Ourmedia is a 501c3 nonprofit on a mission to bolster Generation Z (Gen Z) leadership for the 2030s. Ourmedia’s growing ecosystem seeks to offer a robust system of support around Gen Z that foregrounds their voices and concerns while leveraging technology, mentorship, and storytelling in empowering youth to co-build a brighter future together.
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Fostering a community of practice around Gen Z changemaking
We build networks and infrastructure to encourage growth and collaboration across Gen Z led advocacy projects in a wide range of issue areas. Our growing content archives offer a space for Gen Z changemakers to learn from and with each other to support their missions.
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Leveraging the power of storytelling and digital media as an instrument of change
We emphasize grounding action in the lived experiences of stakeholders by utilizing digital media as an instrument for storytelling and collaboration. We are exploring how storytelling opens new pathways for mentorship and lifelong learning.
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Exploring the role of Generative AI in the future of work, life, and learning
We seek new avenues to harness Artificial Intelligence for equalizing purposes as technology’s role grows in work, life, and learning. Recognizing that the rate of change from technology continues to advance, we encourage dialogue across generations that challenges our institutions to adapt with human-centered responses.
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Ourmedia projects belong to everyone
We believe in openness and welcome all to join us and/or utilize our efforts. Ourmedia projects belong to everyone, a collective journey towards innovation and change for the generation Z in the AI future.
Where are we going?
March 2023
Ourmedia is a 501c3 nonprofit on a mission to bolster Generation Z (Gen Z) leadership for the 2030s. Ourmedia’s growing ecosystem seeks to offer a robust system of support around Gen Z that foregrounds their voices and concerns while leveraging technology, mentorship, and storytelling in empowering youth to co-build a brighter future together.
Our Future
Beyond our current efforts, Ourmedia plans to spend the summer building a community and repository of the voices of this movement, including thought leaders and members of generation Z, which will culminate in a festival in the Fall to consider digital innovation more broadly with a wide range of stakeholders.
But there is room for change
Ourmedia.org works to foster a broader discussion and build a social network between Generation Z and current thought leaders that can map onto our society’s current vibrant but scattered push towards social change. If one has a voice in the solution, one will more likely have ownership of the solution.
We are igniting a movement of changemakers to address how an increasingly decentralized technological world could address some of the limitations that our social and political institutions have created. Our work reconciles the abstract ethos of ‘Tech-for-Good’ with real-world, off-line efforts to repair institutions surrounding democracy and the media. Ourmedia’s interest in technology stems from the original purpose of the internet, which was to inform and connect people.
WELCOME TO OURMEDIA
We want your voice and participation to define how Web3 can best serve and support us. What does that mean to you?
The great conundrum, and an invitation to solve it
- Why does an increased national polarization, juxtaposed with Web 3.0 and a growing urgency for much more “Tech for Good,” offer you an opportunity? Well, driven by America’s mounting culture of valuing the individual over the neighborhood, a disruptive shift toward the good needs to happen. Jamie Diamond, with J.P. Morgan, recently said it best, that “stakeholder” interest should be more balanced with “shareholder” interest. We can meet the moment.
- Why you and I should immediately want to do something is weighed against a backdrop of data from the past two years that shows that bad behavior is trending up, and that philanthropy, church attendance and environmental health are going downhill. With alarm, you’ve noticed that something darker and deeper seems to be happening as well, featuring a long-term loss of solidarity with a long-term rise in alienation.
- Ideally, despite all of its acknowledged downsides, technology that you and I possess—and that we’ve actually helped to develop, either directly or indirectly—is about to be re-directed into “Tech for Good.” This can be a pivot point for our society. You’re joining a mainstream, nonpartisan group whose members have spanned from the U.N., World Bank, tech companies, non-profits as well as storytellers from Hollywood to personal media, there’s a broad commitment from across our society; and we have experience in bringing these together.
Here is how you can help.
We need to come out of the Pandemic with a more balanced 21st Century Economy. First, we’ve adapted to change more in the past 24 months—and at a faster pace—than we ever have. As agents of that change, you and I can appreciate how remarkable that accomplishment is. Going forward, the space between the physical and digital world will continue to shrink. As a result, new opportunities will materialize with greater frequency, and with immeasurable impact. Through actionable dialogue, we can help determine whether that’s to become a good thing, or not.
Is technology the center of the universe, no. Rather, we as in you and I are the center, and we should view technology as having a seat at the table, not at the center of our experience. We all discuss information overload, and with the rate of change accelerating we need to have positions to deal with this because it is distracting us from our most fulfilling lives. Redefining the role of Information, Communication and Technology together.
Second, is it possible for us to reboot for the 21st Century? If so, the potential gained from this tack may be your and my greatest fighting chance yet. You’ll probably agree that potential is the common measure for all of us. Yet, in this case, it will always remain a mere fraction—substantially less than one—without the denominator of our collective effort. With your proven background, you already have a lot going for you, but we offer to find a way to apply that potential to this new problem. That’s why we request your engagement.
You may have observed that it often takes a crisis to help us change strategy and behavior. In turn, with change comes an abundance of opportunity. And that’s when and how we can actually exceed our potential.
As the front lines are being turned upside down, and transformations are accelerating because of technology, the rate of change is moving too fast for business, government and society to adapt vigorously. But you possess experience in building out the technology industry that has powered the economy for the past 50 years. You recognize it’s been used for good, but now increasingly weaponized for self-indulgence.
To keep them from breaking bad, an updated system of communications, new behaviors, governance and accountability must be made to exist. Or, as Jamie Diamond of J.P. Morgan cites, “Stakeholder” interests. To reach our potential, at stake is nothing less than the future of education, business, the environment, faith, and society.
The next generation is shaping up and will determine the future of how we engage and serve our business and social interests. Those of us that are from the 20th century should lean in and add a helping voice for the next generation. Information, Communication and Technology
Teamed with your valuable background, the following are examples of experiences that we can bring to the toolchest:
- Over 20 years ago we developed some of the first cloud platforms, real time communications and decentralized computing. Those potential advancements for society are now being launched across the market as we head into the Metaverse, AI, Crypto and Quantum computing—many of which were pioneered by our network of business and technology leaders. Among these, decentralized computing significantly enhances how we as individuals can connect to each other, consume information that is trusted, and take actions together.
- To boost personal performance for networks of thousands, our team introduced AI to social commerce interactions. We pioneered some of the first Podcasts, built by our (who is “our” community of early adopters of communicating with digital media. We contributed to activating the community of the first videobloggers before YouTube, and established the first social network to advance ocean sustainability, constructed an early marketplace for conducting social commerce with AI-guided digital engagement and video technology, plus much more. We now have available to us so many open API’s and tools to redefine our commercial and social interactions.
- As these examples are intended to illustrate, we have spent decades building a deep network of relationships and would like you to join us in exploring how to define and advance 21st Century economics for Stakeholder interests, that’s us.
In summary, with your participation, in the first 90 days we’ll develop a three-year road map that will be detailed in a transparent way what we will accomplish after a series of listening posts. Milestones will include establishment of a joint purpose and culture, and an approach for Decentralized Organizations that re-enforces how tech can best support humanity. To serve our interests, this is a 501c3.
This very well may be your and my best chance to help revive both our immediate and broader communities, employing something that you and I have built our lives around—Tech for Good. We invite your participation and donations. Please share with us your contact information and what you would like to help contribute for to defining how we strive to a better work-life balance.
Two heads are better than one. Can we please talk?
Your colleague,
Dave
