I'm thrilled with the response so far. Thank you!
So many of you responded favorably to the notion that the ActiveRain cyber-community is uniquely suited to becoming a resource for helping real estate agents impact the cyle of poverty in their local communities, places they can see and touch. (If you are just now stumbling on this idea, some background reading may help you. Please read "The Poverty Gap Is Growing: What Can We Do?" and "Harnessing The Power Of The ActiveRain Community: An Idea.")
The idea was and is a simple one. I'd like to state it now as an actionable statement.
We will focus the collective energy of many willing real estate professionals to create a website, based on blog technology, that would specifically highlight information and actionable ideas in the following four areas:
- Renter Content: rent to own strategies, good tennant plans, renter marketing.
- Builder Content: working with builders to encourage low income projects
- Local Government & Association Content: how to be an advocate for the empoverished
- Education Programs Content: for existing community groups, for broker sponsored events, for elementary and high school classrooms.
In my last post, I asked you to respond to some names.
I registered several names and put them up for discussion. The overwhelming consensus was that the following two were the best: RainOfHope.com and RainForChange.com. My initial leanings were toward RainOfHope.com, but I agree with many of the commenters, hope is nice and needed, but change is what we're after.
So, I'm suggesting we go with RainForChange.com!
How will this work? A TypePad Pro blogging account will provide the perfect platform for this endeavor. It is extremely powerful and simple to use. RealEstateShows.com will cover the very minimal monthly costs for this service and our team will work on the logo design and other design aspects of the site. The TypePad Pro account will allow us to invite as many guest authors as is necessary. The guest authors will have full editing and posting control. However, it will NOT be necessary to write original content specifically for the site, though that would certainly be great.
Why? One of the original goals was to use the ActiveRain platform as a source. We are all strapped for time. Posts can and should be written on ActiveRain or the guest authors own blogs. RainForChange.com guest authors will be responsible for pointing readers to content and adding editorial and instructional comments about the use of the information in the fight against poverty. RainForChange.com then becomes a repository of ideas and knowledge, gleaned from many sources. It provides direction and focus. The ideas will come from many sources. (This is a working concept and certainly open for any level of debate.)
We will need a volunteer staff to monitor the organization of the ideas, to insure that posts are categorized properly and to make certain the material presented is truly directed towards the goal.
We're still in the idea phase... but moving toward action! Your input is invaluable. I'd like to hear which of the areas above you feel you might be able to contribute content for and, of course, any other ideas you think are necessary to improve on the basic concepts and move this forward.
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