Leveraging Social Networks for Progressive Organizing
March 8, 2007, 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Featured Participants:
Chris Hughes, Co-founder, Facebook
Scott Goodstein, Founder, Catalyst Campaigns
Ivan Boothe, Director of Communications, Genocide Intervention Network
Lauren Miller, Strategist, Blue State Digital
Moderator:
Stephen Geer, Manager of Online Advocacy, Center for American Progress Action Fund
Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Flickr have grown exponentially over the past two years with combined memberships exceeding 100 million. Similarly, social bookmarking sites like Digg, Del.icio.us, Reddit, and StumbleUpon have transformed the way readers discover new content online.
To date, only a handful of advocacy groups have successfully used these platforms to connect and organize progressive activists. Join NOI and the CAP Action Fund for a panel discussion with a few of these pioneers and the technologists who are shaping the tools they use.
Resources
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Location
American Institute for Architects
1735 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006
Map & Directions
Biographies
Chris Hughes is a co-founder of the popular social network Facebook. Begun by three Harvard undergrads in early 2004, Facebook helps people better understand the world around them by developing technologies that facilitate the spread of information through social networks. Hughes is most interested in the intersections between technology and cultural and political structures. He has worked both on the marketing and product development teams at Facebook since the site's beginning.</p>
Scott Goodstein spent the last twelve years managing political campaigns and building progressive coalitions. After working for several members of Congress, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Goodstein founded Catalyst Campaigns (www.catalystcampaigns.com). A master at mixing online and offline organizing tools with culture, music, politics and messaging, Goodstein knows how to build sustainable niche based organizations from the ground up including: Punkvoter.com, Rock Against Bush, MilitaryFreeZone.org, Save CBGB, and Operation Ceasefire. Goodstein received both a BA and an MPA from The American University School of Public Affairs. Goodstein lives in Washington DC where he proudly proclaims, "George Bush is Still Not My President."
Ivan Boothe is the director of communications for the Genocide Intervention Network, which empowers individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide. He holds a degree in peace and conflict studies and authored a thesis on third-party nonviolent intervention. Ivan was a co-founder of why-war.org, which launched a nationwide campaign of electronic civil disobedience against the voting machine manufacturer Diebold in 2003. His writings can be found at quixotic1.com.
Lauren Miller is a strategist at Blue State Digital, a political technology consulting firm for Democratic candidates and progressive organizations. Lauren develops online outreach and social networking programs for clients like Senator Ted Kennedy, Wal-Mart Watch, and the Communications Workers of America. In addition to utilizing sites like Facebook.com and MySpace.com, Lauren has also helped develop Blue State Digital's own social networking technology, which powers the Democratic Party's PartyBuilder and Barack Obama's My.BarackObama.com.
Stephen Geer is the Manager of Online Advocacy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Before joining the Center, Steve ran online operations for the Children's Defense Fund and served as webmaster for American University's College of Arts and Sciences. Steve studied electrical engineering at Cornell University and computer science and literature at Virginia Tech.