Can technology as service channel be used to effect change?
By Leslie Poston
The national inclination these days seems to be leaning toward service, social change and doing things that are for the overall social good. It helps that social media and new technology have made it incredibly easy to give money and find ways to give time to your favorite causes.
Obama has made it a point of his new presidency to promote social causes and community spirit, even before he takes office tomorrow. One of the ideas he has been spreading recently is that of using holidays as days of service instead of just days off. I like this idea quite a bit, especially on holidays named after people known for their service to society, like Martin Luther King, Jr.
How do you find these service opportunities? One way is to be active on social networks like FaceBook or Twitter. Many causes have fan pages and groups there that you can join to get updates on events and what they need. Another is through the causes actual web site. In the case of the Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service being promoted by the incoming administration and folks on Twitter, there is a whole Web site dedicated to finding service opportunities for the day near you.
I’ve heard rumblings on various social networks from people who don’t like the incoming administration’s idea of using a valuable day off for service to others, or who don’t like the idea of an administration recommending we use our time to help others. On one hand, it can seem intrusive, but really, the last few years we’ve been advised to “shop for our country.” I’m inclined to think this is better. I do understand in this hectic world not wanting to give up a precious day off, but am inclined to think it’s worth it. Helping our fellow man will only work to better us all in the long run.
I see this as part of Obama’s overall technology plan, really. This is one facet of how he plans to bring technology to all of us, by making it part of not only how we work, but how live and give. If sites like Twitter and FaceBook can connect us, imagine what can happen if we use those technologies to take those connections to the street? Immense national power to effect change using technology as a tool.
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