Photo by Flickr user prometheusradio

Two weekends ago I was lucky enough to get to Detroit for the 2010 U.S. Social Forum. The USSF is a gathering place for more than ten thousand activists & organizers from all over the country to meet and learn from from each other - and attempt to chart a course forward for the many U.S. social movements represented there.

The USSF started as a result of the first World Social Forum in 2001, which was itself set up to be a counter-balance to the elite-centric World Economic Forum. 2010 was USSF's second incarnation (the first was in 2007 in Detroit).

Having been to both U.S. Social Forums, there are quite a few differences, though all pointing in a positive direction. Here are three: more

There’s an obvious appeal to having a large email list: you have the ability to reach many people with one click. But recently I’ve begun questioning the value of large email lists, and the effectiveness of bulk email in general, specifically for the types of clients EchoDitto works with – non-profits, progressives, NGO’s, etc. more

Cross posted from Care2's Frogloop

Going to the U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen (COP15) was the closest I've come to a good strong punch in the gut -- the type that makes you question much of what you once believed to be true. But it was also one of the best wake-up calls I could have asked for. more

Things are already gearing up for SXSW 2010. We've submitted four panel ideas to SXSW and made it through to the Panel Picking round. Now it's up to a public vote to help determine if these topics make it or not.

Take a look at the conversations we'd like to have at SXSW 2010, then please toss a vote over to these panel proposals: more

This afternoon I was lucky enough to attend a lunch conference at the New Organizing Institute with Stephen Geer, Director of Email for the Obama Campaign, and Alexander McCormmach, founding member of the New Media analytics team on the Obama Campaign and now the New Media Development and Analytics Lead at DNC/OFA. They were there to discuss campaign e-mail tactics and measurement. more

I was lucky enough to spend yesterday at the Google DC office attending the Mobile Tech 4 Social Change barcamp hosted by MobileActive.org. As is always the case when you get a room full of smart people who do cool things, there was a lot to be learned and many interesting conversations to be had. more

In March I woke up before the sun and left Dulles Airport to make my way to Austin, TX for South by Southwest Interactive. Having not been to the fabled SXSW before, I was pretty excited. I had heard a lot about what SXSW was supposed to be, what was supposed to be awesome, what would suck, events that would be good and others that would disappoint. more

South by Southwest Interactive has evolved into a truly massive event -- with up to twelve simultaneous sessions at a time and scores of official and unofficial parties each night. As most vets will advise, your best bet is simply to ride the wave and explore new ideas since you can't catch it all or meet everyone if you tried.

So, in no particular order, my gross generalizations from this year while it's still fresh: more

Proximity
n. Nearness in place, time, order, occurrence, or relation. more