You're the President of 7 Cups for a Day! What Would You Do? 📜👑

@Mahad2804 ok first thing I would do 🤔🤔 is start a cupser of the month award.. And I'd get the first trophy 🏆 obviously😁

Second thing🤔🤔 every hour I'd add a cute fun appropriate to the chat group room, gif. To all the group rooms😎

And third 🤔🤔 perhaps a quarter yearly challenge. Everyone can join in on and perhaps win a badge of your in the top 3 chosen winners. Simple things like write a poem about kindness, create a piece of art about feelings, or get out in nature and take the best animal photo ❤

😁❤😁

@Mahad2804

Hi Mahad! 😊 ❤️ Thank you for such a fun and amazing forum post! I for one love the concept of brainstorming, tossing around ideas, think tanks, etc. One never knows what greatness could come out of simple thoughts.

I say often "if you throw enough stuff against the wall, something will eventually stick" lol 😊.  Even if it's just random stuff that might not quite work, someone might think it has potential if it were to be changed, tweaked and may have provided inspiration to morph into something else if you spin it differently by one of our best and brightest here on the platform. Having said that........Weeeeeeeee weeeeeeeeeeeee! 😊 and here I go......

I truly just thought of this first one last night so your post is serendipitous and makes it fun for me to share. So, a random thought was how neat would it be for us to have an Ambassador of each room? I feel as if it should be something to reach for/aspire to and not just a place to put a person.

There should be true interest in that room specifically. A room that the person has always loved being a part of, feels as if they know it best as to the purpose, function, standard operating procedures as well as a willingness to grow the room. They could see it as their "baby', their own little brain child in how to apply certain concepts and feel a bit of pride in ownership should it flourish and show proven results.

Having it flourish, showing results could lead to sharing "how they do it" with the team in an effort for these things to translate to other rooms potentially. (Train the trainer technique). Teamwork makes the dream work 😊 and we can all learn from one another. 

It would be a room in which you see high involvement from them, their main focus, without their time being divided and spread all over the platform. Good to know your strengths and play to them while knowing your weaknesses and work on them little by little. Focus seems to be a hard point for many in this day in age of so much information, youtube "shorts" of only 30 seconds, scrolling and going onto the next. It could be interesting to see the energy of others properly harnessed and pointed in the right direction. I underestimate no one here! 

If the heart of the home is the kitchen, then the LSR just might be our kitchen here on the platform. So very much can come from that room that influences our listener teammates in the way of knowledge, learning our culture, learning how we treat one another and that can apply all across the platform. To help a Listener is to help many, many members in turn as it has a domino effect, ripple effect....just like skimming a stone across a pond and watch how far those ripples go out. 

Helping in that way in and in the right way becomes exponential. Some listeners may come to that room to learn, seek help and support, warm up before a chat or decompress after a chat. Moods are transient and the mood of the Ambassador of that room especially should not be a factor that changes on the daily. One would need someone that is consistent and consistently good as to not negatively affect the mood of others here on the platform (again, ripple affect). 

Second fun thought I have had is to identify talent here on the platform and not only that but, to create a track to becoming an admin for anyone considered. It could be a one week or two week rotation for each area of the platform (I mean even working with Jon and the other devs in the back of the house) and working closely with/shadowing each leader/leaders of that area. Doing so would give the opportunity to have even more talent available if needed as well as for the prospective new admin. to have a greater understanding of the platform as a whole, how all areas are connected in a way, able to see the bigger picture. (Does great things for looking out for your "internal customer", helps for a more solid teamwork effort as well as creating a powerhouse full of knowledge with the ability to answer questions in regard to all of the areas). 

Instead of listing a third idea I'd rather show tremendous gratitude for something that already happens around here. I just kind of think of it as the "catch me being good" program! 😊 No matter what your role may be here on the platform, even if you might not see @Heather225 or @GlenM , if you work hard and care about others simply for the sake of having love in your heart ❤️ they will see you! 

We all "belong" to them. One of the 7 cups core values is *we believe in equality* and they both show this consistently by noticing when others are doing their very best. No badges needed, no roles required just them caring and understanding that lots of little things add up to great big things! Come one and come all! We all have our very own gifts 🎁 to bring to others.

Thank you, again Mahad for such a great forum post. I had fun sharing ideas (even if they aren't good ones) as well as giving credit where credit is due to H (Heather) and O.G. (Glen). I am most grateful! ❤️

*high fives* 😊 and *hugs* ❤️

@Mahad2804 thank you for your kind words! And love this idea. Looking very forward to reading and responding to the comments. I'm all ears and fully believe in the intelligence and heart of this community to identify and help figure out ways we can do better. Thank you, Mahad!

@Mahad2804

I would make the leadership paperwork combined into one, so that steps are not as difficult to follow. I would also make it easier to find each area of leadership, like Cookieland. I also would try to make sure everyone in starting out as new leadership was able understand the system sooner and better. I would have ways for everyone who wants to help in someway, be able to find a place to help and be successful in their leadership position. I think most things are fantastic and do not need change.

@Mahad2804 Hey, 7cups team! I'm feeling inspired and ready to innovate. It’s always a thrill to brainstorm with such bright minds! 🌟

Reflecting on our mission and learning from the Mashable article about 7 Cups’ experience with the CalMHSA, here are three initiatives I'd put my energy into:

1. Building on our commitment to users' wellbeing:

a) I will create a mechanism or Rule of Thumb that Their National ID must be verified for each Listener Account, and there should be a very small fee paid through a credit card by an Adult to make sure that the National ID is valid and nobody is impersonating anyone.
b) I'd prioritize the development of an advanced safety and monitoring system. This initiative would draw from past challenges, employ AI to support human oversight and ensure a safe and supportive environment, particularly for our younger members.

2. Given the confidentiality challenges faced in the California Tech Suite project, I'd champion transparency. By publishing clear reports on platform operations and safety measures, we'd nurture trust within our community and with our partners.

3. I'd introduce a community forum for users to suggest and vote on new features and improvements. This aligns with the understanding that our users are our greatest asset, and their input is invaluable in making 7 Cups a haven for those seeking support.

These initiatives, inspired by past lessons and future aspirations, would reinforce 7 Cups’ foundation as a beacon of trust and support in the mental health community.

What do you think, team? Would you be ready to make these ideas a reality? 🚀

Drop your thoughts, and let's get this conversation going! 🗨️✨

@WeEarth @Skansly @rubyjane00 @GoldenRuleJG @azuladragon34 @Kristynsmama @Yourbuddy30 @Mahad2804 @Pumpkin @yourbuddy30 @Hope @DreamTouch @positivePumpkin22 @Bella20 @JustSophia @lovingAngel2307 @TheOnlyChresser @Renjik8013 @CatHanderOutNoah @daydreammemories @Rainboho @Brightlynx1428 @GlenM

Hi Mahad

Great question and scope for thought :)

What I would try to do - I’m not sure because what if vision keeps changing and changing - I know one I’m certain of 👍

• Languages room of individuals foreign language be it Spanish or German and have the person monitoring be fluent in those languages

As president of 7 cups for a day, my first act will be to resign, but I will expect Human Resources to cut me a check equal to one day of Glen’s pay. Thank you to all the little people that made this possible and for all your support. *takes a bow* 😂

A day is not very long to be president (lol), but assuming I had a magical endless day to offer leadership and support, here is what I might address:

• The most common feedback I hear from people involved in this site is that dealing with those trying to use the site inappropriately is frustrating and a deterrent to being here – on both the member and the listener side. So, I believe we need to explore how we might more fully respond to this concern while still maintaining the values of the site. I think it would be worth exploring starting a community-based initiative that focuses on dealing proactively (and coping) with such people.  I would make sure this involved both members and listeners directly, so that everyone could feel more empowered and involved in responding to this ongoing challenge. 

One aspect of it could involve, on the member side, is making people choose their own usernames – ones with which they could develop a more recognizable identity for themselves (positive or negative).  My hope would be that this would encourage the development of a stronger interpersonal community. 

It also, in turn, would help support the next part of the plan, which would be to allow pm’s from member to member.  I realize that this would increase vulnerability, but it also could strengthen: allow members to build strong bonds with one another that would help build a community of stronger interpersonal support.  As we know, people crave community and connection.  Currently, if they want to develop close interpersonal bonds, the structure of this site encourages them to go elsewhere to do it.

We could, at the same time, begin to establish a new culture, site-wide, of responding in a single, simple way to outlying individuals while supporting one another in doing so.  We could make the very first thing anyone sees in joining a simple (maybe two point?) statement - one that every single person could easily repeat and witness that reinforces the consistency with which we respond to disrespect.  Then, perhaps we create a signal word of sorts – a word that could indicate someone’s refusal to participate in what they feel to be a disrespectful interaction, and signal those around them to come to their support (at least in a group setting).  I’d envision that consistent refusal to respond to perceived disrespect would result two main things: 1.  reveal that that perception is not consistent, essentially allowing continued participation- perhaps with some behavior changes that help 2. If people consistently refused to interact, that would effectively end this person’s ability to engage. That would be a pretty big deterrent to returning, I’d think. 

The signal could be something silly. “Platypus”? And then refusal to respond any further.  Something like that.  It wouldn’t have to involve any mods or forms or potential bots (though it certainly could).  The community could support each other and govern itself to some degree.  Checks and balances would be built-in.  People would hopefully feel more empowered to respond proactively, and to see that others have the power to do the same.  There could be support from individual friends whose bonds have been reinforced in private.  Doing these things doesn’t mean letting go of an already-robust system of reporting etc.  It simply means more members of the community could feel empowered to act. 

These are just ideas – they’d need to be researched and further explored.  I also think it would be important to get suggestions and feedback from members, listeners, and leaders from across the community.  But perhaps these thoughts might be a place to start?

• I would assess the needs, status, and desires of the community (as a whole, and each of its various parts).  In cooperation with others, I’d want to create clear measurement tools as well as subjective surveys.  I would enlist the help of those with experience and passion, identify leaders within the group, and let them run with it!  I would want to ask people for feedback, use the group rooms, forums, sub-communities, notifications, etc. to get as many people to participate in the effort as possible.  Leadership is only as good as those who follow.  If we figure out clearly what people need and want, where we stand, and where we need to go in relation, then it’s much easier to get where we want to go.
• I would wave a magic wand and create a search engine for the entire site! 
• I would enlist the help of others to assess, and potentially create, new ways of communicating the information that our current system of badges, stars, etc. encompasses.  It is valuable information we are trying to document and communicate, and wonderful things we are trying to encourage in volunteers. I know these things are also common cultural touchstones.  The challenge, I think, is that the amount of information contained in these multiple little indicators, and icons can get overwhelming – or at least this is the informal feedback I often hear.  Our points and purposes may be getting lost in the shuffle.  Perhaps we could assess whether this is, in fact, true, and then respond appropriately. Would it be helpful to try to communicate the same information in a different, simplified way?  Our intentions are certainly worthy.  Let’s make sure everyone understands what we are trying to say!

@Mahad2804

Great post!!! :):) everyone's ideas here are really amazing! just some other smaller things (some of this might just be me doing something the wrong way so I apologise in advance haha)

• Noni: When members use Noni to request a chat, the bot asks the member questions "while you wait," saying it will pass this on to the listener. The listener does *not* receive this. Before I knew that I would type up a long message in the Noni chat, thinking it will be passed on to the listener, or that it was necessary to fill it out in order to chat with a listener, and expecting them to know a bit about it when they take the chat, when really I have to say it all over again. Maybe if nothing gets shared with the listener, Noni can ask you to note some ideas (change the wording to make it clear that is optional and not shared w listener) or have some calming activities / something to read / direct you to SR, or nothing at all.
• Why isn't there a Noni dropdown for members similar to listeners but with a more relevant list? Like a mini sitemap of sorts, or, following on from that it would be really good to have a GPS / sitemap of sorts (not really sure how this would work, but I believe a similar idea was mentioned earlier in the comments)
• How do you find the training self-help guides as a member?
• Maybe somehow some activities on here (noni, growth path, waypoints, anything like that) could be tailored to how the member is feeling (sort of like how the app Finch has some activities under a "first aid" button) -- so if you're currently anxious it gives you breathing or grounding techniques or writing prompts / or suggests resources, something like that.
• Just a small thing, the member chat requests list (as a listener) can say the wait time is only two minutes or less when really if you check the oldest request could be more than an hour 😮 so I'm not sure where that number comes from :)
• Maybe an automated message that can be set up by a listener on a short break to be sent to any members who message them, if don't want to deactivate account, and including in that message another listener friend to refer to?? Not sure about this one.
• Somehow something to do with people's messages being missed in SR if want support??
• Also working on the reasons people quit?
• And ofc trying to keep 7cups going forever :'):)

Thank you so much for this post, it really makes you think and its lovely to see so many people working on ideas! :):):)

(P.S. here's my vote for Tiny as awardee!!! hehehe you deserve it @Tinywhisper11)

@Mahad2804 I love cups but their there's so many things that could be improve with that being said such as more things with disabilities more monitoring in chats and things like that