Marquette finds common ground through new web platform

Marquette has become home to a new experiment in using the Internet to connect you with people in your neighborhood, called CommonPlace.

It's the city's community spirit that drew interest from CommonPlace organizers, who were looking for a few more locations to start pilot versions of the site, which first began in Falls Church, Virginia, to great success there.

Here, it's being pulled together by NMU grad Anjila Holland and CommonPlace organizer Sam Atkeson, and they say it's taking off with a good start, including more than 350 members already.

"CommonPlace is meant to be a local, neighbor sharing site. But this 'sharing' is not limited to buying, selling, or trading. It is also encouraged to be sharing ideas, recipes, play dates, and group support," says Holland. "But what really sets CommonPlace apart from many of the other similar websites is its ultimate goal of using the internet to help revitalize local community in America."

The original CommonPlace site was started in 2009 by two Harvard students Peter Davis and Max Novendstern, who were concerned about the lack of civic engagement in the U.S., although the possibility for making connections is greater than ever through the Web.

"The hope is that neighbor sharing and interactions on the site can encourage neighbor sharing and interactions in the community," Holland says. "Marquette CommonPlace hopes to provide this infrastructure for communication that leads to a more connected, more civic, and more empowered Marquette."

It seems to be working so far, with businesses, community groups and individuals connecting, suggesting and conversing on topics like the Heartwood forest land, summer classes, daycare or local meeting spaces.

CommonPlace is limited to the Marquette and surrounding area right now, but if you are interested in bringing one to your town, contact organizers online at the CommonPlace website.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Anjila Holland, Marquette CommonPlace