introducing "Greater Youngstown 2.0"

what is the Greater Youngstown 2.0 Project?

It's an effort use the internet to connect worldwide any person who has lived, still lives, or wants to live in the Mahoning Valley - to job opportunities and to each other.

It's a source for news updates for people who have an interest in greater Youngstown - stretching from Pittsburgh to Cleveland.

It's a tool that allows one to find jobs, and allows employers to post jobs - for free.

- - -

Instead of creating another social media tool for this effort, we're using LinkedIn - the most popular internet tool for people to share information about their skills and job experiences.

LinkedIn (wikipedia article here) is not the same as Facebook and MySpace, which are used more often to connect friends, share pictures, listen to music, etc.

LinkedIn is more business-oriented, sorta like an online resume. You choose what information goes into your profile. If you want, others can provide written recommendations for you, you can join other professional groups, and you can search for job opportunities.

Even if you currently have a job, it's a good idea to have a LinkedIn profile. (my opinion) Having a profile can connect you to civic organizations, networking opportunities, and who knows, maybe in 5 years when you are looking to transition to another position your established profile may help.

- - -

How to join GY2.0?

Click here.

It's free, it's quick to join, and you can quit whenever you want.

- - -

and click here for the accompanying blog for Greater Youngstown 2.0

youngstown: international leader in "open source community development"

hmmmm.

Maybe the better term is: international leader in
"open source community and neighborhood development"

question: how does the penetration of information technologies (IT) into the existing structure of communities and neighborhoods make these networks faster and more productive?

media from all over the world have been flooding into the city of Youngstown and our bloggers have been having this discussion with them.

Just as IT created its own niche market, then spread to other economic sectors improving their performance, this technology is making its way into the community and neighborhood development sphere as well.

- - -

more details soon . . . stories developing.

new stories, new responses, new blogs

Elections bring the national media to Youngstown

On the Ground in Youngstown 5 minute video from the New York Times
The Politics of Trade in Ohio in the New York Times
Rust Belt Clamors for Fix, hears Rhetoric in the Chicago Tribune
Ohioans Hear Populist Pleas By Democrats in the New York Times
Democrats Appeal to Working Class Voters in Ohio in the Kansas City Star

Local blogs react

a MUST-READ post in the Defend Youngstownblog
Rust Belt Blues in the Five Husbands blog
Making the News in Meditations in an Emergency
YBI Scores in Connected Youngstown+
NY Times in Youngstown in Meditations in an Emergency

New local blogs to notice

5th Ward Councilman - Paul Drennen
www.councilmanpauldrennen.blogspot.com
the 5 husbands blog
http://fivehusbands.wordpress.com/

from DY:

"While it's nice to receive the attention Youngstown has received from both Democratic candidates here in Youngstown, we must not lose sight of the fact that this is an opportunity to make our case as to the real needs of this community, both presently and in regards to future investments. In an area so economically desperate as Youngstown, it is easy to get swept up in dialogue that appeals to our emotions and speaks to our pain. Peppered with a few items that seem like there is an understanding of how to fix our situation, this appeal can easily and often divert attention from the task at hand which is to addresses true necessities that will help us sustain ourselves at present and begin to diversely invest in our future (more on this in a moment).

In a few short days, the election will be had, the candidates will be gone and the media will move on to the next Youngstown in a state far, far away. The party will be over but Youngstown, OH will still be here. It's time to wipe the stardust from our eyes and place personal or special interests aside. We must begin to start asking some tough, detailed questions that speak to the common social and economic issues that face this Valley as whole before these candidates are on their way."

more on this topic here.

note: this post is cross-posted at In The Yo