This week I was lucky enough to hear Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, speak at a small speakers’ series hosted by the MacArthur Foundation at the Adler Planetarium. He spoke briefly, mainly covering a broad group of topics relating to his work and thoughts on online innovations, but it was most interesting to hear how Newmark, who created such a ubiquitous online resource as Craigslist, spends his time.

Newmark spoke about some of his favorite projects as of late, including microfinancing outlets like Kiva.org where small loans are doled out to deserving entrepreneurs, DonorsChoose.org which connects classrooms needing donations for supplies or projects with donors, and AllForGood.org which lets users find volunteer opportunities in their community. He’s also a big fan of sites such as SeeClickFix.com and services like 3-1-1 (which operates in Chicago) where community members can communicate with local governments to enact change.  He spoke very highly of federal government programs like the TSA’s “Idea Factory” that encourages collaboration and the ongoing “Innovation Competition” offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (for which Newmark will help select winners).

Newmark spends time nearly every day answering customer service emails for Craigslist, whether he’s on the road spending time in a coffee shop, or at home in San Francisco. He even blogged about a personal philosophy regarding customer service on his blog this week. Newmark shared this philosophy on Tuesday, as he believes “customer service done in good faith is public service” and “customer service anchors you to reality”.

You can read more about Newmark on his blog, or on his Wikipedia entry (he’s a member of the advisory board for the Wikimedia Foundation) and keep up with his travels and thoughts.

I would hope that the GO TO 2040 campaign, including our efforts to connect with residents of northeastern Illinois would please Newmark. Remember, we’re always eager for your feedback. Check out and comment on our Strategy Papers, imagine the future in our Community Design Workshops, and read our latest Draft Preferred Regional Scenario (updated 11/09) and let us know what you think.