Looking for community building tool to create a family website. I have family all across the US and would like to create a website where each family member could create their own profile, make posts, share photos. Like a MySpace or Facebook but something more private and to a degree less complex. Something that is just for invited users, something that is easy to use for non-technical users and something that I can host and administer. Open source solutions would be preferred. I have used wordpress, drupal, and joomla but each requires tweaking and modules, and lots of research to setup. Just wondering if there are any prepackages solutions or easier to use modules for WP, drupal, or joomla. Thanks.
posted on Jul 15, 2008 - 6 answers

What are the best graduate schools for environmental planning, with a focus on community involvement? I am specifically interested in community involvement in watershed health, and sustainable stormwater issues. [more inside]
posted on Jul 9, 2008 - 10 answers

I have been trying to get the hang of Drupal all morning. I am trying to set up a community/info site and I am completely overwhelmed. Help me figure out what I need to know! [more inside]
posted on Jun 14, 2008 - 15 answers

My community theatre group forgot to have tickets printed for this weekend's show. I'd like to use a template and print them on my office copier to help the group save money. Is there an online program that will help me do this easily? I have MS Office 2000 programs, but the built in templates don't want to cooperate. Guidance would be appreciated.
posted on Jun 4, 2008 - 8 answers

I'm looking for some research or (last resort) anecdotal stories about the effect of improved/improving schools on communities/neighborhoods. [more inside]
posted on Jun 3, 2008 - 8 answers

What's the best software to start an easy-to-use community blog/wiki website? The focus is on ease of use for a wide range of users, allowing people to write articles, upload photos, sound and potentially video. [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2008 - 9 answers

RecordingStudioFilter: Advice sought on how to run a collective no-budget underground (literally) studio; starting immediately. lots [more inside]
posted on May 31, 2008 - 8 answers

What kind of community music ensembles are there that a flute player could join in (or near) the San Fernando valley area of Los Angeles? [more inside]
posted on May 24, 2008 - 1 answers

Why do I often see two, three, even four different Thai restaurants on the same block, sometimes even right next to one another? [more inside]
posted on May 19, 2008 - 22 answers

I'm looking for great examples of local/city networking and information sites that really offer something useful/fun to both visitors AND residents of a community. Sites that people enjoy using as a regular resource to enjoy and really embrace a specific place and what makes it tick. Do you know of any really kickass city websites that have rocked your world? [more inside]
posted on May 19, 2008 - 5 answers

Hey MeFi, long time listener - first time caller here. I'm looking for guidance on how to help out the homeless in my community, further my photography career, create awareness, and do this all with the utmost respect. [more inside]
posted on May 17, 2008 - 7 answers

Can you help me find the fascinating and mysterious forum postings of a self-proclaimed robotic entity on sciforums.com? [more inside]
posted on May 16, 2008 - 1 answers

Lately, the concept of "friends" seems to have become incredibly diluted by the casual use of the term by Facebook, MySpace et al. But in "the real world" what do you consider to be important when you are making and becoming friends? Is it how long you've known someone? How frequently you meet up? What you have in common? Something more intangible? Also, I'd love recommendations of any books looking at the psychology of how people become friends.
posted on May 14, 2008 - 21 answers

My question is that I want to know what computer science classes at a community college I should take before enrolling in a MLS graduate school? [more inside]
posted on May 13, 2008 - 11 answers

BurningManFilter, sorta...I swear that I once read a fairly lengthy lecture or essay by Larry Harvey (founder of Burning Man) specifically about the community aspects of Burning Man. And... [more inside]
posted on May 8, 2008 - 3 answers

Cutting edge strides and theories in neo-psychology - does an up and running, active Wiki exist? [more inside]
posted on Apr 22, 2008 - 2 answers

Examples of online communities assembled from free social tools? [more inside]
posted on Mar 25, 2008 - 5 answers

Do you remember a global online photo project where individuals took pictures of themselves in their room? If it's still out there, I need to find it, as well as other examples of collaborative, possibly community-building blog-style photo sites that aren't Flickr. [more inside]
posted on Mar 21, 2008 - 6 answers

I've decided that I want to research / work in the development of strong, sustainable local communities using social networks, web and mobile technologies and urban design practice (particularly new urbanism). The problem is, I don't know how or where to get started in this field. [more inside]
posted on Mar 19, 2008 - 1 answers

I'm in the market for a non-skeezy, community-oriented webcam hosting site. I'm pretty sure I came across such a thing several weeks ago but have no idea how to go about tracking it down again. [more inside]
posted on Mar 14, 2008 - 5 answers

I have been asked at the last minute to incorporate some Bakunin into my paper (due Friday) on 19th Century theories of community. Not having read any Bakunin before, and not having much time to work on this, I am in a bit of a pickle. I am more than happy to do the relevant reading if only I can identify it. Can someone who has read Bakunin please recommend to me some specific pieces I should read? I am interested in ideas of what community is and should be, how it is created and maintained, why it is necessary, etc. For reference, the major theorist I am drawing on for this paper is Ferdinand Tonnies.
posted on Feb 13, 2008 - 2 answers

How can we reign in the costs of running this forum? [more inside]
posted on Feb 11, 2008 - 19 answers

Web communities in conservative/educational climates: what are some good ones? [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2008 - 3 answers

Is there some community where programmers can submit their work to each other and get feedback? [more inside]
posted on Jan 17, 2008 - 6 answers

Has anyone seen articles/metrics on how traditional businesses are succeeding by leveraging community and/or social networks? If you have link to specific research and/or articles it's appreciated. Thanks!
posted on Jan 2, 2008 - 1 answers

Recommend a really good, friendly online fashion forum (or bulletin board, or LJ) for a funky fortysomething. [more inside]
posted on Dec 13, 2007 - 6 answers

Inspire me, punk-rock style. [more inside]
posted on Dec 7, 2007 - 19 answers

I have been assigned to create a craigslist-like community board for my company's internal website. The basic idea is to have a place for 100+ employees to post classifieds, events, etc. The only problem is I have limited (no) web database knowledge or experience. Is there any kind of community board templates or software that can be easily set up?
posted on Nov 6, 2007 - 5 answers

I want to create an online forum to discuss literally all topics. I'll be recruiting well-rounded people who can discuss lots of different sorts of issues in depth. The problem is: what software to use? [more inside]
posted on Oct 30, 2007 - 14 answers

BigBrothersBigSitersFilter: I recently signed up and got approved to be a big brother for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. I just got assigned my little who is 12 yrs old, although i havent met him yet. My question is who else has been affiliated with this program and what experience can you share and what you may have gotten out of it(positive/Negative). Im excited about it and i just wanted to see what other people thought about it.
posted on Oct 26, 2007 - 13 answers

Where do I find your country's b3ta? that is, all of you non-US mefi's, what site is a good example of exported national consciousness...(before you flag, a bit more inside) [more inside]
posted on Oct 14, 2007 - 5 answers

I've written some fiction. Now I want to see if it's any good. [more inside]
posted on Oct 14, 2007 - 7 answers

Is there a website (preferably free of charge and community-driven) where people go to safely arrange one-night and/or casual hookups? [more inside]
posted on Oct 12, 2007 - 18 answers

I'm looking for a community/portal service that isn't rediculously expensive. Anyone know of such a thing? [more inside]
posted on Oct 12, 2007 - 2 answers

How do I start a grocery co-op? [more inside]
posted on Oct 9, 2007 - 7 answers

I run a small, private forum for a few friends who are scattered across the US & Canada. I'm looking for easy ways to incorporate other ways for me to enable additional communication between members - whether it's a group voice chat or a chat room. I need help figuring out how to do this very easily (I was barely technical enough to install a pretty skin for my phpBB), very cheaply (preferably free), and so that it maintains a reasonable level of privacy. Can you help me figure this out? [more inside]
posted on Sep 25, 2007 - 7 answers

What year did Amazon.com unveil community reviews? [more inside]
posted on Sep 8, 2007 - 5 answers

Hood+Tech Filter: Help me give these kids a fighting chance. [more inside]
posted on Aug 9, 2007 - 10 answers

Can a public community center charge a private daycare for space that is free to the public? [more inside]
posted on Aug 6, 2007 - 14 answers

What are the social benefits of public libraries (and literacy)? [more inside]
posted on Aug 1, 2007 - 26 answers

I have three blogs. What communities will allow me to automatically send new blog entries to the community--say in a journal form? [more inside]
posted on Jul 20, 2007 - 3 answers

BlogFilter: I found the blogfarms too confining for my blog, but I miss the social features. Is there any way to duplicate this for my self-hosted blog? [more inside]
posted on Jul 18, 2007 - 10 answers

Council clean-up day tomorrow.Tonight woman removes full length of all electrical cords from discarded appliances.Why?
posted on Jul 15, 2007 - 12 answers

What's a good website/blog/forum for iPhone hacks? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2007 - 9 answers

I'd like some help finding a new weight loss community to join - one with a relatively intelligent / fun user base but that takes healthy weight loss seriously. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted on Jun 29, 2007 - 26 answers

Are there any "smart" true crime community blogs or message boards? [more inside]
posted on Jun 21, 2007 - 8 answers

Are there other online communities like MeFi Music, where people can post songs and get feedback? [more inside]
posted on Jun 19, 2007 - 11 answers

I have an idea for a blog that might actually make the world a better place. Could it actually work? [more inside]
posted on Jun 18, 2007 - 8 answers

May I pick your brain for a moment? Yeah, thanks. See, I'm thinking I want to join some clubs or groups or organizations in the Bay area to inspire myself as well as to meet more creative, vibrant, funny, smart, interesting people my age. Tell me, what does the Bay area offer that might really enrich my life here that I might not know about? [more inside]
posted on Jun 16, 2007 - 25 answers

Does anyone have an opinion on the best of breed web forums software and drupal-like or community software out there for an asp/.net environment? [more inside]
posted on May 30, 2007 - 1 answers