Do me a quick favour. Take a moment and think of the exact opposite of a traditional Web portal — conjure up something like AOL or, in the non-profit space, something like TechSoup — and then think of the opposite and tell me what comes to mind? If you come up with something concrete, pop your thoughts in the comments below.  read more »

Marc Fest (Director of Communications at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation) asked me to pass this on:

The Knight News Challenge contest awards $5 million for innovative media ideas, however the October 15 application deadline is quickly approaching. The streamlined application takes less than 20 minutes. Anybody worldwide has a chance to win. For more information and to apply visit www.newschallenge.org.

The Knight News Challenge is one of the more innovative funding models that I referenced recently in a post about changing technology funding practices. Their approach to granting — both the application process and the fast, iterative funding cycles — is having a catalyzing effect, and a noticeable impact, on the shape of local news around the world.

If you’re involved with a citizen or local media project: get that pencil sharpened and start writing.

Freshly back from the biggest Web of Change event ever, I’m excited to get some thoughts out of my head and into the noosphere.

This year it was my great pleasure to facilitate the ever-popular “speed geek” (think speed dating). With almost 100 people in the room, the energy and excitement was palpable. And ten passionate presenters managed to deliver their four-minute demos to ten small groups that rotated around the room. Undoubtedly, it was the most information packed 55 minutes of the entire event.  read more »

Have you ever asked yourself the question: Just how portable is my work? Before heading out last week — the first leg of a four-week, west-coast journey with Melanie — I asked that question repeatedly with increasing anxiety and trepidation. Now that I’ve safely landed in a workers’ paradise in downtown Vancouver, I can honesty answer that question and say: yep, my work is pretty portable. read more »

Over the last couple of weeks, I was thinking a lot about “network leadership,” and the role of innovative technology, and how it all becomes part of a movement here in Canada that could change the field of innovation. The last burning question for me is: How can Canadian grant makers play a bigger role in catalyzing the necessary networks, and helping innovators build the necessary relationships?

Lots has already been said about the opportunities for a more holistic approach to financing non-profit technology initiatives. So, when it comes time to explore new ways of financing social innovation, I hope that foundations and grant makers will invest some time to integrate the “old” ideas too. But, when I return to the question “how can Canadian grant makers play a bigger role in ensuring that technology projects are successful and sustainable,” I always come back to the same conclusion: the funding model needs to be innovative too. read more »

A couple of months ago I got to share my feelings about “digital editions” with a room full of unsuspecting publishers at the (first ever) MagNet conference in Toronto. The title of the session was Digital Editions: New Medium for an Old Magazine? and, in preparation for the session, I really had to do some research. The thing is that the session title and description got handed to us presenters (a complaint I heard across the board from other presenters) and we had to do our best. In my case, doing the research helped me to build a more complete argument for why I feel digital editions — in the traditional meaning of the term — just aren’t a good investment for publishers. Here’s why… read more »

One of the questions that I’ve struggled with over the last couple of years is: What systemic changes are necessary to help catalyze innovation around social technology? I came back to this question the other week as the conversation swayed toward the opportunity for progressive organizations — and social innovators — to integrate social software, social networks, and the ideas of Web 2.0 into their work. I think for most of us who work in the non-profit technology space, the sparkle is off the Web 2.0 starburst, as we see organizations struggle to fully “get” what this new technology movement is all about.

What I do think is cool about Web 2.0 — especially when it comes to non-profit organizations and social innovators — is the operational style (business model if you must). Having a usable, interactive, data-exposing, read/write Web site is, in my opinion, more a function of a new approach to problem solving than a tectonic shift in the way the underlying technology works. read more »

Photo of Kirsten Jordan (Taking IT Global) and Andres Dussan (Askoka) by Michael Lewkowitz

How often have you sought to answer questions like “how can new technologies support social change that has impact, durability and scale?” or “is it possible to foster collaboration, sharing, and even co-development of technology solutions rather than everyone building their own or working in isolation?” Well, last week, I was surprised to find myself in a room with some of Canada’s brightest minds when it comes to social innovation and social technology (that is: technology in support of social innovation). We gathered early in the morning on July 26th at MaRS to do some brainstorming on how best to support innovative organizations to leverage appropriate technology, execute technology projects successfully, and how to build capacity for ongoing innovation and sustainable technology operations. read more »

A certain amount of my work — more than none, but less than all — is dedicated to helping organizations explore the deeper questions of organizational strategy. Sure, they contacted me because they had a technology initiative in mind, or wanted some help with improving their online activities — but, more often than not, I come back to the fundamental realization that technology can’t solve inherently human problems.  read more »

Two Fridays ago, I spent the day being inspired by some of Toronto’s most innovative business models. (Yeah, I know, I need to get into the habit of documenting these things sooner; bad blogger.) The range was incredible: It included everything from the broad — like new approaches in incubating social research and new financing models for the social economy — to the local, including efforts to reduce our e-waste problems and to bring the sweet taste of natural honey — honey that helps to improve people’s lives in Africa — to our markets here in Toronto. This room full of world-changing ideas was brought together by Tonya Surman and her team at the Centre for Social Innovation and the day was expertly facilitated by Mark Surman.  read more »