A new group and CTools site has been created to bring together those who are interested in the arts and the use of creative expression to foster social change.

The Arts and Social Change worksite is a space where people with shared interests can come together to build collaborations, share resources, and discuss what exactly social change through creative expression would look like. Participation is encouraged, so if you hear about upcoming events, shows, talks, etc., please feel free to post an announcement and share with the group!

Please join us at noon on Friday, March 16th in the Erlicher Room for a brown bag discussion with Professor Steve Jackson. We will be discussing Information Communications for Development (ICT4D). Steve has prepared a few materials for us to read in preparation for his talk.

From Steve: "One of [the readings] is a brief discussion piece by Steve and Paul Edwards, prepared as background for a potential Michigan / World Bank / National Science Foundation event that might happen in DC next winter. The other is a piece highly critical of the whole ICT4D endeavor, which makes good points we ought to be cognizant in going about work in this area."

We have had exploratory discussions with Ann Bishop (from the University of Illinois) about having a group of students from UM provide editorial support for the online publication of the Journal of Community Informatics. Here is how Ann envisioned our potential role:

"What Mike (Gurstein) and I had discussed was finding a dedicated group of students with a strong interest in CI to take on the electronic production on an ongoing basis. The students and their institution would be prominently listed on the journal's website. There would be JoCI staffer somewhere in the world who would supervise and help lead your work, as needed.

Dr. Paul Farmer will be presenting a lecture on health care in impoverished areas of the world (specifically Haiti and Rwanda). This will be held at Rackham Auditorium on Monday February 12, 2007 5-6pm. Tickets are sold out but the AADL will be showing a live video simulcast at the main library and a branch. Check their

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I'm sure a number of people have either heard of this book or have read it, but Paul Resnick brought it up in our discussion on Social Capital today:

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Dr. Paul Farmer, the subject of the book, will be giving a lecture at Rackham Auditorium on Monday February 12th from 5-6pm. Supposedly tickets are sold out, but it looks like there will be a live video simulcast at the AADL. Check the AADL site for more information.

"Root Shock" is a book referenced several times by various organizers in Chicago. It analyzes the effects of gentrification on longstanding urban communities. Root Shock at AADL

Last weekend, January 26-28, the Community Information Corps Student Group embarked on a trip to work with Ann Bishop, Associate Professor with GSLIS at the University of Illinois, and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) in the Paseo Boricua neighborhood of Chicago. This trip can be considered nothing less than an overwhelming success, with many important connections established between the two Community Informatics programs.

NOTE: Western International High School closed on Monday Feb. 5 because of the weather. The workshop has been rescheduled for Monday February 12th.

Several of the CIC Student Group members have been planning this interview skills workshop to be held Feb. 12. The workshop is intended to prepare the Real Media participants for their upcoming visits to several Detroit community organizations.

On a plane ride from Chicago to Detroit on Tuesday, Garin and I had an hour-long brainstorming session where we came up with some ideas about sustainability for Community Informatics at the School of Information. Garin typed up our notes that night and we polished up a paper the following day. You'll find the working document below - we've sent it to the CiC faculty group (Maurita, Paul, Steve, and Joan) for review, hoping to glean some comments. We wanted to throw it out to the entire CiC student group as well, but could not before sending it off to the faculty in time for a meeting.

We will be holding a CIC SG planning meeting this coming Monday, Feb. 5th, at 7:30 PM somewhere in West Hall (location TBD). Please come to discuss our recent Chicago trip, our upcoming faculty lecture series and our presence at SI's Visiting Days event. Other agenda items can be added as needed.

See you there!