Community Blog

In the coming months, we will be aggregating some of the best posts from North America’s social tech leaders.

2013: Help us find a U.S. host

During the recent community renewal process we unearthed a lot of passion and love for Hollyhock, but also a strong desire to try a more accessible, U.S.-based wilderness location. We're committed to doing just that in 2013. (If you haven't heard, Web of Change 2012 is on at Hollyhock!)

Community Renewal Report

Thank you to everyone who has participated in our recent community driven renewal process, whether by voting in the online poll, attending one of our consultations, or meeting with
me or others from the transition council. We've engaged at least 150 members, many who have expressed passionate, heart-felt opinions about our future. A success in anyone's books.

18 questions on the future of Web of Change

For those of you following along, over the last three months we've been running a unique community driven consultation process to co-create the future of Web of Change programs and institution. This fall we created a new "transition council", recruited some key process advisors, and have directly engaged nearly 80 of you via a series of activities which included an open session at WOC 2011, two community conference calls, local meetings in major WOC cities, and multiple smaller scale lunches, meetings, email submissions, and phone calls. 

Making the Case for Change

Web of Change founder Jason Mogus

Web of Change has grown to the point where the expectations on quality, on community engagement, on everything we do are very high. This is a good thing! But it's clear that the largely volunteer model we've relied on to pull of our signature event is unsustainable.

Here's where we stand as we look to the future:

Reflections on Web of Change 2011 and Hollyhock

Web of Change happens at a pretty special place each year, Hollyhock — Canada's premier lifelong learning center — on Cortes Island in British Columbia. A remote yet intimate setting, the timber-framed lodges perched on the edge of the Pacific ocean amid the lush temperate rainforest provide a space that nurtures meaningful connections and deep personal discovery.

While at Web of Change 2011, Hollyhock videographers grabbed two of our most fearless leaders and captured their thoughts on why Web of Change and why at Hollyhock.

Engagement at Web of Change 2011

Engagement was a big part of this year's agenda at Web of Change. A great video from two-time Web of Changer Charles Tsai gets to the heart of some of the deep thinking on engagement that happened at Hollyhock last weekend:

Well that was pretty awesome

photo credit: C. M. Samala

Wow. What an edifying, enlightening, inspiring experience. Web of Change is a unique little bit of magic that only works if everyone involved brings their best and then some; 100 digital leaders did just that, magic happened, and we can't wait to see what emerges from the WOC11 elixir. Kudos and gratitude all around.

As we transition back to the real world, a couple right-away things to keep top of mind:

Interact with the Agenda: Impact

Here's a little light reading for the trip.

The innovative agenda for WOC11 is grounded in conversations about the big themes in our space. You can read the entire agenda outline here.

In the community spirit of Web of Change, we're seeding these conversations now, (right!) before the event begins, and with members of our community who can't make it to Hollyhock this year (we miss you).

Last but not least: Impact. Here's what the Fellows had to say:

Interact with the Agenda: Rethinking Audience

The innovative agenda for WOC11 is grounded in conversations about the big themes in our space. You can read the entire agenda outline here.

In the community spirit of Web of Change, we're seeding these conversations now, before the event begins, and with members of our community who can't make it to Hollyhock this year.

This week's topic: Rethinking Audience. Here's what the Fellows had to say:

Interact with the Agenda: Access

The innovative agenda for WOC11 is grounded in conversations about the big themes in our space. You can read the entire agenda outline here.

In the community spirit of Web of Change, we're seeding these conversations now, before the event begins, and with members of our community who can't make it to Hollyhock this year.

This week's topic: Access. Here's what the Fellows had to say:

Interact with the Agenda: Engagement Deep Dive

Agenda Anchor Sam Dorman developed an innovative agenda for WOC11, grounded in conversations about the big themes in our space. Read the entire agenda outline here.

In the community spirit of Web of Change, we want to start having these conversations now, before the event begins, and with members of our community who can't make it to Hollyhock this year.

This week's topic: Engagement. Here's what the Fellows had to say:

Meet Joaquin Guerra: Web of Change 2011 Fellow

Joaquin Guerra is the Director of New Organizing for the Campaign for Community Change. He previously served as the Campaign Director for Presente.org, where he managed campaigns that use the Internet to give their members ongoing opportunities strengthen the political voice of the Latino community, on the issues they care about.

Interact with the Agenda: Storytelling Deep Dive

Agenda Anchor Sam Dorman developed an innovative agenda for WOC11, grounded in conversations about the big themes in our space. Read the entire agenda outline here.

In the community spirit of Web of Change, we want to start having these conversations now, before the event begins, and with members of our community who can't make it to Hollyhock this year.

WOC 2011 Fellow: Rashad Robinson

Rashad Robinson serves as Executive Director of Color of Change, having joined the organization in May 2011. For well over a decade, Robinson has helped to mobilize communities across the country to create more inclusive cultural and political institutions. A recogniz

ed expert on how popular culture impacts American attitudes and values, he has served as a thought leader, widely sought-out speaker, strategist and leader on holding public figures accountable and utilizing media to shift public opinion concerning progressive and civil rights issues. He has appeared in hundred of news stories, interviews, and political discussions through outlets such as ABC, BET, CNN, MSNBC, OWN, The New York Times, Fast Company, and NPR.

Juan Rodriguez: WOC 2011 Fellow

Juan Rodriguez was a displaced, undocumented immigrant from the age of 1, first to Venezuela, and ultimately to the United States where he has worked as organizer and advocate for minority, low-income youth who have been pushed out of their homelands and raised in the United States.

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