A group of people wait together on a chilly day for the morning bus. No one speaks, but instead each individual has their head buried in their device, fully consumed in the technology at their fingertips. An email, the morning news, a podcast - whatever it may be, their energy and focus is spoken for.
For many, this all too familiar picture depicts an image of total disengagement - human beings isolated from one another while occupying the very same street corner. However, as we enter 2016 it is becoming increasingly apparent that the technology that looks to divide us, may actually have the potential to bring us closer together.
"Studies show that a community's sense of belonging is directly connected with their ability to understand and help shape the vision for their community." Lisa Attygalle, Tamarack Institute
While fifteen years ago, we didn't have a platform for the majority of people in a community to come together to share their ideas and opinions - outside of calling a town hall or walking door to door. Today 85% of us have smartphones and people are more engaged than ever when it comes to making their opinions heard. In this age of technology and connectivity, everyone has a platform and everyone has a voice. So how can we ensure we are not only a part of the conversation to collectively make change in our communities but that we are using the right tools to do so?
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