This interactive session is based on a key theme in the book, The Networked Nonprofit (http://www.bethkanter.org/the-networked-nonprofit/), co-authored by Beth Kanter. We will explore how nonprofits can unleash the power of social good by transitioning from stand-alone institutions to networks energized by abundant resources in their ecosystem. In order to do this, they need to work with free agents, hyper-connected individuals who are passionate about social change, but don't work within institutional walls. Free agents use social-media channels like Facebook and Twitter and can create social movements in the palms of their hands. They organize supporters, raise attention to important social and political issues, seek donations, and organize supporters to walk, run, shout, protest, and vote, things that were once done mostly by nonprofit organizations. The free agents do it when and how they please, making them distinct from and more powerful than traditional volunteers. But free agents are smashing headfirst into nonprofit fortresses—organizations with high walls and wide moats that work very hard to keep insiders in and outsiders out. Our session will explore how and why this needs to change. Kanter will bring together a group of highly visible free agents working on important social change causes, including those in Middle East, and representatives from different nonprofits for a lively discussion with the audience.
Beth is the author of Beth’s Blog (http://www.bethkanter.org), one of the longest running and most popular blogs for nonprofits and co-author of the highly acclaimed book, The Networked Nonprofit, published by J. Wiley in 2010.
Beth is the CEO of Zoetica, a company that serves nonprofits and socially conscious companies with top-tier, online marketing services. In 2009, she was named by Fast Company Magazine as one of the most influential women in technology and one of Business Week’s “Voices of Innovation for Social Media.” She is currently the Visiting Scholar for Social Media and Nonprofits for the Packard Foundation. She is 2010 Society of New Communications Research Fellow for 2010.
Danielle Brigida works as the Digital Marketing Manager for the National Wildlife Federation. She actively engages a wide range of constituents using a mixture of online tools and social networking sites. An early adopter of social media with creative, engaging campaigns, Danielle has been recognized as: 10 Green Women We Love by Greenopia and one of the 75 Environmentalists to follow by Mashable.By tracking emerging trends and measuring impact, she consistently finds the most effective ways to connect people to NWF's campaigns.
I'm a former magazine editor and journalist who cofounded Social Media Exchange with my husband Mohamad in 2008. We've been working with civil society in Lebanon and throughout the region over the past three years by offering training and coaching in the strategic use of social media tools. You can reach me mostly by email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
In 2008, Mark Horvath, now known to many as @hardlynormal, set out to film the stories of America’s homeless and share them with as many people as possible. Since then, he has become an internationally recognized activist and ambassador for the millions of individuals and families who reside in shelters, motels, tents along the streets and under highway bridges across the country.
Mark has been featured by the L.A. Times, CNN, CBS, Mashable.com and NPR. He’s spoken at a number of conferences and events, including Blog World, U.S Department of State's Tech@State, Gnomedex, 140 Character Conference, Nonprofit Technology Conference and SxSW. The Huffington Post named him one of 11 Twitter activists you should follow. Youtube gave InvisiblePeople.tv unprecedented exposure allowing Horvath to curate YouTube’s homepage for a day. Mark was asked to speak at Twitter, Inc and at charity: water. He has consulted for Los Angeles Police Department and USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism among many others.
This past September InvisiblePeople.tv launched We Are Visible. WeAreVisible.com's mission is to give people dealing with poverty and homelessness the tools they need to get online and have a voice. The site teaches them how to sign up for email, open a Twitter account, join Facebook, create a blog and, in general, take advantage of the benefits of online social media. It also has the potential to become a model for virtual case management as it helps build a community among homeless people and support service providers.
