By Emily Rivard

With improvements in technology and education, it’s now easier than ever to connect with people all across the world who have different ideas, thoughts and opinions.

Now individuals can connect across the globe through the Internet because of The Experience Project, www.experienceproject.com, and the More to Me campaign, www.moretome.org.

The Experience Project is a social experiment in which all types of people connect to share stories, experiences, dreams, goalsor whatever else is on their minds. Members log on to post and write about a variety of topics. They can choose to anonymously post a topic or reply to another member’s posts.

Popular discussion topics on The Experience Project include stories such as: “I’m Going to Jail,” “I Love Chocolate,” “I am Going to Change the World,” and others. Members can discuss any issue they desire and receive feedback from other members who share similar experiences or want to show support.

More to Me focuses on women-based issues, particularly body issues. “Lots of women are on the site talking about everything from what it means to be a woman, topics around their body, relationships and future aspirations,” said Sarah Silverman, the Web site’s social marketing manager. “We truly do have a place to talk about whatever matters to you the most.”

The Experience Project began when Armen Berjikly started a Web site to help family members of those affected with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Berjikly soon noticed, however, that people came to the Web site to discuss issues much more than the illness alone.

“As the community grew, he saw the profound power of connecting people who understood each others’ experiences,” Silverman said. “He also noticed these MS patients were more than just their illness, and wanted to share and connect around the other life events and ideas that were important to them.”

The Project not only encourages all types of people to discuss any issue that is on their minds, but also strives to inspire and empower people through discussion. “The Experience Project embraces the notion that an individual’s identity is multifaceted and dynamic,” Silverman said. “We also encourage people to recognize and honor all the parts that make them me.”

The Experience Project and More to Me recently sponsored an Original Women campaign in conjunction with Women’s History Month. Members inside the network and empowering women in communities were recognized for their strengths and pioneer work within society.

“Several months ago we launched the More to Me campaign, which encourages women to look at all the things that make them who they are, not only their body,” said Silverman, who is one the Original Women.

The other Original Women currently include an Olympic cyclist, a former CNN anchor, a teacher, a mother, a lobbyist and a professor of biochemistry, amongst others. All of these women embody strength and determination and are heroic role models to young women.

“The gallery really sprung from that campaign as a way to show different and unique ways womanhood could manifest and all the many options for paths a lady can take,” said Silverman. “It also is there to show that anyone can take ownership over their future and create success, in whatever that means for them.”

The Experience Project and More to Me’s Original Women campaign both strive to promote positive self-images and encourage members to embrace diversity.

“[These Web sites] offer people choices and options for what is possible,” said Silverman. “I think reading the stories from some of these women gives you the inspiration to make it happen for you – in whatever way that happens to be.”