In light of Omidyar.net closing, here is my direct contact info: theresadw@gmail.com. Please don't hesitate to contact me!

Hi! My name is Theresa Williamson and I recently learned about Omidyar.net at a conference. I was intrigued by the parallels between Omidyar's objectives and our organization's -- Catalytic Communities' -- work. Now I've found my way onto this network and am looking forward to learning and exploring further...

Here's some background on Catalytic Communities (CatComm): The organization was founded in 2000 as a not-for-profit in both the USA and Brazil, having arisen from the recognition that somewhere in the world there exists a tailored community solution to virtually any mentionable social or environmental challenge: from HIV to water contamination, housing to cultural preservation, unemployment to lack of political mobilization. Unfortunately the tailored local solutions that exist in communities all around us have historically been isolated and undervalued. Our organization works to create spaces - physical and virtual - designed to empower and inspire a global network of community-generated solutions.

Here's my bio:

Theresa Williamson founded Catalytic Communities (CatComm, www.catcomm.org) and has worked as Executive Director for four years. In her current role, she is CatComm’s primary fundraiser (responsible for all major gift solicitations, small donor cultivation, and special events), liaison to the Board of Directors, and oversees staff responsible for day-to-day organizational management and oversight. Theresa also oversees all program strategy, development and activity. In May 2004 Theresa received her Ph.D. from the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania which will yield a book about Catalytic Communities’ development. It is entitled “Catalytic Communities: The Birth of a Dot Org” and was one of three finalists for the 2004 Barclay Gibbs Jones Award for the Best Dissertation in Planning (to see her academic work, visit www.theresawilliamson.info). She has published articles from this dissertation and related research in Progressive Planning, The Journal of Urban Technology, and Cidadania.org. Prior to her doctoral research and decision to found CatComm, Theresa had already been active in a number of movements for years, since the early age of 12. Over the years she worked for or volunteered with: Jeremy Rifkin, of the Foundation for Economic Trends; Colman McCarthy, of the Center for Teaching Peace; Co-op America; the Child Welfare League of America; the Philadelphia Recycling Office; the Ombudsman for the State of Paraná, Brazil; and S.E.A., Students for Environmental Action (Maryland). Theresa’s undergraduate degree was in Biological Anthropology, with concentrations in Environmental Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies, from Swarthmore College. Though raised in the Washington, DC area, Theresa is a dual Brazilian and British citizen.

I'm here to get involved! I hope to hear from others, soon...

-- posted 5/6/2005