Earlier this month, AT&T launched its "28 Days," which they are definiing as "a month-long Black History Month empowerment campaign targeting those who are ready and willing to follow 28 simple steps to unleashing their next level of professional potential." It also features a star-studded speaker series, one member of which is Laila Ali, who will be appearing at Oakland's Marriot Hotel City Center on the 9th of the month. Tickets are free and going fast.

Perhaps the best operational description of what "28 Days" is all about is the advertising: "This Black History Month, become a part of AT&T’s Twenty-Eight Days, an online community devoted to forward momentum in February. ...start by setting a goal, creating a calendar with a 28-step plan for action. Each day you’ll be introduced to an African American mover and shaker. Find out their plans for success and how they stay motivated. Everybody wants a page in history. This February, get started writing yours at www.att.com/28days."

So "28 Days," if difficult to encapsulate in sound-bite fashion, features three clear components: goal setting and calendaring, meeting movers and shakers and other inspiring individuals, and keeping one's motivation up while meeting the goals. The motivation piece includes an online community where people can egg each other on toward their goals, meaningful, lofty, and practical.

It is certainly an interesting idea, and it's potentially transformative. Even one person can make a profound difference in four short weeks, and that impact is magnified by each additional person working toward similar goals. By meeting individuals who have done amazing things, we get a sense of how big an impact just one person can have. This leads to a question worth asking: how profound could that impact be if 1,000 people were working toward similar goals? 10,000? 100,000? How different could each affected community be in a short month's time?

Although the month has already begun, there are still plenty of days left, and doing amazing things is the kind of thing that is good to start as soon as possible. Even those who choose not to sign up for "28 Days" will still want to see Laila Ali on Tuesday. She is an amazing and inspiring woman in any month, and seeing her in person is an opportunity not to be missed.

About Meg Spohn

Meg has been a writing, editorial, and research mercenary for over two decades. (Have laptop, will travel.) She holds a Ph.D. in international relations, and when not absorbed with Oakland’s stories and events, mostly teaches online graduate-level global affairs and writing courses. She has been obsessed with justice and strategy for as long as she can remember. Her personal blog is at megspohn.com.