About GoGoVerde

GoGoVerde is a local networking site that helps build strong local communities — communities that are connected, friendly, safe, healthy, and prosperous. It's where neighbors meet daily and where they can find recommended local businesses.

Connects Neighbors to Neighbors

Years of research has shown that when people get to know their neighbors, their property values improve, their neighborhood schools improve, and their neighborhood becomes safer. There is nothing mysterious about this. It is simply when people get to know one another, they start to watch out for one another and they start to work together on things they collectively care about.

GoGoVerde helps foster this connection between neighbors by providing an online space for neighbors to introduce themselves, chat, ask for help, offer recommendations, and announce events. It provides a space where neighbors can request help or offer help in a particular area like gardening or home improvement.

Neighbors can offer to rent out something they have or they can ask to borrow or buy something they need. Need a tent for a once a year camping trip? Search your community treasure chest to see if a neighbor has one to offer. If you can rent one from your neighbors, not only does this save you money, it helps slow the depletion of the planet's natural resources. Over time, as more neighbors post stuff, and fill up the chest, your GoGoVerde site becomes your community attic, garden shed and basement and reuse becomes a natural way of living.

Connects Neighbors to Local Business

Local businesses are an important part of any local community. Did you know that for every dollar you spend at a local business, approximately 45 cents of that dollar stays in your community, whereas only 11 cents stays in your community when you spend at a national chain? Why is that? Local businesses tend to hire local people, use local services like accountants, printers, cleaners. They tend to give more donations to schools because their children attend the local school or the business owners themselves are alumni. They pay local taxes supporting local government services.

At GoGoVerde, we recognize the value of finding a good local plumber, accountant, piano teacher, or painter, so we encourage neighbors to recommend local services, people and products. We also encourage local businesses to sponsor your community. They get to post an ad in your community directory and 30% of their sponsorship dollars comes straight to your community. Your community can use this money for any project you choose — local schools, parks, emergency preparedness supplies, or just the neighborhood picnic. It's a win-win — you support your local businesses and they support your community.

About the Team

GoGoVerde is a labor of love and the product of a community of diverse individuals who share a common belief in the benefits of building community, civic engagement and living locally. Justine Fenwick, a community activist and owner of too much stuff, Robbie Turner, a passionate underwater photographer and former high tech executive and Ed Everett, a former city manager and mountain climber are all working to help bring your community together. Kevin McBride and Geralyn Nelson create the user experience and visual design of the site. Peter Wansch and his team including Michael Baierl, Marcel Kutsch and Sonja Fenwick are responsible for the technical implementation, quality and operation of the site.

We also have a trusted group of advisors who we call upon frequently to help us navigate unknown territories: Robin Abrams, former CEO of Palm and Verafone, Michael Closson, Executive Director of Acterra, Michael Kasperzak, Mountain View City Council Member and VP, California League of Cities, Richard Rathbun, executive Director of Foundation for Global Community, Janelle Orsi, co-author of The Sharing Solution, Michael Santullo, co-founder, Clean Tech Open and investor Clean Tech Circle.