Hi. I’m Ben Murray and I live in Washington, DC. I’m from a few places, but mostly suburbs of Chicago and Boston. It’s possible that you’ll hear me say ‘pop’ and ‘wicked’ in neighboring sentences.
I work as a digital advocacy strategist for Blue State Digital, where I help non-profits, foundations and corporations build communities, raise money and advocate online. It’s a wonderful place.
I previously spent several years at the Podesta Group, a lobbying and public relations firm in Washington.
I earned a master’s degree in politics and communication from the London School of Economics & Political Science. I had too many questions about how the Internet is changing the way people participate in civil society and build movements. My time in London answered a few, but raised thousands more. Learning appears to be a long process and the Internet won’t stay still.
I spent my undergraduate years at American University studying political science and international studies. There, I developed a passion for studying the Internet and its role in changing political activism and civil engagement around the United States. I researched the use of cell phones in West Africa and built a website for students to petition the university administration. Who knew shower heads could elicit so much anger?
I also like to take pictures and travel. I was once a swimmer, but am miserably inadequate in the pool these days. I love a good glass of scotch.
This website has been around, in various forms, since the summer of 2002. It is primarily a sandbox for experiments in function and design, and only occasionally a soapbox to stand on. Thanks for coming.