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Nonprofit is gathering world views

KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES William Brent is founder of Talk to US, a nonprofit group that invites anyone in the world to post video messages on its Web site.

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Who: William Brent, 38, president and founder

What it does: At www.talktoUS.org, Brent's organization is seeking 30-second, videotaped messages from people who answer one question: "What would you like to say to the people of the United States?" People can upload their messages to the Web site or mail tapes to the Talk to US headquarters in Pioneer Square.

Employees: 4

Money raised: About $70,000

A critical year: Brent said he started Talk to US in May mainly because of the presidential election. Because of such events as the Iraq war, people around the world view the election as a global election as well, he said. "This is an opportunity for Americans to get a global reality check," he added.
 

Combining resources: Talk to US is joining three other Web sites this month to create The World Speaks, at www.theworldspeaks.net. That site casts itself as the world's gateway to information about the presidential election and will ask users to cast their own vote in a mock election or write online letters.

Other side of the world: Brent grew up in Washington, D.C., but has spent much of his life living and working in China. He worked in Beijing as a correspondent for a news service from 1988 to 1994 and went on to form a media-consulting business there. He started a marketing company in Shanghai in 1996 and moved to Bainbridge Island after his son was born in 2002.

A poverty of knowledge: After years of living abroad, it became clear to Brent that Americans don't realize their country's role and impact in the world. "There is a lack of knowledge in the U.S. as to how we are perceived in the world," he said. He saw that technologies such as the Internet could help change that.

Moving on: After the election, what next? Brent said Talk to US might continue to exist in some form. The run-up to the election is a test case for the idea, he said; if it survives the global conversation will go on.

Quote: "I'm an incurable romantic. I have this I-want-to-do-something-to-help-save-the-world syndrome."

— Kim Peterson