In March, we joined forces with Darim Online to host a gathering of the Tribe at the 2011 Nonprofit Technology Conference. Expecting somewhere in the range of the 30 participants, we were blown away when more than 70 professionals from national, regional and local organizations signed up, showed up and spoke up.

It was clear by the sheer quantity and quality of people in the room that there is a deep hunger for these conversations within our community. Indeed, our very presence indicated that we as a community recognize the important role technology plays in helping us achieve our respective missions—even if we aren’t using it as effectively as possible at the moment. It also indicated that we are ripe for learning how best to harness it for the betterment of the Jewish people as a whole.

But you know what else it indicated? That as connected as we are through technology, it also has a way of making us feel disconnected from the human experience. Gatherings like this remind us that Facebook is no substitute for face-to-face interactions—that it is when we are together in person that the most transformative partnerships are born. Indeed, they reinforce the importance of institutions, organizations and emerging initiatives working together to harness the power of technology to create new avenues through which large numbers of individuals can explore Jewish life in ways they find personally meaningful.

Thankfully, we had Aaron Herman on hand to create a historical footprint of the gathering so that we could share with those who could not join us and also use it to build on the conversation. Check out the videos below, which we have organized according to the gathering agenda. You can also search the hashtag #11NTCJews to follow the Twitversation. Thoughts and feedback welcome!

The Jewish New Media Landscape

Adam Simon, Associate National Director, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

The New Rules of the Game

 

 

 

Lisa Colton, President, Darim Online

Case Studies: Repair the World, Big Duck

 

 

Dan Sieradski, Director of Digital Strategy, Repair the World

Farra Trompeter, Vice President for Client Relationships and Strategy, Big Duck

Social Media Problem Solving

 

 

 

Rachel Weidinger, Senior Manager for Marketing & Communications, TechSoup Global

Evaluations and Debrief

 

 

Roben Kantor, Communications Officer, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

J.T. Waldman Art Exhibit

Sponsored by JCSA

Challenges and Opportunities

Interview with Google Nonprofit Team