It is not uncommon to visit this site and read about my focus on, or interest in, utilizing social media tools for social change, and this post bears no exception. Unfortunately, while the example that I bring forward this time is perhaps one of the most widespread example that we have seen, the ethics and motivation behind it remain questionable.

With more than 76 million views on Youtube and 16 million views on Vimeo, there is no doubt that it gained traction, and quickly. Nearly 60% of those between the ages of 18-29 hearing about the story, and over a third hearing about it online (find more information from the Pew Internet research on the topic here). But what struck me about the sharing taking place around the KONY2012 besides the speed at which it went “viral,” was the evolution from sharing to critique and the lack of clarity and recognition about the significance of a story like this gaining traction the way that it did. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there are few examples of such a significant impact made purely through social media prior to the KONY2012 campaign. Whether you agree with their cause, think they’re crooks, or simply sat entertained by the buzz around the topic in your news feed, you have to admit, we’ve ushered in a new era, and one that now accepts socially viral messages to guide and inspire movements of change and national news conversations focused on social change.

When challenged about my reasons for posting the video and “supporting the cause,” I said the following on my Facebook account: “What can be said regardless is that when you think about calling the millennial generation to action, the KONY2012 campaign proves that they [IC] understand their audience, the tools, and the qualities of leadership that inspire others to action in a world that lives a significant portion of their life through social networks.” And it rings true. When fashioned appropriately, when guided effectively to influence change on behalf of others, and when armed with the self-reflection and identification of personal values, the millenial generation may just have what it takes (in the face of so many critics) to advocate and follow through with bringing forward significant change.

When I present on the topic of using social media for social change, I make it clear that the technologies are the tool, and that they reflect the user. As professionals, it’s our duty to develop students into critics who understand their values amongst the complex systems and problems they will face– and if all along we develop their skills in understanding how to communicate effectively in person and online to motivate people to action behind a cause, then we may find ourselves amongst the most powerful, connected, and active generation to date. We need to start reevaluating old paradigms of activism, because being behind a computer doesn’t make you lazy or apathetic– lack of empathy and motivation does. Stop pointing fingers at this generation for doing things differently and start fueling and making examples of those doing it effectively while keeping a guiding hand and critical eye on the values behind it.

They’re more connected to the information than ever before, and have more instant access to each other than the world has ever experienced. Add a spark of motivation and activism, and that’s a powderkeg for change.

As a student affairs professional, I recognize that my contact with students provides me with both an opportunity and a responsibility to aspire to influence them in meaningful ways. Increasingly, my growing interests in advocacy, citizenship, and social media have collided and evolved into a focus on research and encouraging conversations about using social media to advocate for positive change. I believe that this subject is not only the next step for this generation regarding their evolved form of citizenship, but it also opens important dialogues regarding the opportunities and potential pitfalls of technology, digital identity management, and shows them examples to better understand “where the rubber meets the road.”

One such site, as mentioned by Becca Obergefell on her blog describes the ability to fill out a “questionnaire” of sorts to gain insight on where one falls on the political spectrum, and in doing so, which candidate best reflects these views– in some ways functioning as almost a “personality test” for political perspective.

But beyond self-awareness, there are a number of sites that are providing tools for action related to what the American Democracy Project has dubbed “eCitizenship.”

For instance, sites like Change.Org provide forums for large groups to come together using social media to advocate for changes, and to share them in ways that allow the access of the web and common interests to unite people in ways that pushing paper and standing on the street corners can’t.  You may remember hearing about this tool when Molly Katchpole took on Bank of America (by the way, she’ s an alumnae of RWU as well). Oh, and the “It Gets Better” movement generated through professional sports?  Yeah, that started here too– as a petition for the Giants to create a video.

Similarly, TwoSides.Co provides a forum for users to share crowd-sourced opinions around hot- button issues, allowing them to better understand the complexities and implications involved in their perspectives, and in the process educating users about about the “hot topics” involved in today’s political and social atmosphere…As well as a few “lower stakes” issues as well.

The only way that we’re going to be able to fully prepare the next generation of citizens for the socially networked, politically oriented world ahead will be sharing tools, supporting their efforts, and pushing them to mobilize effectively by building their skills, or as John Mayer so aptly reflected the perceived attitudes of the millennial generation, “one day our generation is gunna rule the population, but we keep on waitin’, waitin’ on the world to change.”

And with the recent emergence of the KONY2012 campaign and the roller coaster that surrounded it’s release, there’s no telling what the future of movements like these could look like.

After an exciting announcement last week about my plans for the future, I’m excited to say that today I’m heading to the University of Southern California for my first on-site experience with the domestic exchange program I described in my previous post (read more about the program and some of the press it has received here and here).  I will be joining a group of Kennesaw State students and staff members in visiting their partner at USC, learning about the social issue that they’ve been studying (homelessness), and visiting some of the “key players” related to the issue.

In the past, this trip has included a trip to Skid Row, complete with police escort and camera crew, to key government officials and non-profits who play a critical role in the issue.  These experience provide students not only the opportunity to flex some of the muscles that they are developing regarding leadership modules, but also an experience in better understanding the complexity of social issues, the factors at play, and the difficulty in oversimplifying the approach to solving problems in the real world.

While only  a brief visit, I’m really excited to see how this program plays out so early in establishing myself as a staff member in the CSL, along with being able to spend some time with the other coordinators, colleagues, and friends in the process.  If it weren’t already hard enough to focus on coursework and my assistantship this early in the semester, this incredible opportunity certainly isn’t going to help.  Thankfully, I can take this as an opportunity to better understand the role I will enter in the summer, provide more productive and first-hand feedback for improvements, and establish relationships with students before I step foot on campus in June.  To follow my trip and capture the experience on twitter in pictures and 140 chars., follow the hashtag #KSUxUSC.

I guess I can only hope that the bi-product of that will also be a renewed focus when I return knowing that I made a great decision, and that I have to finish classes, work with my staff for another semester, close the building, and move before I can truly call myself an owl.  Either way, it’s great to think about the fact that in just a few months I’ll be join a fantastic team developing programs and impacting students in profound ways.  Yep, I think it’s finally sinking in, and I can’t wait to call a place like that home.

“Yes, I accept.”  Three words that immeasurably impacted my immediate future, and represent something much greater than their presumed simplicity.  They are a sign of things to come, an acknowledgement of skills and goals accomplished, and the realization of a plan that began 5 years ago.

Today I am extremely excited to announce that I have accepted a position at Kennesaw State University working within their Center for Student Leadership!  Revisiting my summer internship site from this year, this opportunity brings together many of the elements that I once outlined as factors within my “perfect job,” as well as a great staff, students, and institutional backdrop.  Equally important, it brings Lauren and I within a half hour of Atlanta, opening opportunities for her in genetics, the Center for Disease Control, public health, and lab work (just for starters).

Starting in June, I will begin working with the second year of a three year leadership program (LINK Ascend), aiding in the advisement and coordination of domestic exchange projects focused around social issues determined by students, all while integrating leadership modules and logistical planning for skill development and self awareness.  This program developed out of a partnership between the University of Southern California, Suffolk University, and Kennesaw State around the issue of homelessness just a few years ago.  As the network of participating institutions increases I will assist in the coordination of the National Leadership in Action Summit that will take place at KSU during the summer, which serves as the think tank of the program, and the entry point for schools looking to get more involved– last summer I was part of the coordination of this event, which included speakers such as Gwen Dungy, Beheruz Sethna, and Betty Siegel.  I will be responsible for the development of meaningful experiences within this program as it continues to grow in size and quality.   I will have the opportunity to teach (or co-teach for my first semester) a credited course in Leadership or focused around The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ 7 Revolutions within the First-Year Programs of the University College at KSU.  Finally, I will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the  social media plan I developed during my summer internship (Facebook & Twitter) in collaboration with the marketing presence for the office, incorporating and developing content in meaningful ways to achieve academic and department goals.

It’s a little unnerving to be thinking that my job search began and ended so quickly, and so early in 2012.  As I mentioned just a few weeks ago, this is the start of an incredible year with a lot of change.  But while it won’t be spent writing cover letters, resumes, and applications, it has already begun to include frequent visits to U-Haul, Trulia, & Monster “.coms’” to help Lauren on her (now rather specific) regional search, it certainly will be a busy one.  I’m looking forward to sharing the insights and transitions that will occur in the months ahead, and the excitement that most definitely comes from such a big transition! The end of a beginning now coming to a close, I’m looking forward to enjoying my last months in Aggieland and preparing for the exciting journey ahead!

I’ll admit it, over the last few months I’ve become a bit of a collector.  Not of postcards, or books, or knick-knacks, but of people in my social networks.  When friend requests come in I’m quick to friend, follow, group, list and organize, but often epically fail at connecting.  I’m the first to say that social networks are all about the people, and that the connections are what make spaces like these important (and ultimately valuable), but I often struggle with the follow through.  I deeply respect the notion of connecting with pros once you’ve “connected” with them, and in the spirit of my oneword2012 (Engage), am decidedly committing to spending more time on connecting rather than collecting.  So expect a request to Skype, a DM, a tweet, or maybe just a like or comment– but in the spirit of engaging this year, I can’t resolve to simply collect any longer!

Are you a guilty social media “collector?” What are you going to do about it?

To say the least, it’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since writing my post on my One Word definition for 2011, and that it’s already about time for a look back on my progress.  The idea of developing a “word” to define and guide my year bears so much fruit, and I intend to continue this practice for years to come.  If my life is my organization, and my goals are my plan, my #oneword to explore became my mission statement this year.

I struggled through my first year of grad school struggling to rediscover a confidence and voice as I learned the basics in student affairs.  Grappling with old experiences, and overwhelmed by new surroundings and new experiences I doubted my readiness and preparedness to work through the challenges I faced, and my original post reflects the frustration, critique, and hope in setting a my word for 2011.

With the declaration to continue to challenge and explore myself and the opportunities available to me, I found my stride.  I ran more than I have in years, I pursued a long-shot of an internship outside of the traditional processes and had an amazing experience, I returned to residence life with a renewed interest and a unique challenge (along with the confidence to take it on), and I experienced life at an HBCU and the self-reflection that arose from it.  I explored myself in new ways, and let others see more of me in the process. I pursued meaningful conversations with my peers and friends, and considered who I am, how I impact others, and how that influences how I intend to work with students. I invested in studies outside of my program and found an interest and new perspective in management literature, all while making connections around my professional interests.

I enter 2012 with a sense of accomplishment, and the realization that the dreams of attaining a degree, a job, and a career are closer than ever before.  The plan that is now 5 years in the making is in the home stretch, and I’m ready to dive into my first full-time position head first. 2012 is the year that it’s going to happen.

In 2012, I hope to enter the classroom as a partner in learning, educating.  I hope to continue to advise students and challenge them in meaningful ways and guide them toward action that will impact their communities.  I hope to continue to connect with my networks online, and develop new ways to connect and interact with others using social media.  I hope to write here more often and provide resources for students interested in student affairs, as well as provide a forum for discussions about those who are currently in student affairs.  I hope to get up and move in 2012 and set the tone for a healthy lifestyle mentally and physically by exercising and eating right.  Lastly, and most personally, I hope (finally!) to settle in with Lauren and continue to discover what the future will hold for us.

In short, I’m ready to engage in 2012.What will define and guide you in 2012?

Last week during our Residence Education meeting, Angie Harris shared this TEDx video with the group.  It brings a different perspective to the concept of talking about race, so I had to share.  More reflection and thoughts to come soon, but needed to get this in the hands of others.

What do you think?

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the type of content I would include if I were to be asked to create a class since a lecture that I gave to a group of students in an intro class focused around the 7 Revolutions via Skype earlier this semester.

I was asked to create a class around “Social Media and Citizenship,” and essentially provide a framework for future conversations or projects around the idea of advocacy through Social Media.  It was a lot of fun– I was able to flex my academic muscles in my Communication background, talk through my new skill sets in working with college students, engage in critical discussions about current events, and provide outlets for future involvement and a call to action through social media.  I facilitated the class from my laptop and via a Twitter back-channel, and those first-year students impressed me with what they brought to the table. (I’d be happy to share the documents that I used and some of the class notes that I created with Ken Hill, the professor I worked with to guide our conversation– just tweet me or send me an email!)

Since, I’ve had this lingering– well, nagging interest in expanding this concept of Social Media & Citizenship into a full credited intro course for first-year students (although given it’s innate complexity, it may be best suited for a multi-year program), ideally in the context of leadership to provide direction to students, teach skill sets regarding building their professional identity, understanding current events, building college-level writing skills, and providing an opportunity for self-discovery as they begin to explore their interests.

In short, the learning outcomes would look something like this–

Students will be able to:

• Describe characteristics of their leadership style and how this influences how they work with others
• Describe current events impacted by the use of social media
• Articulate the importance of digital identity and citizenship as it relates to leadership
• Analyze contemporary aspects of social media use related to social movements
• Utilize characteristics of effective social media use in practice to increase awareness around a social “issue”

We’d spend the first few weeks outlining the Social Media out there, but introduced through current events in which it was the critical viral factor to spread information.  We would highlight President Obamas’ use of social media to advocate from the White House, the UC-Berkeley movement and Penn States’ Daily Collegian posts and videos about the events taking place on campus, and further explore the Occupy Movements’ use of social media to spread ideas.  We’d look to pop culture and explore the climb of social media “stardom” and pull out the characteristics of effectively managed social “movements.”

Throughout this process, students would be asked to create a twitter account and begin following a number of topics, eventually narrowing in on a social issue and exploring how the conversation develops online.  Eventually students would be asked to share their own content related to the issue and attempt to make contact with local and national influencers on the topic.  Finally, students would come together on a topic to advocate for it on campus (ex campus voter turnout, social issue advocacy related to community, etc.), or something focused on a more national scale, such as through Change.Org or VisibleVote.us while also integrating the fantastic resources developed by the American Democracy Project eCitizenship initiative and the Case Foundation (haven’t flushed this part all the way out yet, and frankly it would be significantly influenced by the students I was working with).

And with that, I’ve set the foundation and brought it (sort of) into reality.  Here’s hoping I get the chance, or students would even be interested in checking it out! Of course, I’ve already done a little recon…

Would love to put together a class on Social Media and Citizenship to facilitate and educate about advocacy. Would YOU take it? #pegstweets

October 18, 2011 9:37 am via TweetDeckReplyRetweetFavorite

@BrianFLeDuc

Brian LeDuc

@BrianFLeDuc I would! I thought today went really well and was a really cool was to be able to have a conversation with someone so far away!

October 18, 2011 9:48 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@ashley_roxburgh

Ashley Roxburgh

So, what do you think- would you take my class?  What kind of class would you love to teach, given the opportunity?

AMENDMENT: In fact, I’ve decided to take the idea “to the street” so to speak and share in the creation and development on this course, and potentially offer it through P2PU, a site dedicated to this sort of crowd-sourced educational project. Take a look and join in!