Michelle Obama brings the house down
August 25, 2008
Michelle Obama is a great woman not because she gives a good speech or she is clearly chock full of class and grace. She is great because she did one of the most difficult things there is to do: truly honor your parents by doing what you are told. In her speech tonight, Michelle talked about how her parents often complained that too often people go off to college and never come back. Michelle followed her parents advice and married a man who devoted his life to public service when both of them combined could be raking in major dough. Read more
Vote for the Social Media for Social Change Panel
August 8, 2008
As you may remember, I have been writing for a couple of months now at a site called Social Media for Social Change. The creator of that site, Michelle Riggen-Ransom, is moderating a panel at the upcoming 2009 SXSW Interactive conference called Social Media for Social Change, and, if accepted, I will be a panelist.
Here is a description of the panel:
Exploring ways non-profits and businesses are using social media to drive social change. From forums sharing life-changing information to online communities loaning money to entrepreneurs in Africa: social media tools and applications are powerful and growing. Find out what folks just like you are doing to change the world.
I’ll be talking about the online activism work that myself and others have been doing, specifically how The SuperSpade and other members of blacknetaction are impacting the offline world through our online efforts.
Here’s the comment I left on the panel description page:
This is an important topic, as technology is moving beyond the realm of mere entertainment and utility. Realizing that we can use the social media tools we love and create to not only make money but to make life better in a truly holistic sense is the key to the growth and sustainability of our industry.
What I Need You to Do: VOTE!!!
In order to make the panel happen and have the dialogue occur on a large, public platform, we need you to go vote for it. Here’s how to do that:
- Go to the Social Media for Social Change Panel Description page
- Where it says Your Vote, click 5 stars, which means that you find this panel “Amazing - This justifies a trip to SXSW.“
Please vote before voting closes on August 29th. Vote early and vote often! If you’re feeling extra generous, sign up and leave a comment with your thoughts on the topic. Then, take a look at some of the other extremely interesting panels.
Thansk in advance!
One Love. One II.
Podcast on the Importance of a Public Internet
May 30, 2007
Last week I recorded my first podcast for the Northwest Progressive Institute, a Washington-based think tank for which I serve as Senior Policy Analyst for Technology.
The title is “Reframing Net Neutrality,” and it talks about why an accessible and public and non-discriminatory Internet is important to preserve. You can listen to the audio here.
One Love. One II.
The Weekly Dream: Hold Your Peace
May 4, 2007
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to keep silence and a time to speak.”
-Ecclesiastes 3:7
“If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to control the whole body.”
-James 3:2
”Every man possesses a simple superpower: silence. Too few flex it on the regular basis.”
In the past, I have spoken in passing about slience, creating a quiet space, finding peace within yourself. However, today I want to talk about holding your tongue. Or more clearly, knowing when to speak and when to listen. On one level, I admire those individuals who are the “strong, silent type.” I have friends who are almost Zen-like in their ability to hold their peace and not say anything, just be “in the cut.” You never know if they are paying attention or watching everything. You do not know what they are thinking or how they really feel about you. And this type of silence lends to them a certain air of mystery, confidence, allure and magnetism.
However, on the other end, I have friends who are the life of the party. They enter the room and the atmosphere changes. They hit a room like they are campaigning for office and by the end of the night they have networked, connected and built rapport with every person in the room. Their allure is being able to come out of their shell and share themselves.
The SuperSpade’s Air America Radio Interview with The Young Turks
March 16, 2007
Thank you everyone that listened live to my interview (11 min 12 sec, 10.2 MB, mp3 file) this morning.
I had the opportunity to share my thoughts on the Obama-Sharpton squabble, Obama’s dealings with “traditional” Black political leadership, and briefly the Congressional Black Caucus Institute considering partnering with Fox News to air their upcoming Presidential debates.
For those that missed it, you can listen the interview here. A big Thank You from The SuperSpade to Ben & Cenk of The Young Turks and and Air America Radio.
Categories
Speech
Politics
Barack Obama
Voting
Black Issues
The SuperSpade with The Young Turks on Air America Radio
March 15, 2007
I will be a guest on The Young Turks on Air America Radio on Friday, 16 Mar 2007, at 7 AM Eastern. Here are the ways you can listen:
- Satellite Radio: XM Channel 167
- Your Local Air America Radio Affiliate
- Live streaming at Air America’s website
- The Young Turks Website
This will be a conversation concerning Al Sharpton questioning Barack Obama, as well as Fox New’s attacks on Black people.
As always, I will try and get audio from the interview up here on the site as soon as I can. Listen and Enjoy!
The SuperSpade Black History Month Presentation
March 3, 2007
This past Tuesday, 28 February 2007, I had the honor of being the keynote speaker at Seattle’s Central Youth & Family Services Black History Month Program.
Here is a link to my short address (WAV Format, 9 min 6 seconds, 8.33 MB). I talked about the importance of finding mentors and connecting with people that have experiences in areas that you care about and are interested in.
The entire program was a lot of fun, and there was food, trivia, and good times all around. I got to stay and connect with many of the people in CYFS’s programs and talk with staff members too.
Categories
SuperSpade
Speech
Black History Month
The SuperSpade on ‘Integrating with Alternative Media’
February 11, 2007
I have recently joined a group called the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI). Yesterday, I participated in a panel discussion called “Integrating with Alternative Media,” and these are a few things I talked about:
- The importance of media & communication to revolution
- Reaching out to more people by using multimedia (audio, video)
- Reaching more people by partnering with alternative media (Public TV, Low Power FM Radio, etc.)
There’s more in there as well, including why it is important to connect and work with ethnic media, the largest for of alternative media.
Integrating with Alternative Media (Windows Media Audio, 16 min 50 sec, 7.79 MB)
The SuperSpade Interview on Radio Nation with Dr. Laura Flanders
January 15, 2007
Family,
Here is the audio (1 min 51 sec, wav file) from my brief interview on Radio Nation with Dr. Laura Flanders this past Saturday night while I was in Memphis, TN at the Free Press National Conference on Media Reform. I used this time to describe what the mission and vision of The SuperSpade is to a broad audience.
This gathering was one of the most inspiring and energizing assemblies that I have ever attended. I will reflect more on the conference, who I met, and what I learned a bit later. The SuperSpade was very well received.
I am back in Seattle for all of one day before I go to Detroit for a few days this week.
Happy MLK Day everyone. Use this as a day of learning and not of laziness.
Categories:
SuperSpade
Speech
Radio Interview
The SuperSpade Interview with Chuck D on “On The Real”
November 27, 2006
I let you all know that I was going to be a guest of Chuck D on his show, “On The Real,” on Air America Radio last night. My piece was short and sweet, but I am always thankful for the opportunity to share my vision with anyone about how I want to change the way that we think about technology and the way that we think about addressing the challenges that we face everyday.
For your listening pleasure, you can here me and Chuck here (3.33).
Big thanks go to Chuck D and Dave at Air America for securing this platform for The SuperSpade. We will definitely be working together again in the future.
Categories:
Speech
SuperSpade
Technology
