Michael Maranda
Chicago, IL - USA
President, The Association For Community Networking (AFCN)
Executive Director, CTCNet Chicago Chapter
Co-Chair, Illinois Community Technology Consortium (ilCTC)
Co-Chair, Get Illinois Online (GIO)
Vice President, CAAELII
Vice President, NPOTechs

Biography:

I wear many hats, and this is sometimes confusing to people. But I view these hats as concentric, for the most part, so its not as much of a burden as is often assumed, and more to the point it hasnt been a matter of conflicting demands, other than with respect to time.

I am actively organizing regionally, and locally: Midwest/Illinois, Chicago, and am coordinating this work with attention to national issues and regional cooperation.

While working as a Development Officer at a community based organization serving immigrant populations I was given the latitude to pursue funding for technology programs, and to launch them. This was my formal entree to this field (community networking & technology). Since that time, and with subsequent expansion of programs I've shifted towards being an activist and organizer.

We can solve our problems if we work together. This was an article of faith for me. But sometimes we need to direct some of that work to protecting and advancing the common good, and not just to the direct problems we face in our communities.

Working daily with technology and observing our field and related developments we have an insight into how things are related and where they might be moving, and thus why certain issues that may not be apparent as social justice issues have their relevance to our daily lives. We have to become better at describing what we do and why it is important, and to find the language to express our insights to others.

Our work must connect to daily life in our communities, in all aspects of that life. Environment, Health, Work, Play, Media, Civic Engagement. I'm reaching out in these and other areas to see how we can link for our collective benefit, and so that I can learn in the process. I write this as a note to myself, as much as a disclosure, these are things I aspire to.

What's a recent movie you've seen and enjoyed and why?

Havent had opportunity to see many new films lately. I very much enjoyed Lars von Trier's "Five Obstructions" and the glimpses into Leth's "the Perfect Human" that that afforded. I'll not stick to the question and mention another director I quite enjoy: Cassavetes. I spent a lot of time one year at the Gene Siskel Film center...

What is "community" and why is it important to you?

I recognize a variety of communities…. Communities of place, similarity and of interest… but of greatest appeal is the diverse community, where there is healthy discourse and a healthy degree of conflict…. i.e. vital communities. I think it comes down to an ecological point of view, for me… I think of the diversity as obviously more healthy… in view of monocropping, for example. With diverse views and perspectives I think we have more likelihood of surviving threats we might not otherwise see… I suppose it sounds a bit cheesy or capra-esque. Going back to films, I'll mention Meet John Doe… I mention that film here as it does a great job of speaking about authenticity in community… I once did a reading of Meet John Doe in light of Martin Buber's work. 

Pick a favorite technology and explain how it makes the world a better place?

Being fairly non-specific, I'd have to say Internet Protocol, as I spend so much of my life interacting through the internet. What hasn’t yet changed because of the Internet? And of those aspects of society that havent yet, how much longer do you think it will take? More and more of us are finding opportunity to interact with each other in new ways, this is something worth protecting but the technology is not an end in itself. I accept the premise of the "dumb network" as allowing greater freedom.

2-3 questions or issues that you hope we'll address at the "Deepening Online Deliberation" meeting?

Getting diverse groups talking…

Getting from talk to (meaningful) action…

Sustaining dialogue (and action (and continuing to bring in new and diverse parties)).