Rethinking Haiti: The Big Idea of CauseShift.com and #ShiftHaiti

#1 Thing You Need to Learn from this Post:
Let’s use this opportunity to reconsider how causes are addressed. Let’s take a moment to consider how our society is changing — what is happening now — and what it means for the future in terms of how we communicate, engage, educate, and mobilize audiences to take action around social issues.

That’s what CauseShift.com is about. That’s what #ShiftHaiti is beginning to tackle. And, you can be a part of it.

A More Detailed Exploration:
You would be hard pressed not to know about the devastation that happened in Haiti, the growing humanitarian crisis, and the overwhelming outpouring of generosity that continues to occur.

As of this morning, people have donated more than $20 million to the American Red Cross thru text message giving alone.  Even larger amounts have been given online to a wide variety of charities, while corporations of all sizes have stepped forward in a big way.

While many will laud these fundraising totals and offer it up as proof that digital and social media is leading us to a utopian vision of the future, it will take new perspectives and much more work than expected.

Focus on Impact, Not Shiny Objects
The Internet has made us lazy. There are new, exciting tools. Collaboration happens quickly. Individuals can have impact. But, we are focusing on the shiny thing, not the impact.

Technology won’t solve these issues.

What will? How you use them. How you support people’s interest in acting. How you teach, engage, and mobilize is key.

This is not an awareness issue. Pink ribbons, wristbands, and hashtags are fleeting.

We need a shift. A shift in thinking. A shift in behavior. A shift in approach. A shift in how dollars are spent.

This is why Brian Reich, Anne Mail Bertelsen, and I have launched CauseShift.com.

Do You Want to Help Lead this Shift?
The CauseShift team is seeking big ideas and different perspectives.  Do you have a big idea for how we can respond to disasters like Haiti?  Have you read someone else’s idea and want to share it with others?

You can send your ideas and links to ShiftHaiti@causeshift.com via email or to @CauseShift on Twitter.  Or, you can leave a comment here!