BrainJams Headed to U.C. Berkeley Campus

San Francisco, CA, February 22, 2006 --(PR.com)-- BrainJams are participant lead events (aka: Unconferences) where a diverse group of people gather to share insights, discuss issues and learn from each other. The fundamental challenge for participants is how working people can get the most value from social media and Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, wikis, social networks and Open Source tools. The ultimate goal is to improve each individual’s ability to connect and collaborate with other people and to communicate more effectively through online conversations. The focus of BrainJams is on the practical use of emerging tools by working people, not on the process of writing code and engineering systems – to communicate about projects and share knowledge that can spur innovation and foster positive change. 

This event is sponsored by the UCB Office of the CIO, Lockergnome, Gada.be, Rate It All and Laughing Squid and will be co-facilitated by BrainJams founder Chris Heuer and Lee Felsenstein from Homebrew Computer Club fame. The event starts at 10:00 am, with the rest of the day’s agenda determined by participants using a modified 'open space' format, where participants lead 'breakthrough sessions' on topics of their choosing, related to the main theme of using social media tools for the greatest impact. This BrainJams will be somewhat different from prior events in that Chris and Lee have incorporated a few ideas that were originally considered for the Homebrew Computer Club, but never before put into practice. 

The knowledge discussed at BrainJams will be captured by participants to be shared with others via the new BrainJams community site. This will further the discussions from the day and build upon what is shared at the event. Attendees will leave the event with dozens of new connections and many new ideas to improve upon the projects with which they are connected. 

BrainJams founder Chris Heuer adds, “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to collaborate with Lee Felsenstein on the U.C. Berkeley event. The work he did facilitating the original Homebrew Computer Club meetings is very much the same sort of model we strive for at our BrainJams events. Perhaps more importantly, their founding connection to the original purpose of the Whole Earth Catalog - to put technology tools in the hands of everyday people - is directly linked to our modern day cause. This next event is going to quite a fun and valuable experiment that you won’t want to miss.” 

Attendance is free, though donations are gladly accepted to ensure future BrainJams events are held throughout the country and around the world. To learn more about the event, please visit the BrainJams Wiki at http://brainjams.org/wiki/index.php?title=BrainJams25Feb2006. 

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BrainJams
BrainJams (http://www.brainjams.org) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage ad-hoc collaboration in the public commons through the use of emerging social media. As part of this mission, BrainJams is organizing live events and is building a community of practice for those interested in organizing similarly structured events. Inspired by BarCamp, Webzine, and the Tech Crunch Barbecue in Silicon Valley, BrainJams enables ordinary people with extraordinary ideas to make real, lasting impact by connecting with a diverse peer group and learning how to best use emerging technologies.

Media Contacts:

Kristie Wells
Treo: (415) 577-9022
Email: kristie@brainjams.org