My Blog

Web 2-point-whoa

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:05:15 GMT

Tonight, at dinner, the generations gathered to bless the Internet. Evidently, only paranoid old people with boring secrets not worth protecting are still concerned about privacy. Our children have different boundaries. Example: even when you are not allowed not talk to them while their friends are around, you can text them at any time. For some tweens and teens, it is easier to text us than talk to us. At least we communic8 somehow. Lots of discussion what the biggest Internet risk may be. My opinion: wasting time. Another: making us think that we need to learn how to use a piece of equipment when it may be more important for us to learn how to communicate, cook, sew, replace torn radiator hoses. Another: that technology is separating society, but it is disguised as something that unifies us. When we marvel at technology, are we marvelling at our own ability to learn new things?

Do what you love and the money will follow

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:08:34 GMT

Dear friends and colleagues. As many of you know, in Janaury, I started working with SF Connect, www.SFConnect.org, on digital inclusion events. I am just thrilled to be able to work with highly-motivated volunteers on social justice issues in San Francisco. I am creating lots of heartwarming stories to share with you all. I just wrote an email describing what I do, so I thought you might want to read it, too. Kari ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: K Gray <kehgray@gmail.com> Date: Mar 7, 2007 10:38 AM Subject: Re: please sign me up for next tech connect To: Georgia Wright <GWright@goldengate.org> Thanks for your interest. The best description of the organization is on the SF Connect website, www.SFConnect.org. SF Connect organizes events for volunteers to help other city residents. My program, Tech Connect, works with the City of San Francisco Digital Inclusion Task Force to implement the City's new Digital Inclusion Strategy. The Internet is more and more important to everyday life. Many forms, job applicaitons and information are only available on the Internet. The Digital Inclusion Task Force works to create opportunities for everyone to have access to the resources of the Internet. The strategy identifies these four compnent of successful Internet access: 1. Affordable access to the Internet itself 2. Access to affordable equipment 3. Appropriate and affordable technical support and training 4. Appropriate and engaging content. If you are really interested, you can read about it at http://www.sfgov.org/site/tech_connect_index.asp?id=53143. If people do not have all four components available, they are not likely to use the Internet in their daily lives. So, I work with local organizations, such as afterschool providers or community centers, to identify what barriers may exist for people to access the resources of the Internet. So far, I am working with Booker T. Washington Community Service Center in the Western Addition, Self-Help for the Elderly in Chinatown, Excelsior Middle School, Conard House McAllister in the Tenderloin and the Visitacion Valley Middle School Community Beacon Center. Then we work together to design a meaningful experience for their community. So every event may be different in order to be effective for a specifc group of people. I work with One Economy and Jobs for Youth to promote job search information; City College to promote online citizenship; ESL and GED classes; Wells Fargo to teach about financial literacy and online banking; KQED to develop digital storytelling workshops with recent immigrants; and with ReliaTech, Compumentor, Caminos Pathways Learning Center and Goodwill to promote their computer refurbishment and low-cost computer purchase programs. There are more than 50 organizations who can provide specific information or programs, depending on what a group may be interested in. There are three types of event which seem to be most common: 1. Technology Fairs at which several community organizations and businesses provide information about their services. Our event at Westside Court Housing project was a Technology Fair. 2. Internet Mentoring Sessions at which our trained volunteers sit down and show people what they want to learn. Our events at Conard House McAllister and Excelsior Middle School will be mentoring events. 3. Hands-on workshops at which partners demonstrate a device or software application for a small group of participants. Volunteers help the participants with the hands on demonstrations. Our event in Chinatown was a hands on workshop. Future events may include set and installation of computer labs or upgrading and refubishing old equipment in community centers and schools, but SF Connect needs to identify who or what organization would be responsible for the equipment afterwards. At this point, most SF Connect events are designed to share information, not to install hardware or software, but it may be appropriate for future events.

School Enrollment as Social Action

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:19:05 GMT

After reading the following comments from Sandra Tsing Loh, I realized that my boldest social action has been to send my kids to local public schools. Loh is a NPR commentator and performance artist, has two kids in L.A. Unified schools and has begun blogging about it. Her viewpoint resonates with many of us SFUSD parents. I'm posting a little of it here; link at the end. Sandra Tsing Loh: ..... public education is founded on the same principles as, well. . . as democracy. And we know how tedious that can be. Have you ever been to an city council meeting where EVERYONE gets to speak, or hastily clicked past such a meeting on Cityview Channel 35 or Cableview Channel 94 or whatever that terrifyingly- lit channel is? Accordingly, one of LA Unified's most basic mandates is "equity andaccess." This means proximity to municipal bus lines needs to be considered, homeless parents be not discriminated against, and handouts must always be available in Spanish, Tagalog, Armenian, and Farsi. It means magnet school applications cannot be available online as WELL as at schools and libraries, because that might put at a slight disadvantage parents without computer access, parents without an awareness of the Internet ("El Internet? Que?"), parents whose native language does not even have an alphabet ("Internet-- aeiiee!!! [strange clicking sound]"), or parents without, well, frickin'. . .FINGERS TO TYPE. On the upside, you would not wish these parents NOT to be helped. You can't say you're AGAINST democracy. And it also means the LAUSD owes YOUR kids a free education. http://www.sandrats ingloh.com/ index.php? pr=Scandalously_ Informal# 1

No more non-profits

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 23:00:06 GMT

I would like to suggest that we all stop using the phrase "non-profit" to describe our business. Ours is the only industry that defines itself by what it DOESN't do. The phrase "public benefit organization" describes what we do so much more accurately - and also motivates me better. As a public benefit organization, we offer services that benefit the public. When we raise funds for our work, we are merely suggesting that the public pay us to provide the services which they can't or won't provide themselves. We feed the hungry, house the homeless, protect the environment so that individuals don't have to. If the public values those services, they should pay for them, just like they pay someone else to dispose of their trash, clean their streets and provide electricity to their homes. For too long, people have funded non-profits as if they were charities, rather than public service providers. And the public benefit organizations have appealed for funding as if they were begging. Our services are valuable, our organizations are necessary and we are not charities.

I can change the world in just one day

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 22:08:49 GMT

Now that I have finished serving as Executive Director at Independent Arts & Media, I can stop and think about what I really want to do next. Sure, I have been an event organizer for more than 20 years, but is that what I want to do? This weekend, I recognized that I am good at organizing and producing events that make a difference: fairs and festivals to educate and inspire thousands of people; conferences and summit gatherings to strengthen alliances and work towards common goals; and workshop and training opportunities to share skills and resources. I create events that make a difference to individuals, their organizations and the world. And now I want to help my friends and colleagues create the events that will help to fulfill their mission. I want to introduce artists to Web 2.0 technology and to each other. I want to create opportunities for public school parents to share resources. I want to expand and strengthen public participation in local government. I want to help recent immigrants participate fully in San Francisco schools, politics and decision making. I want to connect to a community through shared experiences. I want to help you produce agenda-driven events. Call me.

Do you want to participate in the 2008 SF int'l arrts festival?

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:25:10 GMT

The organizers are offering to look for funding for you and to help you plan your event or production. Learn more on Thursday at lunch. THIS THURSDAY, July 20 -- Brown Bag Lunch "How to present work at the San Francisco International Arts Festival" Hosted by Independent Arts & Media -- www.artsandmedia.net http://www.artsandmedia.net/cgi-bin/dc/expo/2006/sfiaf_submissions Brown Bag Lunch Thursday July 20, Noon. The Flood Building 870 Market Street, Suite 1185 (@ Powell & Market) To RSVP or for more information call 415-399-9554 or e-mail info@sfiaf.org The San Francisco International Arts Festival is currently looking for artists and presenting partners to participate in the May 2008 Festival. The theme of which is "The Truth in Knowing/Now. Threads in time, place, culture. " Join Independent Arts & Media and SFIAF executive director Andrew Wood to find out about the process for applying to be in the festival either as an artist or a presenting partner. The Festival's curatorial priorities include Bay Area artists involved in international collaborations and also Bay Area artists performing or exhibiting their work in repertory with artists from other countries. Note: You do not need to know and arrange for an international artist to perform on the same bill as you in order to be in the festival. The Festival will arrange that for you. Topics will include * SFIAF An Overview * SFIAF 2008 Theme * SFIAF Timelines & Deadlines * Overcoming the obstacles to participation (infrastructure, time & cash) * SFIAF Free Grant Writing & Fundraising Services! (what's the catch?) * Presenting Partners & Contracts * City Politics For more details on the 2008 theme go to http://www.sfiaf.org/aboutsfiaf/sfiaf2008.html To RSVP or for more information call 415-399-9554 or e-mail info@sfiaf.org PLEASE FORWARD TO POTENTIALLY INTERESTED PARTIES

Thirty Years in Iraq

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:12:38 GMT

Yesterday, I learned that neckties originated in Croatia (thank you, World Cup trivia researchers). During the Thirty Year's War, the French admired the Croation neck-scarves. Because the French could not pronounce "Hvrat," the Croatian word for "Croat," they called the scarves "Cravats." Thirty Year's War? What the heck was the "Thirty Years War?" I wondered. So I grabbed my "Timelines of History" (because I still prefer books for a fast answer, especially when the computer is turned off) and learned that the Thirty Years War started when the Protestant Bohemians attacked the Catholic Hapsburgs in the early 1600s. Eventually, almost every country in Europe was recruited to the conflict, making it a virtual "World War" of the 17th century. Hold on a minute. Didn't the Pilgrims leave England in the 17th century? Didn't the Mayflower leave Plymouth only two years after England entered the foray? Maybe the Pilgrims weren't fleeing religious prosecution - maybe they were just tired of war. Maybe the United States was founded by pacifists who were looking for a peaceful, prosperous life. If not all of them, then some. Maybe many. Ironically, the United States is now the world's most aggressive nation, invading and creating wars, wars of religous intolerance. Thirty Years Wars are forgotten by history, unless you are living in those times.

Support the arts Task Force recommendations

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 19:49:43 GMT

I am working with a public task force created to make recommendations around the arts and its future in San Francisco. The final recommendations go before the Board of Supervisors on April 10th, 2006. The recommendations that I support most strongly are the recommendation for the City to provide non-grant support (in addition to grant support) to the arts industry - to provide information services, permit services, insurance services (to provide purchasing pools for workers comp and liability insurance), financial services, technical assistance and access to surplus city materials. It's also a human rights issue - many artists and musicians are low-income and need city supported health-care and housing anyway. Why should artists and musicians be working poor? I am now trying to recruit people to send an endorsement letter to the mayor or Supervisor, if appropriate. Here is some more information about the Task Force: What is the SF Arts Task Force? The San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Mayor created the Arts Task Force to review city arts policies. From April 2005-Feburary 2006, twenty artists and representatives from a wide variety of arts organizations met with ten representatives of the city's arts agencies to work together to identify ways in which the city can better support the arts and ways in which the arts can better support San Francisco. What did the Task Force find out? The Task Force concluded that a lot of terrific city programs need to be better funded and better supported. With better coordination, greater accountability and new programs to address gaps, the city can better serve artists and use the arts to positively impact a wide range of issues important to everyone in San Francisco from economic growth to education, from healthcare to housing. What are the Task Force's main recommendations? The Task Force has published a report detailing its findings and recommendations. You can read it on line at: www.sfartscommission.org/programs/arts_task_force.htm You can also get a printed copy from the Mayor's office, your Supervisor and the SF Art Commission Some of the main recommendations include: • Restoring millions of dollars in funding from the Hotel Tax Fund that is supposed to be allocated to the arts, but that has, for the past several years, been siphoned away to the city's General Fund instead. This money would bolster current grant programs that work and allow for the creation and support of new programs, too. • Creating programs to support neighborhood arts and cultural centers that reflect San Francisco's diversity. • Restructuring the city's uncoordinated arts agencies into one Department of Arts and Culture to fight effectively for arts funding and advocate for the interests of artists. • Establishing an Arts Planning Council to advocate for the arts, advise the city on arts infrastructure issues and represent the long-term interests of the people of San Francisco who care about the arts. Is all this really possible? The Task Force recommendations were overwhelmingly supported by group's voting members after months of discussion, public input and an analysis of how the arts make a city worth living in SF and around the country. The Task Force learned that many individual SF artists simply want help from the city in finding insurance, or getting permits for their events. Many organizations want help to create new performance spaces or to raise money to support existing spaces and programs. Many others just want to know that there is strong, accountable leadership at City Hall standing up for artists and the positive things a vital arts climate brings to a place like San Francisco. What can you do to support the recommendations? • SIGN a petition to show the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor that you support the Arts Task Force recommendations. You can sign an online petition at: www.petitiononline.com/arts06sf/petition.html and I have a printable version, too. • CONTACT your supervisor and Mayor Newsom, tell them how important a solid, thoughtful and well funded approach to supporting the arts in San Francisco is to you. We have also created a sample endorsement letter to sign. • GO in person to City Hall on April 10th to show your support as the Arts Task Force officially presents its report to the Board of Supervisor. The recommendations are expected to be an agenda item at about 4pm. • SPREAD THE WORD that the arts benefit everyone, not just artists. Circulate the printed report and petition at work, school, your local record store or coffee shop. When we say "YES!" to the arts, we are saying "Yes," to art in schools, "Yes," to arts for the elderly, "Yes," to arts in our neighborhoods, "Yes," to arts as a bridge for cultural understanding, "Yes," we are organized, "Yes," we contribute to the economy, and "YES!" we as a community understand and are fully aware of our contributions and the ripple effects both socially and economically that the arts provide to the City of San Francisco. Thanks for your support! Please contact me if you have any questions or comments. Contact your supervisor: Jake McGoldrick District 1 (415) 554-7410 Jake.McGoldrick@sfgov.org Michela Alioto-Pier District 2 (415) 554-7752 Michela.Alioto-Pier@sfgov.org Aaron Peskin - Board President District 3 (415) 554-7450 Aaron.Peskin@sfgov.org Fiona Ma District 4 (415) 554-7460 Fiona.Ma@sfgov.org Ross Mirkarimi District 5 (415) 554-7630 Ross.Mirkarimi@sfgov.org Chris Daly District 6 (415) 554-7970 Chris.Daly@sfgov.org Sean Elsbernd District 7 (415) 554-6516 Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org Bevan Dufty District 8 (415) 554-6968 Bevan.Dufty@sfgov.org Tom Ammiano District 9 (415) 554-5144 Tom.Ammiano@sfgov.org Sophie Maxwell District 10 (415) 554-7670 Sophie.Maxwell@sfgov.org Gerardo Sandoval District 11 (415) 554-6975 Gerardo.Sandoval@sfgov.org

Ping pong

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:26:01 GMT

"All he needs to be happy is some chips and maybe a game of ping pong."