Minnesota Idea Open is mostly a web-based contest for good ideas. It seems as if they will be tackling different issues. They pick an issue, ask Minnesotans to submit solutions, pick a winner. There are prizes to be won for your community and yourself. The first issue: What is your idea for addressing obesity in Minnesota?
You can track (or participate in) the contest through the web site, Facebook page, Twitter or YouTube. The medium is the reason that I’m posting about the project here – although I decided that the connection was tenuous enough to wait for the weekend to post. But I think it’s great to see how the Internet is being used to generate civic discussion and engagement.
Could this idea work offline? Probably, but at a much more local level. The contest opened March 18 and I can see that there are already 40+ submissions and they are 500+ fans on Facebook. Now if I can just think of a way that broadband can address obesity!
