Technology: Help Wanted?

Posted by Steve Lettau

on May 28, 2015

June 2015 - The Rotarian Magazine

At some point, you’ve needed to find a couch, an apartment, concert tickets, a plumber, a garage sale. And chances are, you’ve spent some time perusing craigslist.org, the online classified ad website that encompasses more than 700 local sites in 70 countries.

There’s an actual guy named Craig behind craigslist, one of the 10 most visited English-language websites in the world. He’s 62-year-old Craig Newmark, and he does more than help people peddle tickets and used furniture.

Through his other online venture, craigconnects.org, Newmark advocates using technology for social good. On the site, he dispenses advice, posts surveys, and highlights research of interest to those striving to make the world a better place. He also publicizes information about groups involved in the causes he’s most passionate about: military families and veterans, quality journalism, public diplomacy, open government, consumer protection, technology for the common good, and voter protection.

Newmark says craigconnects.org is a natural extension of his previous work: “Craigslist was always about helping others put food on the table, a roof over their heads.”