Steven Clift of
E-Democracy.org believes people can make a difference by connecting through
local online forums
by Tesha M. Christensen
Ericsson
resident Steven Clift believes that people of all ages, income levels and
ethnic groups should be connected.
He’s been working to accomplish that goal for 19 years
through e-Democracy.org.
Clift was recently recognized by the White House for his
work. He was named one of 15 White House Champion of Change for Transformative
Civic Engagement during a special ceremony on June 23, 2013.
“I believe in the power of people to make a difference in
their communities,” said Clift. “If we don’t, who will?”
“Steve is an innovator because he understands how to use the
technology in a way that serves the community,” said Deliberative Democracy
Consortium Executive Director Matt Leighninger of Washington, D.C. “The
e-democracy.org approach combines successful face-to-face organizing with an
easy-to-use online platform; the result is a public arena that supports a wide
array of communication and action about everything from school board decisions
to how to clean up the local park.
“With his energy and determination, Steve has helped
strengthen democracy from St. Paul to New Zealand.”
WHAT
IS E-DEMOCRACY.ORG?
E-Democracy.org began in 1994 as the world’s first
election-oriented web site. Only 4% of Minnesotans had internet access then,
but as Clift saw how people from across the world were using the site to get
information and discuss issues, he got a glimpse into how the internet could
bring people together. He saw how it could contribute to democracy.
Today, e-Democracy.org is the equivalent of local town halls
for the online world.
“It’s the pulse of the neighborhood,” explained Clift.
Missing a pet? Want to start a community garden? Concerned
about recent violence in the neighborhood? Think something needs to be done
about the dramatic airport noise increase? Need help baking lasagnas for a
friend’s memorial service? Turn to the E-Democracy forum for your neighborhood.
Clift’s own neighborhood forum, the one for
Standish-Ericcson, is one of the most active. Twenty-five percent of households
there are connected online. In all, E-Democracy’s BeNeighbors.org effort
connects well over 15,000 people mostly in the Twin Cities across a network of
dozens of online Neighbors Forums.
BENEIGHBORS.ORG
EFFORT
“The white, middle class, college-educated get asked all the
time to be active,” noted Clift. To make up for the divide, e-Democracy is
targeting the less represented groups with a focus on expansion in St. Paul.
With the help of a grant from the Knight Foundation,
E-Democracy is combining old-fashioned methods with technology. Workers are
going door-to-door to sign people up as users, and manning booths at community events
to get the word out. The outreach team includes recent refugees and immigrants.
While many have a “build it and they will come” mentality,
Clift knows you have to actively solicit users in order to have a conversation
that involves everyone.
He believes that when people see past differences and have an
incentive to work together, things are accomplished.
“Open communication is the cornerstone of getting stuff
done,” observed Clift, who has presented in 30 counties on open government and
civic technology.
E-Democracy.org is different from other similar sites in that
anyone can join. It isn’t closed to the residents in a neighborhood, but
welcomes those who also work in it. “I want public spaces that anyone can join
and find on Google,” said Clift.
Users are required to use their real names on the site to
prevent inconsiderate posts, and to build trust that each user is a community
member and not a character created on the Internet.
REDEFINING
DEMOCRACY
Participation in public meetings is declining, membership in
national voluntary associations with local chapters is as low as Depression-era
levels, and the number of people
who claim to have ever contacted an elected official is falling. A significant
76 percent of citizens say they don’t have the time to be involved in their
communities as much as they would like, noted Clift.
Being at a certain place at a certain time in order in order
to have a say in local affairs prevents many people from being involved.
“With today’s busy work and family schedules, traditional
‘democracy’ isn’t readily accessible,” remarked Clift. “The reality we
experience from shopping around the clock to watching television on-demand or
downloading music to our iPods is dramatically different and far more
accessible than engagement in public life.”
Before televisions and air conditioning, people by the
hundreds used to walk down to Lake Hiawatha at night to take a cooling dip,
observed Clift. Folks gathered together at the trolley stop and at the butcher
shop. That in-person connection doesn’t happen as much anymore. But community
members can “bump into” each other online.
“My vision of democracy is based on strong, local
communities,” Clift stated.
“We’re very proud of Steve,” said E-Democracy Board Chair
Mary Reid. “Steven understands the importance of inclusive civic engagement in
digital spheres, and is fundamentally committed to closing the gap in online
civic engagement. Steven and E-Democracy understand that while our world
requires global leadership, it’s our local communities that truly host the
conversations and build the tools we need to better reach a globalized world.”
Videos from Clift’s presentation in Washington, D.C.:
LINK:
This story was printed in the September edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.
No comments:
Post a Comment