Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age »

Allison H. Fine is a successful social entrepreneur and writer dedicated to helping grassroots organizations and activists implement and sustain social change efforts. Fine is a senior fellow at Demos, a network of action and ideas based in New York City. She is the founder of Innovation Network, Inc. (InnoNet), and the former CEO of E-Volve Foundation. Currently she serves on the board of directors of Just Vision. She lives on the banks of the Hudson River with her husband, Scott, and three sons, Jack, Zack, and Max.Join her interactive conversation on social change in the digital age at afine@afine.us.

Praise for Momentum

"Momentum is a bold, engaging volume with Fine's unique and insightful approach to using 21st-century tools to organize and connect people. This easy-to-read guide offers fresh faces, new voices and cool tools for building strong, effective, and enduring social change networks."

—Diana Aviv, president and CEO, Independent Sector

"Momentum is a clear, timely roadmap for activists and funders.? Never has the need to change how we think about our work been greater. Momentum is a must-read for doers and funders serious about social change work."

—Pablo Eisenberg, senior fellow, Public Policy Institute, Georgetown University

"Those of us engaged in social change work know that change is coming fast, but changing how we work is happening slowly. We need to work differently and better, and Fine shows us how in fun and inspiring ways. If you are an activist, a funder, a volunteer, or a board member, or just plain care about your community and democracy, Momentum is the book for you!"

—Paul Shoemaker, director, Social Venture Partners, Seattle

"Momentum provides donors with a clear understanding of how to succeed in the new Connected Age. What felt like a blur of digital tools to me before now makes good sense, thanks to Fine's lively lexicon and funny stories. I've been waiting for a book like this, and here it is at last!"

—Michael Hirschhorn, president, Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation

Library Journal

Fine (founder, Innovation Network, Inc.), a New York social entrepreneur, writes on the way new social media-the Internet, cell phones, digital tools-allow activists to create new groupings of self-directed and self-responsible progressives. She believes that in this new connected era of the Internet, activist networks trump hierarchy, and she touches on how social media have already facilitated progressive actions. She points out the need for activists and progressive organizations to harness the new technologies while genuinely listening to those engaged in the new social media. She also ponders the future of activism in a connected age. This work contains some practical-and even inspiring-advice but is really a meditation on the interaction between technology and traditional activism. Most useful in academic and large public libraries. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Foreword (Joan Blades).

Acknowledgments.

Preface: The Promise of Connected Activism.

Introduction.

Part I: Connectedness in Action.

1. Celebrating Self-Determination: Developing a Mind-Set of Powerfulness.

2. Becoming a Connected Activist: Enhancing the Effectiveness of Social Media.

3. Beyond Bowling Alone: Leveraging Social Networks for Social Change.

4. All Aboard! Embracing the Leveling Effect of Social Media.

5. Embracing Authentic Conversations: Overcoming the Listening Deficit.

6. Powering the Edges: Shifting Power from the Inside Out.

7. Encouraging Individual Activism: Working Together to Optimize Your Efforts.

Part II: The Future of Social Change.

8. Peeking into the Digital Future: Balancing the Opportunities Ahead.

9. My Diet Starts Next Tuesday: Embracing a Recipe for Success Now.

10. Are We There Yet? Measuring Progress in New Ways.

11. The Future of Funding: Rethinking Philanthropy and Fundraising Using Social Media.

Conclusion: Moving Forward as a Connected Activist.

Resource A: Free Schuylkill River Uses CitizenSpeak to Expand Its Coalition (Jo Lee).

Resource B: The Cluetrain Manifesto (Christopher Locke, Doc Searls, David Weinberger, Rick Levine).

Notes.

The Author.

Index.