The Commons is a free wiki-based online newsmagazine about non-profits that serve the Silicon Valley, the people behind them, and the people that they help -- written, edited & produced by students and other volunteers in the valley.

Purpose

There are hundreds of organizations and thousands of people engaged in good work in the Valley. They feed our hungry, shelter our homeless, heal our sick, teach our children, protect our communities, give strength to the powerless, and hope to those who had lost all hope. Their stories are extraordinary, but often left untold. The principal mission of this project is to get their stories told.

We live in the age of information, and the future belongs to those who harness the power of knowledge and modern communication. Our schools are nurturing a new breed of leaders in these fields. Our second mission is to give these leaders a platform upon which to practice what they’ve learned in the disciplines of journalism and mass communication, including research, interviewing, writing, editing, photography, illustration, audio/video production, and internet publication.

Execution

The Commons uses wiki technology provided by Wikia, whose mission is to enable the world to collaborate on building sources of knowledge that are free for the world to use. Wikia was founded by Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, and endorses this project as part of that mission.

Wiki technology is ideal for our purposes, as it enables collaboration in the preparation and publication of our articles. Our editorial staff plans and assigns articles, conducts research and interviews, and assists in editing and publishing the stories. Unlike most online communities, this virtual community is also a real one. Our narrow geographic focus allows us to meet face-to-face, as often as needed.

Interests

The success of this community depends upon how well it serves the interests of its members. Non-profits will gain from exposure. In addition to being published here, their stories may be picked up by major media, through the network of Wikia and other participants. Non-profit staff and volunteers will get the recognition they deserve, encouraging others to also serve. Students and other contributors will have opportunities to meet and work with people from other schools, non-profits, government, and media, building their resumes and connections as they practice their craft. The Commons will provide all contributors a venue for personal development, as they engage in a social good. For those of us whose interest is purely philanthropic, participation is its own reward.

About the Editor

Leo Romero was at various times a Red Cross volunteer, an evangelist, a student leader, a union organizer, an organizer of farming cooperatives, an activist for mountain tribes, an environmentalist, and a corporate lobbyist. He was a staff writer and editor of opposition newspapers in the Philippines during the Marcos administration, when press freedom was under fire. He moved to the valley in 2000, and works for a technology company, which he joined in 1995. He lives in San Jose with his wife of fourteen years, and is the father of five.

Register to attend. Go to siliconvalley.wikia.com.