What is Alabamabluedots.com and why did you make it?

Fair question. Side note, I start a lot of my Q&A answers this way. In my mind, if your question is respectful and genuine then it is a fair question and deserves a response. Anywho, that's enough about me. Back to the topic at hand - what's the deal with alabamabluedots.com?

To be perfectly honest, I started this on my own on a random Sunday when I was thinking about how many different ways there are to connect, communicate and get involved with the Alabama Blue Dot community. It is a really beautiful and exciting thing to see unfold. Especially since the recent Presidential election, it seems like options are multiplying and are limitless. However, with all the options comes the not so great part - too many options, endless places to go check, getting frustrated when things are not updated, trying to look back at what you missed, etc. You know what I mean? More than likely you do which is why you are here.

Being the problem solver that I am (that sounds way more pompous that I intended), I then spent hours determining the best platform, designing a logo and site, integrating backends and testing functionalities. I did this for several days culminating on a Saturday night when my kids and husband were asleep and I was binge watching the last season of 'Younger' until 3am. #iykyk

The end result is a site that is:

• Universally Accessible - Not everyone has Facebook or Discord or Instagram or any other number of various accounts. However, most, if not all, of us have access to the internet in some way. You can easily join ABD.com without having to commit to any other random add ons that come with so many other platforms and we won't send you a million spammy emails like the politicians do. No shade to the politicians in the group but, you should really reconsider that tactic. This is just a website with an awesome backend that encourages communication and sharing. If you're down with the mission, you are welcome here.

• Respects The Sanctity of This Mission - This is why you have to apply. We refuse to let in anyone who wants to taint and/or distract us from our mission. No one has time for that. We are too busy creating positive change to argue with some "duhduh" that actually thinks convicting a felon to be President was a good idea.

• Ensures Privacy - There are many of us that fear being known as a progressive in Alabama and there are many businesses listed on the Directory that don't want to be targeted negatively for being a Blue Business. Some people may even have their livelihood impacted. This is another reason we require a membership and login. Please don't share information that discloses someone's thought/stance externally without permission of the owner/poster. Violators will have their membership revoked.

• Promises Inclusion and Support - We are not here to replace any other organization or push out your own already existing efforts. We would like (please!!!) for those other organizations to be listed here, share their opportunities/events here and encourage their membership to join. Operating and communicating in a silo is not effective when you are trying to make substantial change. Our goal is to ensure that there is one place in Alabama you can go to and know what is going on, what is being talked about, what the issues are, etc. vs having to check several different places.

• Provides Opportunity - We are in our infancy stage. Seriously, we are less than two weeks old but the longterm goals are to do really amazing things like create education programs, provide live/in person meet ups and conversations with progressive thought leaders and change makers, host events to support the mission, raise funds for causes that matter to the membership and so many other really amazing things.

  
  

If you're still with me (I promise I didn't intend for this to be so long) I ask you this: Stick with me, stick with the other members, invite others to join, follow up with them if they haven't joined yet, submit the event to the site, sign up to help (there are lots of sign up forms), make posts, share the posts you make in other places here too, engage with posts, share what matters to you, donate if you can, let us know what committees, events, etc that you need from alabamabluedots.com to be your safe space and home. Most importantly, be a part of the change you want to see in the world. We have an uphill battle but, if we are united we can move mountains, and I look forward to doing that with you.

XOXO,

Kristian

P.S. If you see any typos, things not working or have ideas please feel free to message me directly in the app. It takes a village and I am glad you are in mine.