BeNeighbors.org
Nearest neighbor networking that works by empowering emergent leadership rather than exhausting or requiring a maven upfront.
About You
About You
First Name
Steven
Last Name
Clift
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
E-Democracy.org
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, MN, Hennepin County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, MN, Hennepin County
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
How long has your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
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Innovation
Entry Form title
BeNeighbors.org
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Idea (you're poised to launch)
How long have you been in operation?
THE NEED: Describe the need for your solution and the size/dynamic of the community (ies) you will engage
Millions who would connect with their nearest neighbors online don't have the opportunity because no technology "maven" has created an online group on their block or in their building.
THE SOLUTION: Please explain what your solution offers and how it is innovative. How will you put your solution into the hands of users or beneficiaries? Be specific!
BeNeighbors.org would dynamically connect you to your nearest neighbors on the site for private exchange. Be "listed" to the 25 to 100 closest people to you and block those you want (like that overly snoopy neighbor). Trade messages (I was broken into last night, did anyone see anything).
This idea requires critical mass recruiting. It will only work by leveraging our existing "inclusion" outreach experience which includes public online neighborhood forums in low income, high immigrant areas - see http://e-democracy.org/inclusion
THE MODEL: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference through use of information technology and media
Neighbors who know their neighbors help each other. Open communication is the first step and the Internet is an awesome ice breaker to get you beyond the nearest few homes around you where the back fence still reigns supreme.
THE MARKETPLACE: Who are your peers and competitors? What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Google+ has public messages near you. People do not want to be that exposed nor is the information channeled for "community building." Facebook could implement this idea, but without volunteer capacity built in to mediate abuse via a non-profit social enterprise I doubt they would as they have focused connecting people to those they already know. There are a number of commercial entrants from OhSoWe to Hey Neighbor, our key innovation is the dynamic neighbors circle of communication. We will support emergent leadership and partner with neighborhood associations, small neighborhood press, and even local governments. We will potentially generate sponsorship revenue to share rather than extract advertising income out of local communities.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
FOUNDING STORY: We want to hear about your “Aha!” moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution’s potential to change the world.
In 1994 we figured out two-way online communities based on geography - we required real names a decade before Facebook and limited people similar to Twitter to two posts a day (rather than a character limit). Going "dynamic" with leader not required to serve a geographic space, yet supportive of emergent leadership is the next radical step. We've figured out the next idea that doesn't sacrifice quality for insane partisan vitriol we see on online news sites.
Specify both the depth and scale of your solution’s social impact to date
BeNeighbors is the next generation idea. So zippo on depth other than an online working group and couple hackathons working on the specification.
What is your projected impact within the next 1-5 years? Is your idea replicable? If so, how?
It could serve millions, but first it needs to serve over 50% of households in some test areas. The idea is designed to be replicated at the core:http://e-democracy.org/beneighbors/beneighborsonepager.pdf
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and mark growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Launch pilot
Six-Month Tasks
Task 1
Draft specification
Task 2
Host hackathon, secure lead developer (hey Google engineers)
Task 3
Build pilot site
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Pilot neighborhood with 1,000 users.
12-Month Tasks
Task 1
ID target neighborhood - likely the existing 20% of households on our current local net here: http://e-democracy.org/se
Task 2
Test private messaging among nearest neighbors - how do people use it compared to public neighbors forums
Task 3
Test door to door outreach techniques to generate the largest percentage of online neighbors in a mixed income area ever
How many people have been impacted by your project?
More than 10,000
How many people could be impacted by your project in the next three years?
More than 10,000
Sustainability
Explain how your company, program, service or product is structured
Non-profit
What barriers have hindered the success of your project to date? How do you plan to overcome these and other challenges as you grow your solution?
Seed capital for this speculative idea. Get some. Inspire volunteer developers to assist, but pay a coordinator.
How do you see the information-technology and media sectors shifting over the next decade? How will your solution adapt to and/or drive that changing environment?
Continuous diffusion. However in our field, the excess commercial optimism will subside the the volunteer capacity we can inspire will make our solution the lowest cost around.
Failure is not always an option. If your solution fails to gain traction in the next two years, what other applications of the idea could you explore?
We have that foundation in place.
Expand on your selections, explaining how you will sustain funding
Sponsorship - local businesses will be able to public radio style sponsor the 1000 closest people nearest their business. We will not disclose personal/address information to sponsors.
Tell us about your partnerships
CityCamp, working with OpenPlans.org on DemocracyMap, etc.
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section?
Significant talent required - many recruit via existing online group - need lead developer to get the wheels in motion.
Changemakers is a collaborative and supportive space. Please specify any community resources you would need to grow and sustain your initiative. Select all that apply
Investment, Human resources or talent, Marketing or media, Research or information, Collaboration or networking.
Specify any resources you might offer to support other initiatives. Select all that apply
Research or information, Collaboration or networking, Mentorship.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren’t specified within the list
Summary
Define your company, program, service or product in 1-2 short sentences
We build awesome neighborhoods and communities online.
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences
Nearest neighbor networking that works by empowering emergent leadership rather than exhausting or requiring a maven upfront.
 | 34 weeks agoMatías Battocchia said: Hello Steven, Nice project. As I was reading it, this curious initiative I know came to my mind: http://www.everyblock.com. Check it ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 36 weeks agoKamran Iqbal said: Really interesting idea, its something which you should materialize. Its indeed a need of time. Brilliant work! Great brain! ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 36 weeks agoSteven Clift updated this Competition Entry. |
| 36 weeks agoSteven Clift submitted this idea. |
