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A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

“Hero Reports” — Citizens Posting Everyday Acts Of ‘Civic Courage’ By Other Citizens

July 18th, 2008 · No Comments

Thanks to “The Takeaway”, WNYC Radio’s new morning show, I discovered a fascinating website/project, Hero Reports (Heroreports.org). Brainchild of Massachusetts Institute of Technology doctoral candidate Alyssa Wright, Hero Reports takes its inspiration from the “See Something, Say Something” transit security campaign but adds a very constructive twist by soliciting examples of what the site calls “civic courage” from the public. Here’s how Hero Reports explains its mission:

“September 11th showed us we’re vulnerable. We are not immune to terrorism; we are part of the battleground. But its horror also showed us our strength. That a city scared to death can be courageous. We all can be heroes. To keep us safe, the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority told us to look for signs of danger, and report them. We think we should also look for signs of courage. We call them hero reports.

WHAT WE WILL DO: In the first years of the MTA campaign, 1,944 New Yorkers Saw Something and Said Something. While this civic courage is not public, there are many acts of courage that can be. The sort of heroism that reflects the stakes involved when New York City becomes a target. We’re looking for 1,944 reports of heroism. We will organize and map this heroism. The complement of crime maps, these hero maps not hold the possibility of economy but also the seeds for understanding. At the end of this campaign, we will present these reports to authorities in search of such economy and understanding. September 11th showed us the difference we make to others, and the difference others make to us. Seeing something can be inflected with hope. Saying something can be balanced with trust. Be vigilant. Use this site to make a report. There is strength is this city, there is heroism. Lets start counting. Not because we’re scared, but because we’re inspired.”

Thus far, Hero Reports has solicited 251 254 stories — most are not feats of incredible derring do, but instead small acts of community kindness. Wright — and pardon the pun — is right on in what she’s doing. Highlighting and celebrating these examples of citizen involvement can only encourage others. Hero Reports looks like a creative and constructive use of new media to help spark societal change, one ‘heroic’ story at a time.

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