I've been part of a recent discussion of facilitating connections between people and groups who have ideas or resources that could be exchanged in collaboration toward common goals. I posted a message this morning suggesting that we might want to have a parallel discussion that was not limited to the structure Emerging Futures Network will take. http://www.omidyar.net/group/efn /news/44/140/

Thus, I invite anyone who is already interested in ending inner city poverty in America, Europe, Asia or Africa and South America, to join this forum. The goal is to identify barriers that prevent social benefit organizations from operating in neighborhoods where they need to be (lack of funds, lack of leaders, buracracy, etc) and to also point out innovative strategies that are trying to overcome these obstacles.

As these strategies are listed, provide a web site link to the organization, so that anyone else reading this forum can go directly to these groups and either learn from them, or act with them (as a volunteer, donor, leader, etc.)

These can become "tipping points" that remove the isolation of people doing good in many parts of the world, and provide the resources needed to do good work in more places.

PLEASE ... if you don't agree with the focus of this discussion, don't join it just to debate your theories of social benefit, etc. If you do want to debate, set up a separate thread, so that this one can be focused on connections and actions.

The result of many actions by many talented people over many years is change, hopefully for the benefit of many. Making connections between those who can help and those who might help, is an action that I hope many people will make an effort to take at least once a week.