Congratulations to Michael Meotti, who was named one of The Fast 50, Fast Company magazine’s annual readers’ challenge, a worldwide search for ordinary people doing extraordinary things. What Michael did is truly extraordinary:
Don’t fight City Hall, inform it: Michael Meotti developed the City Scan project, which puts handheld computers, GPS systems, and digital cameras in the hands of citizens to document street-level conditions that need to be fixed by local government. Citizens help inventory everything from potholes to graffiti and then draft a ‘Contract for Results’ with city officials.
I’ve met Michael a few times, and have much respect for his work. I think one of the times were at the Taking Democracy to Scale conference last year. Speaking of which, I just found out that Lars and Mike have started a blog. Welcome in blogspace, guys! I’ve promptly added you to my blogroll.
More Fast 50: I was also pleased to learn that Tomoye is there. They’re doing some important work:
John Mertl’s software is helping “communities of practice” share ideas within the Smithsonian Institute, the World Bank — even the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2002, his company was asked by the United Nations to help rebuild Afghanistan and promote AIDS awareness in Africa.
Faster, faster.
