Tierra Natal and HTAs

I had the opportunity to witness the formation of the Northern California Federation of Jaliscan Clubs at the invitation of Liliana Miranda Townshend, board member of the Jaliscan federation, a Jocotopec HTA president and founder of Tierra Natal, an online social networking site for HTAs and their members.  I've known Liliana for almost 8 years now, having incubated her first startup, Tuzona, when I ran the Women's Technology Cluster (now known as Astia).

Lili has acted as a sounding board for me as I developed the Indigo concept -- in fact, she was one of the first persons with whom I tested the idea of a remittance-based development fund.  Through her I gained a first hand insight on the behavior and thinking and activities of close knit diaspora groups and clubs. 

As we brainstormed over what Indigo could be, it became apparent that we needed to create an infrastructure so the various hometown associations could connect and collaborate.  Liliana took the initiative and created Tierra Natal.  Now every single municipio and EVERY TOWN in that municipio in Mexico is online through this site - even my grandparent's hometown of El Cargadero, Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico.

Tierra Natal has the promise and potential of accelerating the organization, sophistication and effectiveness of hometown associations overnight.

Comments

[Jose Arocha]

Liliana's work is inspiring and very telling about the future of place media and its apparently, paradoxical global nature. It is about networks around places, the places that many of us feel rooted to, our lands of origin, our Tierra Natal.

Bright augury!

[MLB Hats]

I enjoyed reading your post and I like your take on the issue. Thanks.

[ClubPenguinCheats]

It is about networks around places, the places that many of us feel rooted to, our lands of origin, our Tierra Natal.