Projects
This project is an evolution of Local Projects’ successful Give A Minute (giveaminute.info) initiative, already underway in Chicago and Memphis. Change by Us aims to invite ideas for civic solutions, intelligently form project groups, and effectively connect groups with resources to bring their ideas to life. Change By Us functions as "a social network for civic activity." Using both text messaging and the site itself, New Yorkers can submit ideas for a more sustainable city. Based on those ideas, the site then connects visitors, and invites them into project groups. Project groups can then easily form connections to existing city resources and community organizations that can help them achieve their goal. Change By Us launches in limited beta form on April 21, 2011—the eve of Earth Day—with the question, “Hey NYC, How can we make our city a greener, better place to live?” As part of PlaNYC 2.0, New Yorkers (who have never shied away from raising their voices) will gain a bigger platform for public debate. More than just talk; the program's projects will generate goals and plans to be implemented with the help of both non-profit and government resources. Starting out with a small group of beta testers, the site will gradually release new features through the beta period. Later this Spring the site will fully open for public participation. New York City Mayor Bloomberg said: “The new Change By Us social networking platform lets New Yorkers connect to the City agencies and non-profits that can help them green their neighborhoods, and our entire City. This is a powerful way to connect people with similar goals that wouldn’t otherwise meet each other, so they can turn their own ideas into action.” Change by Us grew out of a partnership between Local Projects and CEOs for Cities, a think tank for urban issues. The project is funded by the Rockefeller and Knight Foundations. With a mission to reinvent public participation for the 21st century, earlier versions of Change by Us are already running in Chicago and Memphis, where thousands of people have submitted ideas for improving transportation, and utilizing the city’s talent more effectively. Jake Barton, Principal of Local Projects, says Change By Us creates “a moment of transition when residents move from consumers to partners. Initiatives like this are a way of reinventing public participation."