Michigan Governmental and Nonprofit Leaders Embrace New Social Media Platform Aimed at Regional Collaboration, Cooperation

Online, June 11, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Detroit (June 11, 2010) - Government, business and nonprofit leaders from around the state of Michigan recently celebrated the formal launch of Peoplemovers.com (Peoplemovers), a groundbreaking Detroit-based online social media network designed to facilitate collaboration and effect positive change across Michigan and around the nation. The announcement took place during the 2010 Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference held on Mackinac Island, Mich.

Since Peoplemovers first began testing its beta version of the network in 2008, more than 340 organizations and businesses have joined the network with 92 creating unique, individually branded online "Community 2.0" sites on the platform. Early civic adopters in Southeast Michigan include the governments of Wayne County, the City of Detroit, Macomb County and two agencies of the Mexican government in Detroit.

Located at http://www.peoplemovers.com, Peoplemovers offers a range of features that empower member organizations and individuals to work together to overcome barriers. Features available to all participants, from large governmental bodies to regional and local nonprofit groups to entrepreneurs and large-scale businesses, include the ability to:

• grow individual communities by connecting with neighbors and organizations
• solicit and identify volunteer opportunities
• generate awareness for community events
• donate or post needs for goods and services,
• build support for initiatives
• find jobs and post employment opportunities
• promote businesses or organizational missions

Michigan's Wayne County was the first government to see the potential for Peoplemovers as an opportunity to build relationships and address crucial regional challenges facing Southeast Michigan in a truly collaborative manner, according to Peoplemovers CEO and founder Keith Zendler.

"Wayne County looks forward to utilizing the abilities of Peoplemovers.com to connect all of our communities - organizations, businesses citizens - in order to build stronger relationships and move our region forward," said Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano.

The City of Detroit is the first municipality to join the network as Zendler has worked closely with the executive offices of Mayor Dave Bing.

Said Mayor Bing: "The City of Detroit is pleased to partner with Peoplemovers and leverage the power of its social network to engage Detroiters and members of the surrounding community in the city's growth and renewal."

Ongoing discussions with other area governments are expected to result in new additions to the extensive network in the coming weeks.

Assisting community, nonprofit groups and helping economic recovery
Other Michigan-based organizations utilizing Peoplemovers to connect, communicate and cooperate with current and potential partners, supporters and patrons include: Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), Arise Detroit!, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Detroit, City Year Detroit, Covenant House, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, Detroit Public Library, Fusion Detroit, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, Mosaic Youth Theater and The Salvation Army. Organizations looking to advance their regional and international economic missions through Peoplemovers include: Buy Michigan Now, Detroit Chinese Business Association, Made in Michigan Movement, Mexican Consulate, ProMexico, and TechTown.

Among nonprofits, ARISE Detroit! has emerged as a leader in embracing the Peoplemovers platform. The organization is a broad-based coalition of Detroit area community groups formed to support a range of community issues through volunteerism.

"ARISE Detroit! thrives on our ability to mobilize individuals around the Detroit area and to earn support from other regional organizations," said ARISE Detroit! Executive Director Luther Keith. "Peoplemovers is going to help us connect with more people, partner with more organizations and impact even more lives, particularly as we head into our keystone Detroit Neighborhoods Day event on August 7th."

A catalyst for positive change
"Southeast Michigan, like so many other regions in the United States, today faces economic and social challenges that will require an unprecedented level of collaboration among regional governments, nonprofits, business and individuals," Zendler said. "Before now, we lacked a unified system for connecting, communicating and cooperating to address shared community issues. We are fortunate in the Detroit area to have visionary leaders like Executive Ficano and Mayor Bing, who have the foresight to recognize the need for this collaboration and the courage to embrace the technology that makes it possible."

The Peoplemovers network is growing quickly, attracting new participants from all sectors every week who wish to build relationships with others using the platform. A May 2010 survey of Alexa.com rankings showed http://www.peoplemovers.com to be among the top 15 most popular media and public service websites in Metro Detroit.

Free to join for organizations and individuals, the Peoplemovers network is accessible at http://www.peoplemovers.com. In addition to a wide range of free services, Peoplemovers also offers businesses and organizations a broad spectrum of paid advertising opportunities.

To create a free "Community 2.0" website on Peoplemovers.com, or to inquire about other opportunities, please contact Keith Zendler at (313) 865-1264 or e-mail at kzendler@peoplemovers.com.