I think my thoughts are finally sifted enough to post this, so here I go.
My project loosely defined:
Goal: To strengthen local community (health, wealth, and happiness) via a network and database, connecting assets and needs of businesses, organizations and individuals.
AKA - Create a 21st century infrastructure (digital environment) with an early 20th century front porch feel.
The City of Ferndale is willing to be the test subject for this project. If it proves to be an effective method, the idea would be to reproduce in other cities.
Objectives:
Create a city-wide network
- an online database of human and physical capital assets and needs
- a physical hub of interaction for facilitation; including a coordinator (incubator potentially)
Assess supply and demand
- identify skill sets where industry could be developed
- create economies of scale
- Identify strengths to capitalize on
Leverage the identified assets
- connect skill to need
- share assets = save money
- use mentor/apprenticeship model to inform youth and cut cost for budding biz
Fulfill identified needs
- create connections outside of network where needed
- decrease unemployment by connecting workers and jobs
Develop relationships
- decrease risks by providing support network
- increase biz retention by improved owner relations
Identify common goal of community
- intellectual buy-in
Questions:
- Is this a crazy socialist unrealistic idea?
- What is an individuals motivation to participate?
- How is capacity created?
- What about the population that "doesn't need help"?
- How do you prevent isolation from computer inept? Low-income?
- Is software too expensive to create a tailored program?
- Can user data be updated accurately and timely by user?
- What information is needed?
- How has this fared in prior attempts? - Michelle researching
- What will foster longevity with the program?
- How do we quantify the value to show effect?
OK, that is a lot of questions. Mainly, I need to brainstorm whether this is a realistic project or not? If not, how can it be adapted to be more effective? How is it facilitated with benefits outweighing costs?
Also, on a more practical level, when should we meet?
ReplyDeleteWish blogger would let us edit comments - this is just a repeat post ;-)
ReplyDeleteFirst I would say yes it's realistic! Better to begin with a big and broad vision and then bring it down to a place where it fits within the world vs. starting the other way around (what most people do, hence the total dysfunction of most of our systems and organizations)
Some questions I have are, how do you see the Time Bank fitting within this structure? I know it is, it just wasn't mentioned above and I'm thinking back to the work we did with Lawrence Tech and the potential youth program piece we began developing, that could engage students with community members without basic computer skills or access, who could use the capacity of the Time Bank as a support and networking system. We also want to make sure that the Time Bank isn't seen as merely something people use when they are strapped financially (though it can help them) but that it is seen as a community building engine (what people really are wanting) and a key feature of "the Mesh" (the Sharing Society) and the Hyper-Social Organization - going back to articles that Jim posted when this blog was first started. There are some very good Digital Media and Literacy pieces that could fit with this and address the framing of how this works; think kids leading it and engaging people in Ferndale in real-time problem solving and interaction with the Time Bank - the kiosk Emily developed fits within this.
I think for the larger digital infrastructure, we will have to focus on that in the Design Charrette (connecting it to Time Bank though) and also consider the new partnerships developed between you and the City. Is there an agreement from City of Ferndale to go forward on this? Do you have an MOU?
I also think that a mapping of potential partnerships with individual entrepreneurs/artists etc. and organizations (I3, DIY Fest etc.) and also a list similar to the one we began at Rivertown Lofts, just to know what people do and their backgrounds (working from your many relationships and your broad understanding of who and what is in Ferndale) will be helpful to begin.
Hi Michelle: (Good Stuff, This!)
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
- Is this a crazy socialist unrealistic idea? (NO! Data acquisition provides fertile-ground for as yet unrealized "possibilities-thinking.")
- What is an individuals motivation to participate? (Depends on ones ability to frame the conversation in a compelling, open-sourced participatory methodology that addresses their curiosity while inviting their personal contribution to something larger then themselves concluding in various personally meaningful outcomes)
- How is capacity created? (The best capacity-building initiatives are created by design which are directly-tied to widely shared resonating intentions ...get that right and everything else will follow accordingly in an organic fashion...get that wrong and the real tipping-point capacity fails to emerge)
- What about the population that "doesn't need help"? (In the World we encounter today I doubt this exists)
- How do you prevent isolation from computer inept? Low-income? (We design with this in mind and ameliorate this possibility)
- Is software too expensive to create a tailored program? (No! In fact it may be cheap, free or facilitated in some Web 2.o vehicle. The Design will actually dictate those choices)
- Can user data be updated accurately and timely by user? (Great Question! User-friendliness is an overused buzzword and in fact usually isn't. Having said that one would be wise indeed to anticipate these issues in their design while building solutions addressing these possibilities sometimes called bullet-proofing / and even that may not be sufficient for perfection / hence the need for ongoing educational facilitated outreach)
- What information is needed? (Too numerous for commenting here...best left to real-time Design Charrette...and bring lots of stickies (;<)
- How has this fared in prior attempts? - Michelle researching (Will be looking forward to becoming informed!)
- What will foster longevity with the program? (Early small-wins and successes, low hanging fruit, that build-capacities towards the longer-term end-games)
- How do we quantify the value to show effect? (The various VALUES identification, articulation and subsequent quantification one might aspire too in this work is probably it's most IMPORTANT element and I would suggest is best left to our Design Charrette in which we can get many focused-viewpoints in real-time)
Sorry I can't comment more. I'm up north for a funeral and probably won't be on my computer much until Sunday evening.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to schedule a charrette though for next week. Availability:
Tuesday - morning or early afternoon anytime (I have class at 5)
Wednesday - 9am
Thursday - before or after LODC?
Or do we need to look into the following week?
Thanks !
I'm sorry to hear that Michelle, I hope that you are having a nice and healing time with your family.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine that Wednesday at 9 will be the time, if for next week and if it is still open with everyone else. Tuesdays are out with Jim, and since this meeting will require all of our energy and focus, trying to do this the same day as Lofts will probably be too much.
Where should we meet? Library has private rooms we could use. Does I3 have private space? Are we still going to try to do an informal tour afterwards?
Would we want to include Pleasant Ridge in this in any fashion? I am thinking on how Time Bank is for both, however is seen primarily as a Ferndale execution. Also, that the two cities are unavoidably connected in so many ways that it might make sense, however I don't know if it takes away from the Ferndale Change by Design (even though what we are going for is inclusion from a much wider network of collaborators the world over) And PR definitely has its own culture of separation from Ferndale to consider. Maybe they might need their own at some point? There are so many possibilities to consider, knowing some of the people living there that it seems like something worthwhile to consider from both angles. Either way, I could engage the right people for this kind of execution should it ever emerge in our design strategy (forward thinking, involved and connected residents that I know there) that I believe would be intellectually bought-in (though I'm always surprised at this so I cannot say for sure ;-)
ReplyDeleteIs Wednesday going to work? I could get a room at the library. Otherwise, I've asked the city if they have space. I should hear back tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI3 is usually pretty quiet during the day. Most of the members have day jobs. To get a better idea of the space it might be best to tour during the evening or weekend. If timing is better during the day, I can ask if someone will be around.
Timebanking would be incorporated into the network system. It will have to be handled delicately as to not jeopardize the tax free nature of timebanking.
Regarding Pleasant Ridge, this is a city based project and therefore will be limited to Ferndale. The network will definitely include outside resources, PR will be unavoidably connected. Also, the hope is to make Ferndale a beta city and recreate in other cities if the desired outcome is created.
Thank you for all the comments!
Team:
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I'm unavailable on Wednesday (Lynne's off). Friday is available if we can make that work. Otherwise I suggest next week at John's when he returns from Georgetown.
I thought I already replied to this but it doesn't look like it posted.
ReplyDeleteFriday I'll be working at Paper Street. We can maybe do it there. Otherwise, what time next week?
Thanks!