The document outlines the development and impact of online neighborhood forums started in 1994 to enhance community connections, civic engagement, and outreach efforts in places like Seattle, St. Paul, and Minneapolis. It highlights the growth of digital tools used by neighbors to communicate, share resources, and engage in local issues, showing significant social capital generation, especially among diverse and low-income communities. Key initiatives include various outreach strategies, the importance of inclusivity, and the creation of safe online spaces for dialogue and action among community members.

1. Connecting Neighbors, Building
Communities, and Raising Voices since 1994

2.  Welcome
 Overview and Seattle Neighbors Online Surf
 Introductions - Seattle Share-a-thon
 Numbers – Who’s Missing Intro
 Micro Break (if time)
 In-Depth: Outreach, Inclusion, and
Engagement in St. Paul and Minneapolis
 Closing Questions, Discussion, Connections

6.  Social connections, family-friendly
 Safety and crime prevention
 Mutual benefit , sharing stuff
 Greater voices and civic engagement
 Social capital generator
 Openness and inclusion (if done right)
 = Stronger communities
 Resources: Block Activities, Block Connectors,
Locals Online, Soul of the Community

7.  Two-way online “groups” at core
 Connecting at two primary levels:
 Block-level, neighborhood crime watch
▪ Very Private, Covering ~100 households, typically
resident-only, often “cc:” e-mail chains
 Neighborhood/Community-wide
▪ Public , Semi-Public (request to join), or Private -
Covering hundreds to thousands of households

8. 27% of adult Net users (22% overall) use
“digital tools to talk to their
neighbors and keep informed
about community issues.”
 Source: Neighbors Online study from PewInternet.org, 2010

9.  “Joiners” – 10.5% of adult Net users
members of neighborhood e-mail lists, forums, or
social network site groups
 Includes 7% on e-lists/forums or ~10 million
folks across ~20,000 to 40,000 online spaces
– DC, Seattle, Mpls, etc. have deep history
 Source: Neighbors Online study from PewInternet.org, 2010

11.  Seattle must have the most placeblogs per capita!
 Editor in center with “news” models vs. groups

12.  West Seattle Blog’s
Forums
 Most successful
media-sponsored
local online forums
in the world??
 Local web-based
“forums” in U.S. rare,
popular in UK

13. Imagine a shared e-mail box for
your neighborhood:
neighbors@inyourarea.org

14. From our directory:
 YahooGroups mostly,  Admiral - 123 members
“forum host” is crucial  Alki Beach- 185
 Ballard - 110
 Few are “public” - hard  Beacon Hill
to “see” the  Hillman City - 192
awesomeness your  Georgetown - 557
area is missing  Greenwood - 420
 Montlake - 946
 Talk2 Seattle.Gov  North Ravenna
 Dozens! Mostly nhood  Squire Park - 330
assoc work??? Can’t tell  South Park- 759
how active

15.  Moms/Parents E-Lists
 Seattle has a massive
network ~20
 MUST live in a certain area
 Biggest – Ballard 1705, N
Beacon 1876, Madrona
2785, Magnolia 903 …
Seattle “Dads” 1 

16.  Hillman Brighton
moved from
YahooGroups
 Host likes pictures
in Member
Directory
 Few FB Groups for
Seattle Nhoods?

17.  This Week in Seattle  Free trees
 Missing bike  School walk
 Chickens
 “foro de discusión” –
Seeking Spanish-
 Gunshots
speaking folks
 Free stuff  Voter registration
 City council  Nickelsville
 Folk club  Bikes for books
 Food forest
 Suicide prevention
 Spanish lesson guy
 Strawberry plants
 Neighbor needed for
 Nhood meeting school project

18.  Green Lake blog
moved to
EveryBlock
 Everyblock
serves ~20 major
cities, started as
local data to map
site, added
community

19.  Private residents-only
“social network for
your neighborhood”
 Venture funded, partnering
with some governments
 Mostly small groups, but can
cover thousands of residents
(no access for local business,
community orgs, elected
officials by design)

20.  #bainbridge
 Very social
 “Organic”
 Tags launched
during crisises

23.  Everyone  Neighbors Online
 Name
Group Members
 Neighborhood/Place
 Which one
 Top question?
 Which tech platform
 How long a member
 Diverse Voices  Most recent example
Social Media  Important or useful
 Which community(ies) example
 Current online efforts

25.  Neighborhood E-Lists/Forums – 7% Overall
 15% of online households over $75K – 5 times higher!
 3% of online households under $50K
 3% Latino
 2% Rural …
 8% Blacks and Whites
 9% Women, 5% Men
 Of 22% of ALL adults who “talk digitally with
neighbors”: Only 12% under 30K, Over 75K 39%
 Source: Neighbors Online study from PewInternet.org, 2010

27.  1994 – World’s first election information web site
AND Minnesota Politics two-way e-list
 1998 – Minneapolis and St. Paul Issues Forums –
“online town hall” model
 2005 – UK grant to pilot, Bristol and Oxford asked
for neighbourhoods in ’07
 2008 – Minneapolis neighborhoods get started
 Mixed classic “neighborhood e-list” with PUBLIC online town hall with
neighborhood watch, Freecycle, Craigslist (non-selling), community
news and bulletin board for areas with 5,000 to 15,000 residents

28.  Goal to build civic engagement and raise diverse
voices NOT being met by all volunteer start-up
activity … foundation to build on
 2010-11 – Ford Foundation - pilot Inclusive Social
Media effort – deep engagement in Cedar Riverside,
expanding to Frogtown (note 60 page evaluation)
 2012-14 – Knight Foundation – scaling to 16
Neighbors Forums reflecting diversity with outreach
and active forum engagement to reach ~10,000
daily participants

29.  Series by Eric Fisher
 Red is White, Blue is Black,
Green is Asian, Orange is
Hispanic, Yellow is Other, and
each dot is 25 residents.

38.  1.Create online spaces for neighbors to
connect with each other in the ways that
they want.
 2. Make sure these spaces are as
representative as possible of the
neighborhoods themselves.
 3. Create opportunities for people who do
not usually have a voice in their
neighborhoods, to have a voice.

40.  “Local” online public places to:
 share information, events, ideas
 discuss neighborhood issues
 gather diverse people in an open place
 take action and promote solutions
 Our neighborhood-level Issues Forums are powered by
two-way group communication
 We host over 40 neighbors/community forums in 17
communities across 3 countries today

41.  Public (vs. private groups)
 Open access (vs. invite only)
 Publicly searchable archive
(vs. member only access)
 Local scope
 Encourage strong civility
 Must use real names, accountability

42.  E-mail
 Web
 Facebook
 Twitter

43. City Hall
Local Media
Neighbor #1
Coverage
N
E Neighbors
Your I Local Biz
Networks G Forum
H Join the Online
B Forum
O
R
S
In-person
Conversations Shared on
Facebook

44.  Action
 Discussion
 Announcements

45.  Being local means we can easily meet
and act together
 Community garden effort launched
 “It’s cold” discussion results in winter wear drive to
help recent immigrants
 Sexual assault response by “Mom”
and 400+ rally on a cold winter
night, community brainstorming

47. Photos from Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune.

48.  Topics like: • Helping neighbors
 Community news • Local history
 Crime and safety • New small businesses
 Crisis response • Landlord issues
 Schools and parks • Local
 Service provider
environment/recycling
recommendations – • Questions of every kind
home repairs, child – “What was that
care, etc. noise?”

49.  Community/cultural events
 Neighborhood meetings
 Local news, photos, video
 Free stuff (selling is rare/not promoted)
 Elected official updates
 Lost or found pets
 In any language
Bi-lingual announcements encouraged

50.  Via the web:
 e-democracy.org
 Or beneighbors.org
▪ Directory starting in Twin Cities
▪ Join via Facebook Option Available

51.  Via simple paper sign-up sheets
 Sign up at local events, by neighbors, or
when doorknocked.

53.  Pilot expansion methods across multiple
neighborhood/forums
 Special outreach to diverse communities in
Minneapolis and St. Paul:
▪ Latino
▪ Native American
▪ East African
▪ African American
▪ Hmong/SE Asian

54.  Face-to-face outreach, paper signup sheets,
and a personal approach are by far the most
successful recruiting methods
 Building trust is essential. Knowing that
“someone like me” is on the forum makes a
difference.
 Personal invitations and direct support help
people get started with posting.
54

55.  Partnering with respected neighborhood event
organizers creates opportunities to participate
in community activities and offer people the
chance to sign up for our forums.
 Understanding people’s needs and helping find
ways for those needs to be addressed through
the forum smoothes the path for their
participation and continued involvement.
 Ford foundation funded, 2010-2011

56.  e-democracy.org/
evaluation
56

57.  Members: Forum provides new information and
alternative viewpoints
 Elected officials pay attention to forum posts
 Community organizations who actively participated
found it relevant and rewarding
 Range and depth of conversations dependent on
forum members’ willingness to share opinions, ask
questions, and seek input

59.  Goal: Recruit and engage 10,000+ Saint Paulites
by 2014
 Focus outreach on highly diverse, immigrant
and low-income communities online
 Knight Foundation funded, 625K 3 year grant
(through end of 2014)
 Applied Ford lessons

61.  Utilize grassroots community organizing
techniques to bring a diversity of neighbors
onto the forums.
 Bring in around 3000 new members over the
summer and begin building relationships in
Saint Paul communities.
 Hire ~10 multi-lingual outreach team
members working 15 hours a week

62.  1.Create online spaces for neighbors to connect
with each other in the ways that they want to.
 2. Make sure that these spaces are as
representative as possible of the neighborhoods
themselves.
 3. Create opportunities for people who do not
usually have a voice in their neighborhoods, to
have a voice.
62

63. 1. Research and set goals.
63

64. Courtesy of University of Minnesota: Center for Urban and Regional Affairs
64

65. 65

66. 1. Research and set goals.
2. Intensive recruitment and training
66

67. 1. Research and set goals.
2. Intensive recruitment and training
3. Utilized shared access tools to manage
logistics increasing mobility and capacity of
team (Google Docs, etc.)
67

68. 68

69. 1. Research and set goals.
2. Intensive recruitment and training
3. Utilized open access tools to manage
logistics increasing mobility and capacity of
team
4. Lots of on the ground outreach!
69

70.  1-7 people at 39 different community events
yielding 692 new members.
 15 people attended 12 community meetings
yielding 76 new members.
 Staff went to 28 community locations, oftentimes
libraries and recreation centers, yielding 340 new
members.
 We covered 10 Neighborhood Night Out locations
yielding 182 new members in a single night.

72. 72

73. 73

74. 1. Research and set goals.
2. Intensive recruitment and training
3. Utilized open access tools to manage
logistics increasing mobility and capacity of
team
4. Lots of on the ground outreach!
5. Remembering to think long term about
empowerment and voice.
74

75. 75

76. 1. Surname analysis shows 30%+ of targeted
forums appear to be from racial/ ethnic
communites.
2. We launched neighbors forums in 16 of 17
Saint Paul neighborhoods.
3. Saint Paul neighbors forums virtually
doubled from 2,863 on June 4 to 5,609 on
September 11, resulting in 48.96% of the the
total Stp membership being new!

77.  200% increase in St. Paul (blue)
memberships since Jan 1.
 Mpls (red) all volunteer “organic”
word of mouth growth

78. 1. Build up local volunteer capacity in forum
engagement developing deep relationships
in community - goal:
Forums that better reflect the diversity of
neighbors in the “virtual room.”
2. Ensure partnerships to be mutually beneficial
3. Execute an intense forum engagement plan
78

79.  Do you work with minority/low income/
immigrant populations?
 Are you interested in building up a network
that allows more neighbors to connect with
each other?
79

80. Public outreach
 http://beneighbors.org
Webinars, training:
 http://e-democracy.org/learn
 http://e-democracy.org/locals

81.  We’d love to connect with you more!
 Corrine.bruning@e-democracy.org
 612-229-4471
 OR
 ~ Steven Clift - clift@e-democracy.org
 On Twitter @edemo
 More: e-democracy.org/contact
81

85.  Digital inclusion for community engagement leverages
other key efforts
Engagement
Digital Literacy
Online and Computer Skills
Technology and Broadband Access

86.  All kinds of
neighbors can be
connected online
 60 Pages:
 e-democracy.org/evaluation
 Free in-depth
webinar

87.  Someone needed help.
 The Wheel of Cheese
 Frantic online forum request:
“Is anyone flying to Seattle in
next 12 hours? I am stuck out
of town. Can you take a wheel of cheese to the national
competition? Ours went missing. Homeland Security won’t
let us overnight replacement.”
 Neighbor replies, “I am a former airline employee and I’ve
been looking for a reason to go to Seattle. “ Cheese makes
it in time.
 Read more – on Powderhorn Neighbors Forum – Photo CC jojomelons via Flickr

88.  “Community life” exchange builds
audience for inclusive civic discussions
 “Little Mekong” branding for Asian business
promotion on University Ave
 Triple homicide - Who can we trust to keep us safe
after a tragedy in East African grocery? Police? More
guns? Led to off-line discussions with local teens.
Vigil proposed, hundreds gather.
 Also: Cats indoors or outdoors?, Airplane noise, etc.

89. You
 Everyone welcome
 Residents, local workers, business owners
 People who “serve” the community
 Local governments, non-profits, etc.
 Outreach essential:
 Diverse communities: http://e-democracy.org/inclusion
 100 members for strong opening
 1050 members on largest forum today, ~25% households

90.  Volunteer-driven, Non-profit
 (Pictures of some of our awesome volunteer Forum Managers and contractors )
 Local scope key
 “Public life” openness not “virtual
gated communities”
 Government can access us
 Unlike Facebook which is blocked by many organizations
 Open source technology, sharing
 We use GroupServer.org tech out of New Zealand

91.  Post announcements and events – reach
hundreds for free
 Monitor the community agenda, advocate and
organize locally
 Answer questions, share info
 Connect people to your programs
 Encourage your members/clients/etc. to join us

92.  Neighbors Forums promote:
 Community building
 Neighbors helping neighbors
 Sharing/reusing things very locally
 Engagement with government and
accountability
 And much more

93.  Civility matters
 Real names build trust
 No name calling
 Post just 2 times a day (on most forums)
spreads participation, retains audience
 Facilitated by local volunteer “Forum
Manager,” rules are enforced
 Major contrast with often anonymous,
nasty online news comments

94.  Online advantages
 24 x 7 – Anytime, anywhere convenience
 Engage people unable to attend meetings,
with limited mobility, two jobs, children
 Less intimidating for some – open and
accessible “ice breaker” into public life
 Local approach coupled with in-person
activities increases value and trust – Online
only would be a major disadvantage

95.  Join your local Neighbors Forum today!
 Every community needs a vibrant local online place
that makes your part of the world a better .
 The lowest cost model for effectively building real
community and civic participation available today(?)
 Start a forum. You can make this happen in your
neighborhood. If you don’t who will?
 Contact us:
 http://e-democracy.org/contact
 team@e-democracy.org @edemo - Twitter
 Tel/Text: +1-651-400-0880

97.  Yes, we reach people “where they are” via
many channels and technologies
 Our “unified” integrated public forums
 Facebook Page – Forum excerpts
 Twitter – Topic headlines
 “Blog” style Web Feed – Full-text
 E-mail and web options – Most accessible, required to post
 E-mail key to active “bridge building” and
mobile use – old-fashioned but EFFECTIVE

98.  Stat tuned for more knowledge sharing
 Inclusive Social Media Lessons, Evaluation
 How to Start a Forum - Detailed
 Forum Manager How-to Webinar
 Follow our blog for updates:
 http://blog.e-democracy.org
 Key existing resources
 http://e-democracy.org/if - Guidebook and more
 http://e-democracy.org/webinars

99.  Our neighborhood-level “Issues
Forum”:
 24 forums across St. Paul and Minneapolis
▪ Many new forums - join our funded start-up campaign now
 25 start-up forums in Christchurch, New Zealand
▪ Created for post-quake recovery by two volunteers
 5 in the United Kingdom
▪ Where our “neighbourhood” level work started
 11 “city-wide” online town hall “Issues Forums”
▪ Extensive details: http://e-democracy.org/if
▪ City-level forums provide place for city-wide issues and politics
▪ Includes five Greater Minnesota towns

100.  Request one:  Recipe
 http://e-democracy.org  100 start-up members
 http://tcneighbors.org  1 local volunteer “Forum
 We technically set it up Manager” –You?
 Paper sign-ups at
 Outreach essential community events
 E-mail outreach, e-letter
 10+ forums in start-up signed by initial members
mode  Friendly round of virtual
introductions with real
people using real names
 Lessons/training from: to build trust
 http://e-democracy.org/if

101.  Strong “critical mass” launch is key to success
 Need mix of local institutions – parks, officials,
places of worship, community groups AND everyday
residents
 Forum Manager plays crucial role – needed to
“seed” forum with announcements until community
groups begin to do it themselves
 ~10% of households across forum area is a magic
threshold for “self-generative” community life
 Forum facilitation prevents difficult topics from
turning into “flame wars” – one blow out can kill a
forum

102.  Post via web
 Login at http://e-democracy.org
 Click on desired forum
 New Topic :
▪ “post a new topic” - “Topics” tab
▪ Fill in text box, press “Start”
▪ Add files (PDF, Word, etc.)
 Existing Topic:
▪ Login, read topics
▪ Text box at bottom

103.  Connect your neighbors and neighborhood?
 Make your community better? Improve civic
engagement?
 Raise diverse voices? Share local information?
 Do all this cost-effectively leveraging volunteers?
 If yes, here is an introduction on Neighbors Issues
Forums from E-Democracy.org

104.  Read via e-mail
or web
 Daily e-digest
option - topics with
direct links
 Text, files, photos,
YouTube videos

105.  Post via e-mail
 “place”@forums.e-democracy.org
 e.g. mpls-phillips@forums.e-democracy.org
 Post via web
 Login at http://e-democracy.org
 Visit desired forum and post
 Post/attach files easily (Photos, PDF, Word, etc.)

106.  Dozens of companies are getting into
the neighbor connecting business
 Visit the local social media directory
 Join the Locals Online community of
practice to join people from .org, .coms,
and many independent free spirits