Workshops/focallocal.hack-a-thon

hack-a-thon! followed by laser-tag party - seeking designers, coders and developers.

We are building a fun, energetic and vibrant gathering of people from all backgrounds and walks of life in London connecting around positive social action. Focallocal is not a concept, we run 2-5 events/week bringing between 20 and 200 people to each. any event can be suggested through our network, so long as it is for the greater benefit of society, and using positive methods (see our principles below).

we want to build our own social media intra-net where we can all connect easily, whioch would greatly increase our ability to collaborate around projects and be a much larger benefit to our society. members would be able to suggest and create new projects, find collaborators and follow the progress of other internal projects. it would be built using opensource programs (probably Anahita) and the product would be opensource and available to all.

we'd be bringing our members to the hack-a-thon, but would also love to have members from hack-space involved or just coming along to join in our laser tag after party.

unfortunately a donation not possible. i've committed everything to focallocal and am homeless, i get food from supermarkets when they throw it out and bounce around the couches of my/our members. i'm very passionate about the project and have been putting progress ahead of money.. and creature comforts to get it running. we have a few influential backers and have been running a internationally important art exhibition for the 2012 Olympics in exchange for support and networking from a senior Govt. culture and society advisor - so the project is more than just a concept, it has a huge amount of momentum i just haven't found time to apply for funding or focus on for-profit projects (which are used to finance our projects and grow the community).

as we put on events all the time, perhaps we could instead create and run a team building/just for fun event for all of hack spaces members instead. i would be more than happy to promise a donation as and when we begin earning and to pay to use your space for events in the future.

some of our recent events include: - workshops showing troubled youth alternative career paths like being a magician, comedian, clown, painter, illustrator, etc. - our now international smile campaign/social experiment spreading awareness of the heath, social, personal and professional benefits of simply smiling more. - our massive flash mob pillow fights, giant(50m) slip n slides, flash mob bubble blowing events, etc, etc.

more info about us:

What is Focallocal The Focallocal community aims to make life in London brighter and more connected through our operations and activities; we provide Londoners with the opportunity and tools to support the local creative community and groups dealing with serious societal issues, in a light-hearted, adventurous and enjoyable way. Our collaborative community is open to anyone who agrees to participate abiding by the ethos laid out in our community statement and 5 community principles.

The Focallocal Community Statement: Focallocal fosters a community spirit which is a refreshing and invigorating oasis and from a rushed and often disconnected urban life style. By focusing on what connects us and not what divides us we create a safe space where people learn the important skill of how to come together, putting aside for a while social and professional status, and passionately held opinions for a while; to focus on a positive project or event. The 5 Focallocal Community Principles: • Inclusive: open to all who agree to come and be open to all • Supportive: all actions must benefit the wider society around us • Connective: we are community and a tool for connecting individuals around organised collaborative social action • Positive: our objectives are delivered through light-hearted action • Creative: all activities are ‘Focallocalised’ - given an exuberant and colourful twist to encourage a vibrant and energetic spirit.