The Revolution Begins at Home: Engaging Parents in Politics through Social Media
Parents are heavily constrained by time and multiple commitments, and as a result, political activism often falls on the shoulders of those who just out of college, those without children, or those whose children are older. This session focuses on ways to use social media to engage parents of babies, children and teens still at home. We’ll also talk about how to engage youth in the process from a parenting perspective. We'll discuss using e-mail, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, instant message, Meebo, vlogging and other methods for political engagement and online community building in an effort to inspire and teach parents and those who plan to become parents that political engagement doesn't have to be a full-time job.
Sarah Granger directed Internet strategy and operations for Gary Hart's 2004 presidential exploratory organization including recruiting and training a volunteer team of 100 and launching the first blog by a politician. As founder of PublicEdge, she advises nonprofit and political organizations on new media and transparency. This year, she was given a new media award by the California Democratic Party and she is now the Director of New Media for WomenCount. She writes for The Huffington Post, techPresident, The Personal Democracy Forum, MOMocrats, BlogHer, The Political Voices of Women, The Politicus, and her own blog at sairy.com.
Julie Pippert is a writer, editor, and outreach consultant. She's also a mother, and believes many parents can be engaged in the political process. Parents care deeply about many issues, and working with MOMocrats, WomenCount, American Cancer Society Advisory Council, Savvy Source Houston, and TheMotherhood.com, Julie hears parents' concerns and wishes. She is also a member of the Clear Lake Texas Health Care Advocates, and volunteers to assist health care advocacy groups. Her work has appeared at the The Guardian, Chicago Sun-Times, Houston Chronicle, MOMocrats, WomenCount, BlogHer, in books, and she has been a guest on FOX News Radio.
Glennia Campbell is a community volunteer, lawyer, and writer from Palo Alto, CA. Glennia is a Co-Founder and Managing Editor of MOMocrats.com, a collective blog for progressive women from all over the US. In 2008, the MOMocrats were credentialed bloggers at the Democratic National Convention. In addition, she has been a contributing writer to Kimchi Mamas Blog, The Silicon Valley Moms Blog, and KoreAm Magazine. She was an invited speaker at the 2008 BlogHer Conference and contributed to the MOMocrats and Career Mom Radio podcasts.
Stephanie Himel-Nelson is an attorney, mother, volunteer and avid blogger. During the 2008 election, Stephanie was Director of New Media for Blue Star Families for Obama, a grassroots organization of military families supporting Barack Obama for President. Stephanie developed the online outreach program for BSF4O, quickly growing BSF4O’s following from 20 to 20,000 through the use of social media and grassroots organizing among military families. She also writes for the political blog MOMocrats and for her fluffier personal site, Lawyer Mama. Stephanie continues to volunteer as New Media Director for the new, non-partisan organization, Blue Star Families, Inc.
A recovering academic whose scholarly publications include work on Asian American film, literature, & feminism, Cynthia currently writes for MOMocrats. The Chicago Sun Times has syndicated work; the GuardianUK has highlighted her as a Best of Blogs read. Other work appears at Emily's List, WomenCount, LA Moms Blog, the International Examiner, and her personal blog, P i l l o w b o o k. In 2008, she helped MOMocrats cover the DNC, fundraised and phonebanked for Obama, and made two videos in support of marriage equality with API-PFLAG Los Angeles. This year, she covered Judy Chu’s election to Congress.
