Using Social Media to Build Network

I've used this picture before to illustrate how small and insignificant if feel as I think about how big the world is and how complex the problems are that we're all dealing with.

I believed that the world changed dramatically with the Internet because of the ways it enables people from different places to connect, share ideas, and as Egypt has just demonstrated, change government structures.

However, there are many challenges to overcome. This blog shows five major technology hurdles that need to be solved.

I tried to post a comment, but the site did not seem to be working, so I decided to share my comment here.

Solving these five problems would help, but are any of you following examples of how these tools are being used to create networks of purpose. By that I mean people who work together to solve a common problem that is complex and may take many years to solve. For example, visit http://www.tutormentorexchange.net where you can see maps of Chicago showing all of the poverty regions. You can see graphics showing "school to work" which is a 20 year process for kids starting 1st grade today. You can see maps of the information people can learn from to support their own involvement.

Keeping this example in mind, apply it to what's happening in Egypt. Social media was used to bring a crowd together to bring change in the government, but can anyone point to a place on the web where people are mapping a 20-50 year process that would bring true change to the lives of poor people living in Egypt?

Harnessing the tools described in this blog is one step toward this goal, but working together to innovate and map solutions, then draw people and resources together on an on-going -- and dramatically growing -- basis to apply those solutions, still is a problem to be solved.

If you want to help the Tutor/Mentor Connection and Cabrini Connections build better understanding of the challenges facing inner city kids and the opportunities that mentor-rich programs offer, join us on the Tutor/Mentor Connection forum and help us the same way that other interns and volunteers are already involved.

Or use your wealth the way the Koch Brothers are to finance the work we're doing.