment to connecting people with shared passions. The site launched in June 2003 with the mission to:

1. Connect social entrepreneurs, their partners and allies to discuss cutting-edge issues shaping the field
2. Foster frank dialogue, mutual respect and a sense of community among all in the sector
3. Promote learning from the best, promising and disastrous practices

Social Edge has become a site where social entrepreneurs, nonprofit professionals, philanthropists and other practitioners of the social sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources. The site strikes a balance between the visionary and the practical, with its spirited discussions and online workshops and features. Social Edge remains committed to fostering frank dialogue, building mutual respect and creating a sense of community among those in the social sector.

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Bracelets for Sudan

Originally posted to sCNN – the smallChangeNewsNetwork

This from Julie Caldwell of Emerging Futures Foundation…

My friend Chirstina is working on the Life in Africa in Sudan to help stop genocide and provide jobs and support for victims and survivors of the genocide.

Currently, they are auctioning off hand-made beautiful bracelets at eBay. The funds go directly to the Sudan people, the artists and the project.

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