Movement Builders

Peter asks,

• What does it mean to build a movement of substance and meaning around a critical social issue?
• What are the strategies for change that have proven effective?
• What are the lessons learned in collaborative efforts?
• How has advocacy changed in an era of the increasing use of technology-driven networks?

Marty Kearns' Network Centric Advocacy and his Greenmedia Toolshed might be places to look.  Marty has recently addressed the  Momentum funders network.  Tracy Gary in a personal communication afterward suggested that online organizing is partly a generational issue. Those in their fifties and older are not necessarily living online; those in their teens and twenties are.  Developing networks face to face involves so much travel. The potential for movement development is highest and most efficicient, it seems to me, when people can meet face to face, and keep the conversation going by email, list serv, forums and blogs. Getting critical mass for such conversations is a project unto itself - think of convening a group and preparing for it in advance with an appropriate online strategy so that the energy does not ebb when the convening ends.

Honestly, having blogged giving for several years, the key is in having at least 5-10 people blog back. (Currently, I can count on one or two.) Blogging alone is demoralizing. Getting to critical mass, with savvy contributors is hard. Think of this blog. Think of all who know Peter. Hundreds if not thousands of significant people who could make a real difference, but who are too busy, too important, or whatever else to meet online to define an open forum.

Putting the question right back to you, Peter - why don't you blog? Or participate in some other online forum? And why don't your influential friends from within the philanthropic community? What would it take to get 30-50 online and interacting for all the world to see. That would be part of what The World I Want would be like. We would hear the hum of important voices in informal conversation, one that we might be invited to join, not simply observe and applaud.

Comments

[Michael]

Has Marty been here?

[Gerry]

I haven't seen any comments recently. Maybe one of us should give him a poke.

[Phil]

Marty may not have been here, but he has been to Gifthub and he and I have corresponded and phoned one another from time to time.

[Mark Brannum]

I am interested in your organization please send me information to:

Mark K. Brannum
P.O. Box 20044
Brooklyn, NY 11202

[Phil]

I am just a guy with a blog, Mark. I will drop you an email and see if I can be of any use to you.