This is the archived SXSW 2012 schedule. Please see the current schedule here.

Build. Community Is Easy, Saving the World Is Hard

#sxsw #BuildEasy

Passion for social issues has been an American ideal from the start. For hundreds of years, foundations and nonprofit organizations have been forming groups to provide support, comfort, and solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Dialogue and subsequent action happens when dedicated people rally together in communities - live or virtual - to impact health issues, advance social causes, and make the world a better place.

With the ever-changing landscape of new digital community-building platforms, these socially responsible groups are taking advantage of new technologies to reach and engage their audiences. The panel will uncover the organizational strategies of community building, maintaining engagement over time, and uniting a group of people who may have never met face-to-face. From helping people quit tobacco to establishing support groups for rare diseases and supporting healthy lifestyles, each organization approaches community engagement in a unique way. Come hear the successes and set backs of community building that strive to bring social issues to the forefront and address them in modern ways.

Listen

Presenters

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Colin Wallis Dir of Advancement LIVESTRONG





Dave Dobbins COO Legacy

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Kesah Schmitt Project Mgr/Functional Consultant Beaconfire Consulting

Kesah is a web consultant at Beaconfire, a consulting firm that helps nonprofits design and build their Web sites and online marketing programs. There she provides functional and technical expertise and manages a variety of projects including full lifecycle site builds and redesigns, software assessments/selections, and online marketing initiatives. She has worked with clients such as the American Diabetes Association, the American Legacy Foundation, and Ocean Conservancy. Prior to Beaconfire, Kesah worked in web development at Soundpath Conferencing and has provided consulting services for both Save the Children and Office Desktop. Kesah has helped several nonprofits assess and build their online communities, both in regards to evaluating and selecting a technology platform and building and growing an online presence. She has worked with multiple community platforms and has a superior understanding of how Internet technology can transform a nonprofit.

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Mark Himmelsbach SVP, Dir of Digital Strategy North America BBDO





Scott Orn Co-founder Ben's Friends

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