Some of u know I co-founded @liberationlib five years ago & it is now run beautifully & independently by a steering committee of volunteers based in Chicago. Since there's over 1 hour to go til I can break fast, going to share some things I've learned re: starting new projects.

First, I've started or been part of founding lots and lots of projects and organizations over the years. There are many reasons for this. The main one is that I believe that orgs and projects are dynamic and should die. But that's for another day, LOL.

I had the idea to start a books to incarcerated children project for many years. I never had the time or bandwidth to do any work to create a container for the idea. I was also secretly hoping that someone else would do the work and make the project happen.

Years went by (maybe 10) & then I decided in 2013/14 that I was going to be leaving Chicago to move back to NYC. I started to talk then in earnest with people I knew who worked at youth jails/prisons to gauge interest in a books to incarcerated youth project.

Lesson #1: Not all of your ideas need to be executed when you first have them. Sometimes it's actually not the right time to move on the idea.
Lesson #2: Cultivating relationships with key people is important in any project you want to realize. It takes time to build trust.

OK back to the story. So I talked to folks & heard that some would be willing to open some doors to make it possible for books to reach the incarcerated children so I had a key factor worked out. Next, I needed to invite others to come discuss the idea. https://niastories.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/volunteer-opportunity-books-to-youth-in-prison/

So I made an invitation - via social media AND by reaching out individually to some people I already collaborated with including @abanksharris, @evanagao & others. I invited folks to come to a meeting to talk and hear about the idea.

Lesson #3: It's very good when you are inviting people to join you to talk about a project, program etc... idea to cast your net both wide and narrow. IOW yes reach out to strangers AND also reach out to comrades, friends, etc...

Our first meeting took place during a BLIZZARD. I was LATE in arriving and there were at least 12 people who came anyway. I knew immediately that the project would be a GO. If folks will come out during a Chicago BLIZZARD, then you already have some committed people.

Lesson #4: Don't call a meeting in January in Chicago. LOL

Anyway, if you're the person proposing the idea, you should already have some things worked out in advance of calling others together. Sketch out what you think the key needs/questions will be: ie. mission statement, vision, structure, name for the project, funds, etc. etc.

Don't come with all of these things already worked out. Come with the key needs/questions sketched out and invite others to JOIN YOU/to Collaborate in figuring out the answers/responses to the needs/questions.

Lesson #5: ALWAYS make sure that you invite people to take ownership in the idea. Do that early. This will determine whether your idea will become a viable program/project.

Lesson #6: Try to give an estimate early on of the timeline for the project. You don't have to know everything but what kind of a time commitment are you asking people to make. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. It will take longer than you think so be realistic about this.

I'm going to stop here for now. There's much to say about the nuts and bolts of figuring out how you will structure the work of a program/project, how to build in accountability, etc... but that will take 2 weeks. You get the picture.