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MnActivist UX Update

New UX designs and suggestions compliments of resident volunteer expert Ed!

From the beginning, he has been proactive in engaging; eventually to host user interviews from which to glean more information.

Ed and I connected via LinkedIn, as both of us attended Prime Digital Academy. His help and support have been one of the true blessings from my time spent there.

MnActivist Events & Interface

MnActivist Base Usability

Design Changes

What his conversation to light are a few structural decisions need to be made; do we move over to React?

While VueJS may be able to produce the same results as ReactJS, the latter simply has larger mindshare, and so more options. As a matter of curriculum, it would be reasonable to provide an introduction to ReactJS as well.

Database Changes

Ed discovered a few other gaps in my understanding and comprehension as well; how events might be escalated, etc.

As well, how can events submitted by users be vetted or validated?

We discussed possible answers to these questions.

At this juncture, everything is manually transferred for user events; though as growth enables us, verified users will be enabled to verify events.

Verified Users

I hesitate to speak upon this too much; save to re-affirm, we have no desire, nor intent to track our communities.

In fact, there are two pieces of identifying information  that we will ever retain and encrypt, user email addresses and phone numbers. All donations are handled by DonorBox & Stripe. Our databases will likely hold an identifying pin, attached to credit card information, for re-occurring supporters.

All of that aside, we do not want to make verified status exclusive to those with financial means; and so are building multiple routes to verification for all community members, before rolling out completely.

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TechDiscounts.Org

Super happy to be working with TechDiscounts.Org to provide quality used laptops to our students!

What makes the arrangement SO wonderful is that we are able to get computers spec’ed to our needs, and beyond!

And the computers arrive preloaded with Ubuntu ~ which is the optimal system for students to start.

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Financial Transparency

The argument against pursuing financial tranparency, that is excessively laborious. And this argument is not  without merit.

Though the activity of financial accounting is, at times grudgingly, required of more every individual, and organization, these days.

That said, our financial transparency can serve as a model for others to emulate, and so be another seed for a project enabling greater financial literacy.

Furthermore, we seek to keep our expenses to a minimum; and well categorized.

The Toolset

In this manner, at every juncture we can simplify accounting activities.

The central tool in doing this is an open-source platform called GNUCash, an open-source version of Quicken.

Eventually we can provide classes that teach our community how to use this type of program to manage their personal, and business, accounting; through a computer and phone of their choice.

The Results

In conclusion,  it may be some additional labor. Though by the power of open-source software, automation and our communities of programmers and learners, we can overcome this obstacle.

We can even continue to making a more fluid and efficient workflow, and toolset. Others can then emulate these to better enable financial literacy, and growth, for themselves and their communities directly, and in a more expansive manner.

In this manner ScreamFreely is able to provide curriculum that only supports one’s entrance into a financially lucrative market, we also support the financial stability and literacy of our communities.

The view is one of opportunity cost. We could expend a bit more effort, for an exponential increase of content and service we are able to provide.

As these actions are aligned with processes we will need to conduct anyways, adding the labor of recording and editing them is minimal. And can be of introductory service to many.

Por eso, vamanos!