On Thursday evening, I attended a RealTalk community forum on "New Civic Leadership" that was jointly sponsored by Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, United Leaders, and ONE in3.
The discussion was ably led by the totally delightful John Schneider, with Ron Bell, Rachel Kaprielian, Steve Kraus, Jeffrey Sanchez, and Larry Harris, jr. serving as panelists.
What I really love about these RealTalk events is the interactivity of the discussion. Each participant was provided with a wireless device - supplied by a firm called Machine Dreams - that enabled him or her to give responses to survey questions that were posed by John. These responses were instantly tabulated and displayed on a large screen, and the same devices also functioned as wireless microphones, so that participants could interact with the panelists in the discussions that followed each question.
Naturally, I was in geek heaven! I love cool new tools, but it's very seldom that I can wholeheartedly recommend something transcendently cool to a nonprofit or philanthropic organization. Transcendent coolness is simply not a guarantee that a particular technology will serve the organization's mission.
However, in this case, the wireless devices really did serve the mission. When we are encouraging a new generation of folks in Massachusetts to become civic leaders, it make sense to do instant surveys of their demographic characteristics and their opinions about current and future opportunities for civic engagement. What an opportunity to deepen everyone's knowledge in real time!
My only regret was that the auditorium was far from full. How many young people in the region never heard that there is an outstanding series of programs designed to bring them into the conversation and encourage them to become civic leaders?
The only item that I'd add to the technology wishlist for RealTalk events is instant cross-tabulation of the data that was being collected. It was extremely useful to know the distribution of age, ethnicity, gender, and length of residence in the Bay State - and equally useful to know about the RealTalk participants' definitions of civic leadership, awareness of leadership opportunities, and interest in running for public office - but I'm not satisfied with mere headcounts. I want to explore possible causal relationships and correlations among these factors. Providing the participants with on the spot cross-tabulations can only stimulate even more meaningful discussion.
With the RealTalk events and the Machine Dreams technology, surely this is possible!
Disclaimer: MassINC has been a client of mine, and has even earned the status of "Most Fun Client." (This is somewhat similar to "Most Favored Nation," in that it is not an exclusive title, but it is the highest one awarded.) Please be advised that, in light of my great affection and esteem for MassINC, I have no objectivity whatsoever about the organization.
