I am a #140 Character 2011

I am a #140 Character 2011

The first Social Media event I ever attended was a #140conf holiday party in 2009.  It was a lights up, music off  holiday mixer in a village bar.  I knew very little of Jeff Pulver or his conferences that evening when he welcomed me with a hug.  I wasn’t sure what to make of this new group and Social Media was a new endeavor for me.  I arrived early and Geo Geller popped a frame over my head stood me in front of the I’m a Character #140conf  banner and took my picture.  I met the Guru of Sales, Web Metrics Guru and lots of other gurus.  Everyone was curious, everyone was passionate.  From then on I was a 140 Character.

In 2010 Jeff  Pulver  organized monthly meet ups where fascinating people would come and share their social media successes and solutions.  This amazing community of social media pioneers came together to share their gifts with each other, offer support and form fascinating friendships.  Jeff was always able to bring together a fascinating group of presenters and attendees. I looked forward to attending 140 Conferences because after each one I left with volumes of information.  Many times when working with clients I refer them to video archives of a 10 minute talk or panel discussion from the 140 Conference.  My expertise in digital strategy increased with each event.  The conferences allowed me the opportunity to meet and learn from bloggers, educators, journalists, brand managers and Non-profit organizations.  I met great folks who had a passion for this rapidly evolving medium.  I incorporated many ideas shared at the conferences and was successful with the projects I worked on.  The earthquake in Haiti in January highlighted the concept of  real time communication to the masses.   Social media and real time communication was heating up and we were witnessing the evolution of digital communication. The #140 Conference in the Spring of 2010 was amazing. People gathered from around the world and came together to impart wisdom at the 92^nd Street Y.  There was an energy at the conference that ignited passions, sparked creativity, and illuminated good will.  Many of us connected on twitter and formed real friendships.  Brands conference in December 2010 focused on the humanization of brands.  I was excited again about the growth in social media.  It was no longer just a theory or magic mix that somehow worked.  Now, big brands were embracing social media. 

The 140 Conference disappeared from New York City for a bit while Jeff created serendipity around the world.   I missed 140 Fashion, but did get to watch it live stream.  The next meeting was the 140 Conference Long Island.  It didn’t matter to me that the venue was not Manhattan.   I love the conference and by then I wanted to meet up with my social media brethren to catch up.  The call for speakers went out and it wasn’t until the last day I submitted my proposal.  I was accepted and given 5 minutes to share my experiences communicating in real time.  I was thrilled and terrified to be sharing the podium with  social media greats Peter Shankman and Trey Pennington.  I prepared and rehearsed and was ready.  I went over time, I didn’t get to say all I wanted but I got the message out  The audience clapped and laughed at my jokes, tweeted my talk and offered me hugs. 

We are at the beginning of the new media revolution.  Many pioneers I have met at the 140 Conferences are building the foundation for the way human kind will communicate with each other.  Thank you Jeff, and all the 140 Characters for sharing your vision with me.  I am a 140 Character.   

We don't just fist pump on Staten Island

Staten Island was supposed to be just a brief stopping point as I migrated to the rest of my life.  The 5 year plan turned into the 10 year plan and after 15 years Staten Island officially became my home.
 

I couldn’t leave.  Staten Island met the criteria.  Close to Manhattan and my roots in Brooklyn.  An easy ride to New Jersey and points South.  Heck,  it was in the middle of everywhere.  The only problem for me was with Staten Island’s image. People not from here thought the whole island was covered by the worlds largest dump.  Stereotypes like the Situation, Snooky and Mob Wives are accepted as the norm and  Staten Island was not getting the recognition this culturally rich and exciting boro deserved.
 

We don’t just fist pump on Staten Island.  It is Not a place to be to be forgotten,   Staten Island is an integral  part of the most exciting city in the world.    Abundant in philanthropic activities and people who dedicate their lives to art, culture and social enterprise.  An Island steeped in history, filled with thousands of acres of parkland and beaches. AND  only a free 20 minute ferry ride from Manhattan.
 

Never one satisfied with the status quo I always hoped  that something would change.  I found that there were other’s like me that see such potential for our home.  Like a Jedi,  as guardian of conversation,  I harnessed the mystical energies of engagement.  Facebook, Twitter, linked In, Youtube and Flikr became my light saber and the social media force was definitely with me.  Immediately I began working on  projects with local Non-profits.  

What a great way to satisfy my passion for helping my community and really  DO something.   I knew there were  social media strategies I could use  to increase cause awareness, raise funds, and draw audiences to their events.


My first project was for  the  Jewish Community Center of Staten Island.  I had 2 months to promote  ReelAbilities a NY disabilities film festival dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities.  The previous year had a small turnout and the goal was to increase it.  Simply posting on twitter and the real time internet, I was able to amplify the message and reach those interested.  Hundreds turned out for the showings.

The Business Council for the American Cancer Society of Staten Island decided to use social media to promote  their 2011Comedy for a Cure fundraiser.  Using a few tools and strategies  all of the members of the council participated in the online campaign and raised almost double the amount of money projected.

June  2010  brought the first LUMEN to Staten Island presented by the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island,  Lumen is  a cutting-edge video,  art,  and projection show.  It features work by emerging Staten Island artists, as well as established video, new media, projection, and animation artists from New York City and beyond.   LUMEN highlights a diversity of artists at the forefront of their media in an industrial landscape on Staten Island’s waterfront.  We needed to get the word out to everyone in NY that this incredible and awesome event was taking place.  Twitter was the perfect tool, raising the noise levels in the data streams drawing attention from art sources, news media outlets and over 700 guests.  This year’s LUMEN will be at the site of another favorite project of mine; the proposed National Lighthouse Museum.

Twitter  and the “real time Internet” has permanently changed the landscapes of media, communication, and marketing. It is crucial for Non Profit organizations to be part of this emerging trend.  By building communities online and having conversations that are relevant to them, these and many other Non Profit Organizations have been able to facilitate connections engage their audience.

For non-profit organizations and other charities, social media is an incredibly powerful tool to create word-of-mouth, connect with constituents, gather support, and even raise money. Through social media, non-for-profits have the opportunity to positively affect their organization's perception, visibility and brand experience by taking part in online and mobile conversations. The expansion of the social web is impacting all organizations, and non-profits of all kinds must be prepared to embrace this  fundamental  universal shift.

One person can make a difference you just have to have a vision and take a chance. Take the first step, make some noise change your world.

Can Social Media change Education Paradigms?

Sir Ken Robinson; author, speaker and international advisor on education in the arts to government, non-profits, education and arts bodies. He was Director of The Arts in Schools Project (1985–89), Professor of Arts Education at the University of Warwick (1989–2001) and was knighted in 2003 for services to education.  You can view the RSA animate video “Changing paradigms in Education” here: http://bit.ly/fffIUt

I watched a video of Sir Ken Robinson's “Changing paradigms in Education” talk given at the Royal Society on the Arts on YouTube.  I don’t remember how I came across it but I was in awe.  I watched 4 or 5 times over. I wasn’t surprised to hear someone else talking about how current public education is failing our students.  Sir Ken Robinson’s simplistic approach to making small changes that can have significant impact on our children’s education was inspiring. I can see why it went viral.  Sir Ken’s key points hit many of the core issues I believe our evolving education system is now facing. 

His views are not new.  The Montessori Method from the 1890’s involves the teacher in viewing the student as having an inner natural guidance for his or her own perfect self-directed development. The Reggio Emilia philosophy founded after World War II is based upon the following set of principles.  Students must have some control over the direction of their learning; must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing; have a relationship with other students and with material items in the world that students must be allowed to explore and must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.

So what has changed? Sir Ken Robinson talks about how education reform can work.  The current US education system was established during an Era of Cultural Enlightenment and the Industrial Economic Revolution.  That education model worked for a while. We were automating and building our communities.  People worked in factories or offices.  Technology was changing American society. Health and medicine evolved due to research technologies.  Many of our teaching programs developed over time met the variety of skill needs for our society.  As we move forward in the technological revolution factory like school settings and un-stimulating classroom learning are becoming obsolete, so we find ourselves asking “What’s Next?”

According to Robinson, We are changing education to prepare our future generations but we don’t know what that future will hold since there is such rapid change.  We are also trying to reform education to adapt to cultural changes while maintaining cultural identity, as the world’s cultures connect.

So how do we change the system without totally starting from scratch?  Our education infrastructure is expensive so we can’t build a new one. Many people are hesitant to scrap the current system fearing unknown outcomes.  There are ways Social Media could bridge the gap.   Technology has enabled society to catch up with Montessori’s revolutionary methods of teaching.  Collaborative learning and divergent thinking can take place in classrooms leveraging many of the Social Media tools we have today. 

Preparing today’s students for the unknown and quickly changing cultural and economic climates, must include the new ways we are communicating.  Creating stimulating learning environments, allowing students to express knowledge through their creative means can be achieved by integrating Social Media technologies.  Communication modalities are changing our lives, and we must adapt our teaching methods to work with emerging technologies.   

We must raise standards to compete in the changing world economy. What should the standards be?  Some tests can designate a person genius and others label them special needs.  Who will set the standards? 

Sir Ken says to change the Education Paradigms we need to think differently about human capacity and get over the old conception of Academic, non-Academic, Abstract, Theoretical…etc. Most great learning happens in groups- Collaboration is the stuff of growth.  The current education system is crucially due to the culture of our institution: the Habits of our institution and the habitats they occupy.

I believe there are opportunities to make great strides with small changes if we introduce methods for implementing Social Media at different levels throughout the education spectrum.