CivicSource, Massachusetts' new online civic calendar, not only has potential as a wonderful resource in itself, but may also prove to be an impressive demonstration project for those who are skeptical about cross-sectoral and cross-organizational coordination in our region.

The Boston Indicators Project's 2004 Report made note of an important challenge to progress in Massachusetts: 

"In their 2004 report Boston Unbound, nationally recognized journalists Neal Peirce and Curtis Johnson suggest that Greater Boston lacks sufficient civic structures for cross-sectoral, inclusive deliberation and decision-making. While most competitor “citistates” have mechanisms in place to allow leaders to come to consensus and to execute quickly on shared strategies, the authors described Greater Boston as “lacking the collaborative gene.”

While a shared online civic calendar for Massachusetts is a modest beginning, it is certainly one that warms my geeky heart.

A project of the Commonwealth Civic Roundtable and IssueSource, this online calendar could become the go-to web site for those who care about community building and civic health.  In theory, I like the idea of Upcoming.Org, which provides a free online calendar service for all kinds of events in every region, but the community that uses it in Massachusetts seems to focus more on arts events and recreational activities.

Naturally, I dream of additional online tools, such as a regional online center for civic collaboration and action, with a directory of individuals and organizations, and technology that helps to match needs and resources.  I've had a few conversations lately that lead me to think that this isn't an impossible dream.

An online resource center can't replace traditional forms of civic information sharing, discussion, alignment, collaboration, and action - but it can support these processes!

Members of the Commonwealth Civic Roundtable:


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