Within the diverse variety of Bryght-hosted Drupal sites, occasionally we're blown away by an amazing site. Homeless Nation recently won two awards so we are chiming into say "most excellent work" from both a technology-use and community-building point of view.

New media in action

In Canada, homelessness is a political topic which is opportunistically bandied around like a hot potato and punted from city, to provincial, to federal governments for missing leadership. While the elected leader and bureaucrats chatter, Homeless Nation is improving lives and certainly deserve awards, accolades, and support.

Here's a short blurb about the Homeless Nation awards by Chris Aung-Thwin

We are proud to announce that Homeless Nation has been recognized by the Canadian New Media Awards (CNMA) and by the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR).

On Friday, November 14th, HN was presented with an award for: Excellence in New Media Creation/Social Media Production/Nonprofit Division by the SNCR - a US-based non-profit organization.

On Tuesday, November 18th, HN was again honoured, this time here at home, with an award in the category of Excellence in Social Media Websites by the CNMA.

A community home

The hallmark of a true web community is when the participants define the culture beyond the organizers. Reading the heartfelt and respectful interaction between participants in the blogs and comments, you can see that this is truly a collaboration between the builders and participants.

The culture of Homeless Nation was incubated by Daniel Cross, a documentary filmmaker who makes films about social justice and Canada's homeless. After making a series of film projects, he conceived the website with an aim of providing essential resource info as well as a forum for therapeutic self-expression. Read the whole story about Homeless Nation - they are doing the real work where is matters.

"Homeless Nation's outreach workers across Canada work in a variety of ways in collaboration with the homeless community. We work in shelters, day-centres, squats, at protests, community events, on the street and online. We are dedicated to ensuring that digital tools for media, learning and communication are made available for homeless Canadians."

Was There Ever Any Doubt?

Robert Scales took home the prize tonight at the Canadian New Media Awards 2006 in Toronto for Best Graduate of the Year.

Robert Scales, RCS President and CEO of Raincity Studios has been short listed for the Best Graduate of the Year by the Canadian New Media Awards.

Vancouver, April 13, 2006– Robert Scales the President and CEO of Raincity Studios, has been recognized as one of Canada’s new media leaders. Robert Scales is one of three finalists to be named “Graduate of the year"<

Robert Scales, RCS President and CEO of Raincity Studios has been short listed for the Best Graduate of the Year by the Canadian New Media Awards.

Vancouver, April 13, 2006– Robert Scales the President and CEO of Raincity Studios, has been recognized as one of Canada’s new media leaders. Robert Scales is one of three finalists to be named “Graduate of the year