I think that people who have mastered creative uses of technology could have an impact on helping young people (and adults) move from random acts of kindness to strategic, on-going actions of kindness, that have a greater benefit than what might be the outcome of good intentions such as the MTV program.
I wrote a blog about this yesterday. It's at http://tutormentor.blogspot.com. We need all sorts of organizations to be encouraging youth and adults to do service. However, we need a few organizations to create information libraries, and blueprints, so that as people begin to do service they can also learn to apply their service to a process of building a result. Using auto cad, animation, white boards, and forums like the www.digitaldivide.net web site, groups can work together to create visual blueprints that show the many years it takes for a youth in 4th grade to be starting a job, or the many years of help it will take for Tsunami communities to rebuild their lives. Once some people begin putting this information on web sites, then the MTV type publicity becomes strategic, if they link their TV web site to other web sites where people can choose what service they'd like to be involved with. Here's an example of a portal that enables visitors to choose many different streams of service that are important to the Boston community: http://www.tbf.org/indicatorsproject/hubofinnovation/innovation.asp If such innovation wheels were available for every major city, they would serve as connectors between those who get their first taste of service through MTV or high school service-learning programs, and agencies where they are needed to be involved for many years. Dan Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection Chicago, Il. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
