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See: http://www.ecommons.net http://www.agora-electronique.net ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 12:23:37 -0400 From: Liss Jeffrey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: April 27: Public Space Day/ eCommons-Agora launch Keywords: "For DO-WIRE." Media and Citizen Alert Friday April 26 1 PM eCommons / Agora web site launches Saturday April 27 declared Public Space Day - celebration at Marshall McLuhan Coach House! For many people, the word Internet has come to mean “dot-com bomb” over the last year. The real story is out there, but far less visible. The use of the Internet by ordinary Canadians and community groups has been growing steadily as more and more Canadians use the 'Net ( nearly 60 per cent) for news, business, and social connections. Citizens and communities are using their contacts online to build their learning skills, engage in civic actions, and make their communities better places to live. What’s needed is a public network that will bring the not for profit sector, educational institutions, researchers, cultural workers, and community organizations together in a shared space. With violence in the Middle East escalating and the war in Afghanistan continuing, many Canadians are looking for ways to hold honest, open conversations and make a difference in the world. The need for education and communication has never been greater. A group of researchers, volunteers and open source technical developers, the eCommons/Agora formed a national not for profit community learning network in April 2000 to create that sustainable public space network. Initiated at the byDesign eLab and the McLuhan Program at University of Toronto in 1997, the eCommons/Agora secured a matching pilot grant from HRDC's Office of Learning Technologies to accelerate the idea. The mission is to bridge digital divides by creating a public space network where best and worst practices, tools and ideas can be shared and debated by all sectors of Canadian society. Goals include support for civic engagement, community development and cultural content creation. Now the eCommons/Agora programmers and content producers are releasing their latest platform, featuring a growing database of Canadian public interest resources, search engines to deliver relevant and validated contents, with input forms so that civil society groups can submit their own resources. The NetiZen News service alerts subscribers to practical news for citizens, and constantly updated listings of relevant sources. The Knowledge Zone offers Research reports and discussions on citizen uses of the net. And this is only the beginning. The eCommons/Agora invites volunteers online and offline to join in shaping this grassroots work in progress. Members of the media are invited to come talk to us about public space online. April 26 11 AM - 7 PM At 1 PM the latest release of the eCommons/Agora project will be launched at The McLuhan Coach House, University of Toronto 39a Queen's Park Crescent East (behind the Multicultural History Building -- south of Museum TTC station) With comments from: Rob Mastin, Manager, Office of Learning Technologies, HRDC Dr Liss Jeffrey, founding director, eCommons/Agora, director, McLuhan global research network and the eCommons/Agora team Public Space Day declared! Saturday April 27 (Between Earth Day and May Day, in National Volunteer Week) Join us 11 AM - 11 PM At the Coach House, enjoy live performances, music, a photo gallery, NetiZen News Zine, make an Enso (an image of public space), test drive the web site, join the netcasting, production demonstrations, ….and more… http://www.ecommons.net http://www.agora-electronique.net The eCommons/Agora project is sponsored in part by Human Resources Development Canada Office of Learning Technologies, Rogers Communications Centre (Ryerson University), and Joel Alleyne and Associates, with technical support from Deepsky.com and Trick Media. Chief cyber architect byDesign eLab. For more information email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Contact us at 416- 596-9533 x 280 eCommons.net -- A vital place in virtual space ------- End of forwarded message ------- ^ ^ ^ ^ Steven L. Clift - W: http://www.publicus.net Minneapolis - - - E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Minnesota - - - - - T: +1.612.822.8667 USA - - - - - - - ICQ: 13789183 *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
