DETROIT – Peoplemovers.Com began life in 2010 as an experiment by founder Keith Zendler, who hoped to build a website that could demonstrate how an Internet bulletin board could help Detroit connect its leaders, companies, organizations, schools and people to create economic and cultural growth.
Last month, Zendler brought this project to Pune, India, known for its auto manufacturing and IT research institutions, to launch what he calls his Global Community Bulletin Board to recast Pune into a model “Smart Community.”
Zendler’s larger goal is to make Pune the operational hub for Peoplemovers.Com in India – to make Peoplemovers.Com another made-in-India success story, he said.
The original Detroit-based Peoplemovers.Com website connected some 1,600 organizations. But the problem was the website interfaces were not user friendly enough, Zendler said. So he spent the summer retooling the website. His game plan now is to build momentum in the Detroit metropolitan area to position Peoplemovers.Com for rapid expansion here in 2016 as well, then connect the two world auto hubs.
“This network was initially conceived in Detroit, which is a community that has sorely needed to find better ways to work together,” Zendler said in his speech last month at the MCCIA Trade Tower in Pune to commemorate the official launch of the new Peoplemovers.Com. “With such rapid growth and the desire by Indian leaders to mobilize its citizens, we think India is the perfect place to launch our latest platform. We want to help make Pune a role model globally for how a city can mobilize its citizens, schools, businesses and organizations.”
Since Peoplemovers.Com first began building support for the beta version of the network in 2013, more than 150 organizations and businesses have joined the network in India. Early civic adopters in Pune include the Pune Municipal Corporation, the School Board, PMC, TiE Pune and the University Women’s Association.
Peoplemovers.Com offers a range of features that empower member organizations and individuals to work together to overcome barriers. Features available to all participants, from large governmental bodies to regional and local nonprofit groups to entrepreneurs and large-scale businesses, include the ability to:
Grow individual communities by connecting with neighbors and organizations
Solicit and identify volunteer opportunities
Generate awareness for community events
Donate or post needs for goods and services
Build support for initiatives
Find jobs and post employment opportunities
Promote business CSR activities or organizational missions
“We are excited to partner with the leaders of India as we are confident this network will allow the people and organizations of India and beyond to come together and get things done like never before,” he said. “This will be a transformational event in the history of Pune!”
For more information, click on www.peoplemovers.com
