Hi I'm Rik Panganiban, known across multiple platforms as "rikomatic." I love leading technology projects that build bridges between people, inspire, and enlighten.
I am a social media maven, with an emphasis on civic engagement, youth development, and global issues. I cut my teeth (don't you love that phrase?) as the communications coordinator of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and membership director of the World Federalist Movement in the late 90s. As such, I collaborated with governments and nonprofits from around the world.
In the early noughties, I shifted my focus toward internet technology and haven't looked back. From Geneva, I worked on the World Summit on the Information Society, the first time the global community attempted to come to grip with the economic, societal, and political impacts of the internet. I helped ensure that a broad cross section of groups and interests were able to have their say at the Summit, whether in person or via online participation.
More recently, I worked on US media reform issues as a program coordinator at the Social Science Research Council in 2007. My program developed a common online platform for media reform activists and media scholars to connect and coordinate their work.
From 2008 to early 2011, I began work at Global Kids, a unique youth development nonprofit that empowers at-risk young people to be community leaders, global citizens and achieving students. At Global Kids, I was part of the Online Leadership team, spearheading a number of projects that used social media, virtual worlds and games to engage young people on world issues in powerful and fun ways.
Currently I serve as the community manager at the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life, a unique online 3D space where nonprofits from around the world come together to connect with their colleagues, share information, and collaborate on new projects together. Sponsored by TechSoup, the Nonprofit Commons is just one way that this innovative organization supports nonprofits to use technology to achieve their missions.
On the side, I am one of the administrators and moderators of Yehoodi.com, the #1 online community for swing dance and lindy hop enthusiasts. I co-host an audio podcast and a video podcast called the Yehoodi Talk Show with my friends Manu and Nicole, and project manage the overall web development of our ever-evolving site. It's a lot of work and a lot fun. Which is kind of my mantra for everything I do!
Check out My Portfolio for some of the highlights of my professional work.
