Originally posted on Projecting Change Film Festival’s blog

Social Media is transforming the way we communicate with one another. I’m living proof of this. How? I moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Vancouver just over a week ago. Before social media, I would have spent, weeks, if not months and years trying to figure out who’s who and what’s what. It would have taken even longer to meet people and build friendships. Longer still to find opportunities to engage with the community. But—thanks to Twitter—within my first week here, I’ve not only met some really cool people; I’ve already begun to get involved here and project change.

 

A Stranger in a Not-So Strange Land,

When I knew I would be moving to Vancouver, I started seeking out people on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. I began finding out about what was going on in town and what events were upcoming. One of the first Vancouverites I met online was Rebecca Peel, who was looking for help spreading the word about the Projecting Change Film Festival. We emailed back and forth and before I knew it I was a member of the Projecting Change social media team.

This anecdote shows the true power underlying social media tools. If a guy from the desert can arrive in Vancouver and begin projecting change almost instantly, imagine what people like you who already have built a community here can do.

Social Media Club Vancouver is Here to Help

Yes, social media can feel daunting to some, and trivial to others, but with a basic understanding, social activists, advocates and change makers will find tools like Twitter and blogs can amplify our ability to project change.

This is why I’m so excited to be part of the team that is hosting the “Projecting Change with Social Media” workshop with Social Media Club Vancouver (SMCYVR).

SMCYVR is a proud community partner of the Projecting Change Film Festival. They will be kicking it off with a distinctively social twist on Tuesday May 17th at the HiVE Vancouver, a brand new innovation work space located at 128 W Hastings, Suite #210.

This Workshop Is Going to Rock!

Whether you are a complete newbie, or a season specialist. SMCYVR has brought together a stellar team of social media masters and mavens to help social change makers like yourself better share our work through social media channels. Throughout the evening you will get to choose from a variety of sessions focused on answering your social media questions and exploring powerful tools and techniques in new communications. Rather than the usual one way training sessions, these workshops will be highly interactive. Our goal is to give you tangible skills and knowledge that you can use immediately to project change in your community.

For just $20 dollars you will get access to specialists who usually charge several time more for their time and insights. Better yet, you will get a unique opportunity to engage and interact with them in an imtimate setting. All proceeds go to the 2011 Project Change Film Festival.

Learn from Vancouver’s Best

I’m particularly looking forward to meeting Kemp Edmonds. Kemp is an educator, strategist and speaker, who is not only the Vice President of Social Media Club Vancouver, but also the Program Coordinator at Hootsuite University If there is a better guy in Vancouver to talk about social media or teach you the ins and outs of the popular Twitter client, Hootsuite, I’m not sure who it could be.

Another speaker I’m interested in meting is Ajay Masala Puri. Ajay is an advocate for community empowerment. For the past ten years, he has been projecting change through volunteering, working and providing important research to improve the lives of many marginalized populations including at-risk youth, visible minorities, sex workers, and people suffering from mental health issues and addictions. Ajay will be leading an interactive workshop to help guide you in building your social movement, both online and off.

Other notable speakers include Monica Hamburg, Stephanie Michelle Scott of Wildfire Effect Consulting, Camille Jensen from Axiom News. You can find the entire schedule on the SMCYVR site.

Register Today! TICKETS

Due to the interactive nature of the sessions, there will be very limited seating, so get your ticket now!

Details

Date: Tuesday May 17
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: The HiVE Vancouver
Address: 128 W Hastings, Suite #210
Tickets: $20, All proceeds to Projecting Change Film Festival 2011. Purchase HERE.

 

About the Projecting Change Festival

Vancouver’s Projecting Change Film Festival is a  forum for film and dialogue about social and environmental issues. Our marquee four-day event, May 26-29  features inspiring, eye-opening, and often award-winning films from around the globe, each followed by a dynamic speaker and panel discussion.

The unique festival format is a platform for audience engagement, with all proceeds donated back to local initiatives.