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Introductions
Steven Clift
by Steven Clift | Mar 19, 2010
| 1 Comment

Welcome everyone. Let's jump right in and share some short introductions.

The first lesson in effective digital engagement is to create some trust among participants.

The more anonymous web is filled with some pretty nasty stuff (online newspaper comments for example are the opposite of engagement) while name-based exchanges on Facebook feel relatively safe and comfortable.

So please share a bit about yourself.

1. Who are you? (Be conversational.)

2. Where you are from?

3. Optional Bonus - What would you like to learn about or share in our online group?

Use the ADD A COMMENT button on the right to add your introduction.

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I'm Steven Clift from Minneapolis

by Steven Clift | Mar 19, 2010
 

1. Who are you? (Be conversational.)

Hello. I am Steven Clift. Everyday I work to help people raise their voices online in local communities. I am increasingly active at the neighborhood level. I've been involved in this for over 15 years since E-Democracy.org was started in 1994. Today, I am E-Democracy.org's Executive Director.

I am also an Ashoka Fellow (and excited about their role in this project.) For about a decade I subsidized the non-profit with public speaking overseas - no one would pay in the U.S. :-( - on how governments and communities can use the Internet to engage citizens.

In addition to all this online stuff, I am a big fan of my wife and two wee kids, gardening, and travel (well, I used to do that before the babies arrived).

2. Where you are from?

4th generation Minnesotan on both sides with roots all over the state. Born in Minneapolis, raised in Minnetonka and Winona and then back again for grad school until now in Minneapolis.

3. Optional Bonus - What would you like to learn about or share in our online group?

I want to learn about interesting ideas or experiences you have to engage people online. I am particularly interested in discovering how you've made a difference online - be it solving a problem in your community using online tools as a backbone or gathering public input to help your organization make better decisions.

Glad to be here!

Steve

P.S. When you introduce yourself, be sure to select "Notify me when new comments are posted" and select "All comments." That way you'll be brought back to the group when it is action jackson time.