Journey4justice.com is a social community running on Open Source software called Joomla using a component called JomSocial. The community is self contained and has most of the features of Facebook including integration with Facebook (logins, wall posts, staus messages).

How to use the community

1) Create User Account - Manually or Facebook Connect

Create a user account by clicking here

or click "Sign In With Facebook". Facebook connect will import your Facebook Avatar and status. If you sign up manually, you will be sent an activation link email to the email address that you provided so that we can verify you are real. Click on that activation link and then you can login.

The Facebook connect function seems a little buggy, but it will improve. Please try it.

2) Build Out Your Profile

Just as in Facebook, you can build out your user profile with as much or as little info as required. There are some mandatory fields. While anyone can lie about their address, we would like to know where users are coming from. We will be deploying some advanced IP tracking to see where people actually are ! :) Make sure to upload an Avatar if you sign up for an account manually.

3) Privacy

In your profile are is a Privacy menu item which allows you to set some personal privacy preferences.

4) Groups - Groups are Private!

On our site we have groups, just like Facebook. The difference is that almost all Groups are Teams. The Team/Group is a way for the Team to communicate with each other in private without the community seeing everything. You would post on the group wall if you are a member. While anyone who is a site member can post on the general wall, team members can also post on private group walls.

If you are or would like to be a member of a state/other team and have committed to going on a trip, you should ask to join that group. Find the team avatar here and click on it.

On the right hand column you will see a link for join group. Click on this and a message will be sent the the Team Leader. If you are a Team Leader, ask to join your group and we will make you the Administrator of your group/team. You will then approve/dissaprove and run your group.

A) Create a Group

If you would like to create a Team click here. If you would like create a group that is not a team, but other valid reason, first login. You can create a group by clicking on Groups menu item on the Community Menu Bar. Then click Create on the top right. All groups must be approved by an site administrator.

5) Events - Calendar

Any site member can create an event. All of the Team Trips will be events. The National Rally is an event. Events must be approved by a site administrator. Events can be set to public (the whole world can see) or private (only site members can see). Events can be Scheduled Team trips to Topeka, national events, events at other sites etc. We can define categories for these events beyond the initial list.

6) Status Posting - Activity Stream

Just like Facebook, you have a Newsfeed/Activity Stream - where activity such as status updates, events, photos, videos, etc show up.

When you type in your status update, you have the opportunity to set the security level of the post. The little lock icon is a drop down that sets the view security level. it defaults to general public.

A) Photos & Albums - Individual Members or Groups

Site members can upload their own photos/albums. Login to the site and click on the Photos menu link on your status/share area. This will allow you to upload from your computer. You also have security settings for the photos by clicking on the lock icon. They default to public. You can also manage photos and albums by clicking on Photos menu item on the Community Menu Bar.

B) Videos - Individual Members or Groups

Site members can create LINKS to their own videos. They first must be uploaded to a video site like YouTube, Vimeo, Viddler etc. Login to the site and click on the Videos menu link on your status/share area. It will ask you to add the link and description to the video you are posting. You also have security settings for the videos by clicking on the lock icon. They default to public. You can also manage videos by clicking on Videos menu item on the Community Menu Bar.

MORE TO COME!!