Innovate. Collaborate. Change.

TORONTO - Toronto is abuzz with innovators, social entrepreneurs, digital media developers and leading design thinkers, not to mention a swath of charitable organizations dedicated to social change. The question is - do all these people know that by working together they can transform society?

Net Change Week is a celebration showcasing social and digital change-makers. Powered by the Social Innovation Generation Team at MaRS (SiG@MaRS), Net Change Week is a concerted effort to join forces in order to facilitate cross-disciplinary learning and create new models for change.

"Social technology is revolutionizing social change. At their most basic level, new technologies are enabling new forms of information sharing, movement coordination and citizen participation. But we're just scratching the surface of what's possible. Net Change is a critical part of our exploration into how we can better tap into the potential that exists at the intersection of social technology and social change," says Eli Malinsky, Program Manager, Centre for Social Innovation.

Net Change kicks off as a week-long, city-wide event June 8-12, 2009, but will remain an online hub, acting as an aggregator of goings-on and opportunities. Net Change partners will host events, discussions and workshops across Toronto, while SIG@MaRS will host two flagship training events, keynotes and socials throughout the week. June 8 and 9 will see 250 non-profit organizations and charities introduced to the basics of social technology.

"CanadaHelps' My Charity Connects Training is all about connecting charities with the technology they need to succeed," says Zenia Wadhwani, Director, Program Development, CanadaHelps. "In kicking off Net Change Week, we're proud to be working alongside so many others who care about social change, bridging the digital divide and in the process, making the world a better place."

June 10 - 12, SiG@MaRS is partnering with Web of Change to host Social Tech Training - intimate, in-depth sessions for those organizations ready to take the great leap forward and move beyond basic knowledge of online applications. The Net Change team believes that more people should feel empowered to connect. That more people should know how to tell their stories of doing good and changing the world. We believe in big shifts.

"Net Change is a reflection of my personal journey. I spent 12 years in the agency world creating experiences to sell. I found my true calling in the perfect storm of systems collapse, emergence of social technology and people ready with solutions. We have a new opportunity to use the web for a bigger purpose: to connect humanity, share solutions and collaborate on making the world a better place," says Joseph Dee, Manager, Online Development, MaRS Discovery District.