Momentum
Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age
Format:Hardback
Publisher:John Wiley & Sons Inc
Published:17th Oct '06
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book presents a new approach to social change, emphasizing collaboration and modern communication tools. Momentum encourages leaders to rethink their strategies for tackling social issues.
In today's rapidly changing world, many social leaders and nonprofits find themselves adhering to outdated methods that hinder their effectiveness. They often maintain a distance from their constituents, rely on inefficient communication methods, and follow rigid hierarchical structures. This approach leaves them ill-equipped to tackle the complex social issues of our time, such as poverty and inequality. The book Momentum explores these challenges and offers a fresh perspective on how to approach social change.
Momentum advocates for a transformative shift in mindset and practice. It emphasizes the importance of moving away from merely providing short-term solutions, such as serving soup, to addressing the root causes of chronic social problems like hunger and homelessness. By fostering a culture of high expectations and collaboration, leaders can break free from the cycle of low expectations that often leads to persistent social failures.
The book also highlights the role of modern digital tools in facilitating this change. With the advent of social media and other technologies, we are now more connected than ever. Momentum illustrates how these tools can be harnessed to promote interactivity and engagement, allowing organizations to connect with their communities in more meaningful and scalable ways. This innovative approach not only enhances communication but also empowers individuals and groups to work together towards sustainable solutions for social change.
"...a fresh, zestful way of thinking about and organizing social change work." (PublicNet.co.uk, October 9, 2008)
Thoughtful and thought provoking, which addresses technology strategies, relationships, and organizational change within the nonprofit sector. Far from a technical manual, it raises compelling issues that deserve consideration by all nonprofit organizations. (Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 05/01/2008)
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. (Library Journal, November 15, 2006)
Fine outlines strategies for "connected activism" in this idealistic, lucidly written account about using the Internet to build up networks among activists who can pool information and other resources to help create lasting solutions that address the roots of social problems. Citing organizations such as the advocacy group MoveOn.org and MeetUp.com, which promotes off-line gatherings like those that propelled the Dean for President campaign, Fine emphasizes a mind-set of self-determination among citizens and two-way rather than top-down communication from organizations. She takes a cue from the 1999 "Cluetrain Manifesto," aimed at corporations that were out of touch with consumers, translating its promotion of digital communication to the activist sphere. Some of her rhetoric seems hyperbolic, as when she suggests that online activism provides a neutral playing field in which women can advance their causes without getting dismissed because of their gender, and she pushes hard on the readiness of "plugged-in" Generation Y to change the world. On the whole, though, she provides activists with effective guidelines for streamlining the pursuit of social change through instant messaging, blogs, chat rooms and Blackberries. (PublishersWeekly.com, October 23, 2006)
- Commended for Axiom Business Book Awards (Philanthropy/Nonprofit) 2008
ISBN: 9780787984441
Dimensions: 236mm x 164mm x 23mm
Weight: 431g
240 pages