Report from Mallory Knodel
National Technology Coordinator for the US Social Forum (USSF)
May 1 - 31, 2010
International Outreach
FSM Mexico & WSF IC: Participated in and observed Mexico Expanded, similar in concept and origin to Belem Expanded and ultimately Detroit Expanded. Met with 25 young communications, media, and technology activists in Mexico City interested in participating in Detroit Expanded as well as ongoing collaborative work. Held a forum event on Social Movements and the Internet in collaboration with the World Social Forum International Council Communications Commission members. Aided the WSF IC Communications Commission with a presentation to the IC on the commission's past work, presented tools and team resources used for the USSF, and met with the Expansion Commission of the WSF IC on ongoing demands for collaboration and internal communication for the 2011 WSF, preparations for the 2011 WSF, and ongoing needs.
WSF Dakar: The USSF online registration system will be adopted for the WSF 2011 event. Struggling to get the lead technologist in Dakar to Detroit to allow for training and implementation of this system. Ongoing collaboration on communications and technology for Detroit to Dakar has been planned.
WEF Palestine: The World Education Forum will be held this fall in Palestine. It is a poly-centric forum, thus relying heavily on web streaming technology. There is a possible request to also use the USSF registration system. Collaboration is ongoing.
National Outreach
National calls have been sent out by the ICT for technology volunteers. I have worked to support this call, hoping to reach not only volunteers that can come to Detroit, but also technologists that can support the expanded format and include more participants in Detroit by setting up drop-in centers and other hubs outside of Detroit to include as many participants as possible in the web streaming and expanded formats. National outreach must also include a call for equipment donations. Storage for equipment donations has been secured at 1551 Winder, where also the Techie House will be located for all technology volunteers who will arrive in Detroit for the AMC and USSF.
People's Media Center
Organizing weekly Media Center calls with the growing coalition of individuals and organizations interested in participating in the open space of the People's Media Center. Each week we plan one step ahead. In the past we have finished text for the Goals and Principles of the PMC. We have also finalized a budget and appeals letter. Next steps include putting forth a full schedule of PMC events, creating an online media center prototype, and continuing outreach to media organizations. Must discuss also how to include non-media makers in media production.
Online Media Center: A proposal has been drafted for the online component of media, detroit expanded, and web streaming content. The prototype has been finalized, feedback has been taken from media groups, and will ultimately incorporate media production from as many sources as possible, as well as offering the curated content of the video and audio streams.
Detroit Expanded
A mass email has been sent to the 198 workshop organizers participating in Dex. Specific email responses will be required to help facilitate organizers' needs in terms of technology, equipment, and non-local connections. Building a team and concept for how this will work was a group effort during the NPC meetings of this month.
ICT Support
I participated in a 3-day work weekend and tickets, writing a report here: http://lists.mayfirst.org/pipermail/ict/2010-May/000870.html with original notes here: http://notes.ussf2010.org/work-weekend-20100515.wb. Primarily reorganized the ticket assignment and milestones tracking system, closing approximately 15 tickets this month.
NPC/OC Support
NPC and OC meetings were held in late May. Attendance helped to facilitate the needs of both groups and gain again direction and collaborative moments from representatives of various working groups such as Culture, Language Justice, Disability Access, Communications, Registration, & Outreach.
