Welcome to the Change Agent Think Tank

I find that I want to contribute to this opportunity for real change in America, to help move us to a 21st century economy and culture. But I worry that the window of opportunity is small, and I am a busy person. Yet, I know that the die will be cast by January 2010, so there is little time to lose.

Hopefully, those of us with more ideas than time will visit this blog and contribute to this think tank. Email me and I will add you as a blogger here.

First, the Obama administration offers you a place to share your vision with them. I love this idea, although I felt a tiny flutter of worry at registering my email address with a .gov, the US government. Big brother a bit too close for comfort to my political beliefs.

This opens an interesting Think Tank question. Should efforts to organize for change come from within the government, where resides power but also bureaucracy and some other nasty stuff? Or through non-government affiliated organizations, which have less leverage but offer citizens freedom to shape the agenda?

Opting for freedom for the moment, here is my idea:

Suppose there was a website - Changeagent2009.org - that represents a grass-roots movement of volunteer change agents across the US. Members of the Change Agent community, small groups of local and national volunteers come to the website to originate and coordinate their volunteer efforts. Their projects are keyed to public participation in the new administration’s Policy Agenda , supporting efforts on energy, environment, diplomacy and more.

At Change Agent, users scan the projects they could volunteer for, easily sign up for local and national actions, and then take part in an amazing experience: creating positive change. At Change Agent you can twitter during your volunteer experience, shoot stills and video, then upload your version of events. You can elect the best videos to air on the Link TV series, Change Agent. Or generate your own ideas and easily gather up your own crew to take action with.

EM