Day 1:
Here we go

A few ground rules

We’re all here because we are subject matter experts and understand the complexities of our particular work.
It is important to remember that skills and smarts is usually domain-specific. That is to say, knowledge in one field does not make you an expert in another. But because of the wonderfulness of human psychology, we tend not to remember that and end up with oversimplified understandings of other people’s jobs.
That is why I have a rule: do not use the word “just” (as in “just do [x]”. “Just” is a troublesome word, behind every use are tangled webs of assumptions that are usually wrong. When we use “just” we sometimes inadvertently trivialize the fractally! deep complexities of what is involved in someone else’s work. Luckily, unpacking those assumptions are one of the main themes of the next four days. And to show I’m serious here, to keep us all in check, Sarah has made little sad faces to keep us honest “I’ll just do it tonight” is a sadface, “they should just get it over with” is another sadface. !My originally idea was a “just jar” (like a swear jar) to add extra incentive, but Sarah said that was a bad idea. Obviously, “just” as “justice” is totally allowed, so we’ll have to be careful about which we mean. Also safe uses: “just now” as in “I just did that!” Okay? Good.

I’d like to check in, too.

Structural

Fundamentally, there are two ways to fix a problem like this. The first, is that I could go off and use my hard-won internetty knowledge and experience to come up with a totally new site heirarchy that would make this make much more sense and we would likely see immediate improvement. It wouldn’t take much time or massive amounts of effort from the rest of y’all. The problem with this way of doing things, is that after a few years, new projects and campaigns have started and stopped, we’ll have new pages and new campaigns, projects, and other sorts of exceptions that would not fit into a static structure.

Right now, it feels like “all we need is a CMS” and all our troubles will go away. But honestly that’s a bit of wishful thinking. If all I do is draw out a new website structure with new designs, if GA is lucky, in a few years it’ll only feel like this

Technology is the facilitator of the people and processes. While technology may improve efficiency and effectiveness, and allow you to work better as an organization, it has to start with culture, people, and process. —Sheryl Pattek, Forrester Research

Green America {builds|promotes|nurtures|fosters} sustainability through economic action.

2. Embedded within the idea of sustainability are environmental & social justice.

2b. By definition, justice & sustainability can not happen when people are left behind.

∴ Environmental & social justice must be inclusive & intersectional.

∴ Green America’s work must be inclusive & intersectional.

What is content?

Content is anything that communicates meaning—overt and intentional—as well as unseen and unintended.

Content is anything that communicates meaning—overt and intentional—as well as unseen and unintended.

Content is anything that communicates meaning—overt and intentional—as well as unseen and unintended.

Content is anything that communicates meaning—overt and intentional—as well as unseen and unintended.

The things we don’t say matter as much as what we do.

We have values, spoken and unspoken. So this is an idea that I first encountered in queer communities. Unless you say otherwise, people assume you’re straight. But if you’re in a queer community, people assume you’re gay or lesbian unless you say otherwise (for example, you might be bi).

But we also have examples of this in all of our lives, right? You’re having Thanksgiving dinner with conservative family, you’re just trying to enjoy the garlic mashed potatoes (because when else will we allow ourselves to fill it with a pound of butter? Never, that’s when.) And someone says something about “them transsexuals”, everyone else goes “yeah, fuck obama”, and you sit quietly because you just want to get through the meal. All you can do is shake your head sadly with your cousin across the table. Your difference of opinion is erased.

The thing is, when we’re communicating online or in text, that cousin doesn’t see us shake our head. The cousin just thinks we’re in agreement with everyone else who was nodding along. By avoiding conflict, we perpetuate what is sometimes an injust status quo.

Day 1:
Here we go

Structural

What is content?

Everything is interconnected

Editorial Systems Design

It’s about content governance

Are we ready?

Bodystorm

Day 1:Here we go

Structural

What is content?

Everything is interconnected

Editorial Systems Design

It’s about content governance

Are we ready?

Bodystorm

Day 1:
Here we go