Public Lab Wiki documentation



Strategic Plan for Community Development

This is a revision from May 19, 2014 21:56. View all revisions
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Priorities for growth

  • improve first contact experience
  • integrate with Kits Initiative

Priorities for depth:

  • develop better structure to become an organizer
    • Organizer Summit
  • make a strong translation model for our "communities of practice"
    • includes distributing resources
  • include social process throughout online and offline
    • community asset mapping workshops, dialogue education facilitation, modes of communication beyond email groups, OpenHour, guides and distance learning, offline logbooks, etc

Scaling engagement: a model

  1. First Contact | 2. Welcome moment | 3. First contribution | 4. Building peer-to-peer bonds | 5. Becoming an organizer | 6. Chapters

First contact

  • map of first contacts --> pathways: http://publiclab.org/wiki/first-encounters
    • folks find out about Public Lab through: our kits, our web presence and social media, press coverage, heard about from a person, Kickstarter campaign, evangelism(?)
  • ISSUE: website front page
    • too much information, lacks community presence/identity, not synthesized

Welcome moment

  • Looking for how I "fit in"
    • lead with values
    • culturally, is the first "welcome" over dinner or by typing into a technical discussion?
    • identifying the "need" to engage -- begin with what is already known locally -- asset mapping exercise -- needs to be systematized. This can combat the perception problem of tools seen as speculative not results-oriented.
    • attracting diversity in the context that many active members have leisure time, are high capacity and degreed
  • "When do I see myself as a part of Public Lab?" --> Hello Moment
    • see First contribution below
  • who's responsibility is welcoming / orienting new members?
    • Welcome Working Group has scaling issues
    • everyone / no one?
  • option to speak to types of stakeholders:

scotts-metaphor-boat_kite.jpg

First contribution / activity

  • publiclab.org/signup --> profile page
  • posting a research note
  • going to an event / meeting someone in person
  • Ask a question / answer a question forums
    • serves as a venue for matchmaking
    • develops a Most Wanted List to prioritize R&D

Building peer-to-peer bonds

  • mailing list discussions
    • prompts upon joining to say "I am interested in [...], I can help with [...], bio, location
  • comments on research notes
  • website:
    • further integration of lists and website (future)
    • regionalization of website / feeling of place
    • listening to interests and areas
    • tours of places through mapknitter
    • collaborative editing on wikis / pads**
  • regularly scheduled meetups
    • not just tech, but also goal setting, asset mapping, strategizing, learning
    • on research sites
  • cross-group and cross-region exchanges
  • voice channels: openhour
  • ISSUE: social bonds should not result in clubhouse effect

Becoming an organizer

  • update / demystify nomination process:
    • change nomination process to focus on profile pages
    • self-nomination for folks instantly seeking a higher level of engagement
    • options for community organizers who may be offline / won't join email list
  • attracting new organizers:
    • targeting outreach, diversity
  • resources for organizers
    • buddy system with experienced organizer
    • event "guides"
    • receive all foldable kits
    • direct mail service for distributing kits / GMFs within their region
    • speaking opportunities on OpenHour
    • Organizers Summit (day before annual Barnraising)
  • benefits / expectations
    • regional focus to nurture new members, partner orgs, and research sites
    • staying engaged monthly
    • annual survey for re-up
    • fundraising support
    • Fellows Program

Developing organizer-supported chapters

  • review and publish pathway for chapter creation
    • have regional organizer in place
    • guidelines for joining a regional list before starting a new hyperlocal mailing-list
  • resources for chapters
    • organizers can apply for resources for local events
    • funders can "Adopt a Chapter"
  • Place pages:
    • highlighting research site(s)
    • subdomains like boston.publiclab.org
    • featuring partner organizations

Circle back

  • barnstars model outcomes
  • finish and review Values statement