The 10 winning ideas reflect diverse interests like: securing universal heath care, lesbian/gay/bisexual transgender rights, and sustainable green energy. The list also includes ideas often left off of the national agenda but with powerful grassroots support, organizers said. Those included: restoring civil liberties, ending the prohibition on medicinal marijuana, and advancing peace through new government institutions. All the winners can be viewed at www.change.org/ideas.

The National Press Club event included a panel discussion about how the incoming administration and advocacy groups can use the Web to deepen civic participation. Scheduled speakers included Chris Hughes, director of My.BarackObama.com and co-founder of Facebook; Jose Antonio Vargas, political reporter for the Washington Post; Democratic strategist Joe Trippi; MySpace political director Lee Brenner; and Macon Phillips, director of new media for the presidential transition team.