It's a Small World AND a Big Big World

On Saturday, I attended the Charlotte Observer Social Media Conference at Queens University. I saw the sign-up information in the paper on Monday, December 21, and for $30 decided I could take a chance that I would be free and signed up. I'm glad I did--the conference was designed for 200 people--they had OVER 200 in attendance and another 180 on the waiting list. The conference filled up on the first day!

Just to give you a quick summary, the conference went from 9:30-3:30 and was designed for everyone from beginners to regulars users of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. However, I spoke with Jen Rothacker, the organizer (and also the manager and writer for MomsCharlotte.com, owned by the Observer), and she said that the vast majority of people in attendance were newbies to social media. Frankly, if they are reading about the event in a true newsPAPER, that's not a big surprise. I thought the conference was great and well worth attending; I spotted locally famous journalists in the audience along with the rest of us plebians.

I was primarily interested in learning how nonprofits can use social media to reach more people. This was not specifically addressed. However, I had several takeaways, including websites that enhance your use of the internet (ning.com, slideshare.net, bit.ly... I thought foursquare was cool, but sadly, people will always be able to find ME one of three places: at home, at the kids' school, at the grocery store). (If you are also interested in using social media for nonprofits, I recommend following Beth Kanter on as many social media platforms as possible.)

My most valuable takeaway, however, was the awareness of many communities that are represented in the form of community blogs and websites, and the opportunities to learn about the world around us through different lenses. Thanks to a grant from the innovative Knight Foundation, the Observer has partnered with 5 "hyperlocal" online community partners to expand its neighborhood coverage. Click here to link to the Observer article with all the details about the partnership.

I plan to visit these partner websites often this year, checking out what's making the headlines in the suburbs and the African-American community in Charlotte. It's just possible that the headlines won't be the same as they are in my Facebook community.

To Do: Stretch the boundaries of your world without moving a muscle. Look into hyperlocal blogs and websites that don't address your specific concerns. Visit this website for some inspiration.

Twittering Charlotte

Even though I wish this was some shoestring outfit in Plaza-Midwood, I am still enjoying my Twitter link to "YOLONE," or "Your Local News," which I think is some national site that subdivides into smaller, local sites (does that even make sense?). Somehow this site aggregates information about your city from sources around the web. On the Charlotte YOLONE page right now are links to articles from the Observer, Charlotte Business Journal, Davidson News, and Charlotte Creative Loafing.

I joined Twitter to see what all the fuss was about, and I'm still not quite sure. Maybe I'm just not hip enough. I suppose if I had an "app phone" that let me see tweets right away I'd be more interested. Most tweets that are interesting are links to a web page, not the freestanding ones. Very few people are as witty as they think they are (yours truly included).

YOLONE and Natalie English, the senior vice-president of public policy at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce (and therefore, Charlotte's lobbyist in Raleigh)--she Twitters as cltlobbyist--are the ones I have found who provide the most interesting local news. I also follow Tommy Tomlinson and Jeff Elder, two names who should be familiar to you from the Charlotte Observer (although Elder is no longer there), and the usual suspects like WFAE. If anyone can recommend other good local sources, I 'd love to hear them.

To Do: Share your Twitter sources, and other lesser-known ways to find out information about Charlotte and the surrounding region.

Whatever It Takes

One of the most challenging issues facing Charlotte (and the rest of the United States) is the vast disparity between the "haves" and the "have-nots." Here are a few organizations and people who are trying new and different approaches.

• I had never heard of the Harlem Children's Zone, but I recently had lunch with someone who had attended the HCZ conference and now it pops up everywhere I turn. Click here to visit the HCZ web site. The HCZ has a cradle-to-graduation approach to education, including "Baby College" for new mothers, a charter school, after school programs, paying for grades, and outreach counselors who literally go door-to-door to get everyone involved. The overarching principle is that if the majority of the neighborhood buys into the program, everyone will benefit. I am curious to read more about it, especially with 50% of CMS students receiving free or reduced-price lunches. What DOES it take to bring a person out of poverty? I have just started reading a book about the Harlem Children's Zone and its founder, Geoffrey Canada. Whatever It Takes is written by Paul Tough, a writer for the New York Times. Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education (MeckEd) will be hosting a book discussion on this book on January 15. Email Spierce@mecked.org for more information and to RSVP. You can also go to the MeckEd website events page and scroll down to the last book discussion on "Whatever It Takes"; related reading matter is listed.
• On a related topic, I also recommend "Class Matters," a program from the Urban Ministry Center, to anyone interested in making a difference. Led by Paul Hanneman and Wanda Anderson, this class helps you understand how your viewpoint may not be the same as someone from a different background. You can contact Paul Hanneman at the Urban Ministry Center to find out how to schedule the class for your organization (or to find out if there is an upcoming class that you can join).
• I also recently read an article in the New York Times about microfinancing. In addition to the well-known Kiva, the piece referenced a nonprofit called Modest Needs that helps you provide one-time grants to people in the United States who need help paying a bill, getting training to return to work, etc. It also allows you to help a small non-profit pay a bill and get a solid footing so it can prove itself to bigger funders.
  

To Do: Read Whatever It Takes. Attend "Class Matters." What do YOU think it takes?