IT Task Force Project

It might be beneficial to regularly peruse the social networks for a small number of comments and other entries that stand out and then highlight those on the DCCC.

We might also consider contests about diversity topics such as: culture (celebrations, insights, AHA experiences); experiences where group barriers were overcame (involving individuals or groups) with resulting friendship, collaboration or just increased wisdom; otherwise activities, events or individual acts promoting inclusion.

We could also perhaps consider "advertising" programs such as virtual events with topics. For instance:

"It is not just about traditional diversity efforts; it’s about a whole new way of looking at the human experience." This campaign might target overcoming some of the stigma associated with diversity that might be limiting the council's resources and ability to make a difference.

"Why did I say that?" (This was Stephen Lehmkuhle's idea.) This campaign might be geared to promote critical thinking - to inspire people to "train" their frontal lobes with regard to group boundaries. A similar saying came around years ago that is still effective today ("My bad.") This saying seems to make admitting wrong easier, and helps people admit wrong in social settings in a way that seems to undermine people's tendency to criticize and judge, and for the wrong doers to say, "It was my fault; let's get over it and fix it."

We could also connect DC events to social networking and even add events based on these campaigns. We should think toward getting media attention as well.

The social networking is a great chance to actually affect the pop culture as well with the end goal to eliminate the aversion and contention associated with group boundaries.

Present: Al Lun, Bob Fligge, Mark Graybill, Ashok Patel

Agenda: Roles, interests, and scope of IT working group; Supporting evolving DC vision-strategic priorities; Other emerging opportunities for networking/raising awareness

Clarifying vision map with IT lens:

1) DCCC site is a unique demonstration project (pro-bono at this point) enabling DC board members to virtually interact in a secured space and learn of capabilities/tools/needs of our community and beyond. We will strive to enrich the usability and reliabilty of IT-related infrastructure and applications as a major means of enriching interactions between people of Rochester, DC staff, and DC board.

2) IT task force members are fostering this capacity-building as a way to leverage, share, and manage knowledge resources required for future global leadership development (e.g. technologic-adeptness, interprofessional/interdisciplinary learning, and cross-cultural thought-storming). The additional value-add to DC and stakeholders will be promoting policies for a safe, inclusive and trustworthy resource within the virtual environment.

3) Assuming that core competencies for youth and educators will include just-in-time online learning as well as social networking media (facebook, google groups, etc), the DCCC site prototype can accelerate how board level decision-making seamlessly connects to grassroots objectives/local needs and activities. This awareness should enhance evidence-based decision support and community readiness/responsiveness. Before any broader deployment or even marketing these assets, we recommend that all board members (led by IT task force members) beta-test this product with feedback to Al Lun or directly to the DCCC site.

4) The IT data linkages can be enriched to the Board for secured and time/context-sensitive issues in a paperless, yet trackable way. Sources from external environmental scans (demographics, risk areas, health disparities) can be placed for future referencing or for improved consistency of messaging to minimize conflicting Board-level interests/perspectives. With use of individual folders and sandbox area, we can preserve our unique perspectives, but still contribute to a stronger collective voice.

5) As a case study, at least one Board member (AMP) has found the IT working group, the DCCC site tool and support from AL, MG, and BF an invaluable way to share +/- organize ideas, resources, and relationships in a mutually enriching way ... "e pluribus unum" with tremendous possibilities for an expanded future!


Emerging or evolving opportunities for partnerships

1) IFYC discussions and service project-contact database

2) Free online e-Learning modules via www.ncbrt.lsu.edu (disaster preparedness)

3) Capture aha moment memorabilia

4) Develop a brief/chunked DCCC site intro course 101 along with 5-7 scenarios for usability education (novice level)

As a task force commissioned by the Board, the ITTF should operate under the following policy guidance:

http://diversitycouncil.mid[…]-board-committee-principles

Note: We are basically prototyping how DC Board's policy discussions can be facilitated by a Web technology like DCCC. And it aligns with Carver's book Page 300

Ray Tooley (2004) argued for a system that is instantaneously updated, ..... . DCCC is an example of that kind of system to make the board work more effectively.

A tool that enables participants to drill down any of the concepts/terms on the vision map at a given point in time detailing particulars will be helpful. The map represents the 'ends' while the individual components, their project proponents, and the dynamic relationships between elements would convey the 'means'.

If other groups shared a similar approach, one could more easily identify gaps, opportunities, and redundancies at a community or interorganizational level. Of course there may be legal, COI and intellectual property constraints, depending on the goals of the Board(s)/NGO in relation to public accountabilities.

The development of an IT 101 training/orientation package may be of benefit to DC Board and staff. I suggest we work on shaping key concepts to consider from a health services, safety and quality perspective, but focus on how, specifically, our ITTF and infrastructure/apps will support organizational learning as well as knowledge asset management. To start this, we could use Al's basic presentation above and contextualize the health/systems improvement aspects with the PPT material I added in my folder...but open to ANY help from our team as this ought to be scalable, generalizable, and interoperable to a large extent.

If we can do this semi-transparently and build confidence/trust at multiple levels, I think we can build IT 202 for next phase of accelerated learning/team-building.

Here is link to Ashok's slide deck on a health services focused context of IT enablement:
http://diversitycouncil.middlewaygroup.com/[…]/DC_ICTconcepts.ppt
Let's discuss its concept there.

This is a better link for discussion purposes. The earlier link opens up the powerpoint right the way.

http://diversitycouncil.middlewaygroup.com/[…]/view