Want to change the world? Some say social media is helping us do just that. From building peace to managing crises, social media is playing a key role in making the world a little bit better place. This panel will talk about how it's doing this, and how you can get involved in the process.
Featured:
- Moderator: Jessica Darmawan, Student, American University - Jessica Darmawan is a budding international blogger from Jakarta, Indonesia. With her passion for travel, she blogs about the world's largest archipelago, Indonesia, and its unique culture, natural landscape, traditional cuisine, and people. Within 6 months, her blog has grown to over 5,500 followers from all over the world. She hopes to work with Indonesia's Department of Tourism in the future to further expand her blog. Jessica is a Junior in the School of International Service at American University, and she hopes to use social media to promote causes.
- Daryn Cambridge, Director of Knowledge & Digital Strategies, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (@daryncambridge) - Daryn Cambridge is Director for Knowledge & Digital Strategies at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. He is also an education and training consultant and an adjunct professor at American University, where he teaches Education for Peace and Conflict Resolution and Education for International Development. Daryn has worked for several social justice and education organizations, facilitating trainings and workshops for learners of all ages and from all across the world. He has done consulting work for organizations such as One World Education, LearnServe International, and the United States Association for the University of Peace. He served for three years as Assistant Director of the Democracy Matters Institute and then Director of Youth Programs at Common Cause, designing and facilitating trainings for youth and young adults on how to do grassroots organizing around pro-democracy issues. He has also been a Program Supervisor and Instructor with the Close Up Foundation – the nation’s largest civic education and engagement non-profit – where he taught civic engagement workshops for young people from all across the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Eurasia. He has also been a teacher for Putney Student Travel’s Excel Program at Amherst College where he taught the History of War and International Relations; an urban crew leader with the Student Conservation Association, working with DC area youth in conservation, trail building and environmental education; and a consultant for Project Agape, the internet company that designed the Causes application on Facebook. Daryn has a B.A. from Middlebury College, a M.A. in International Training and Education from American University, and a professional certificate in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, also from American University. To learn more about Daryn's work you can visit his professional blog at daryncambridge.com.
- Craig Hayden, Assistant Professor, AU School of International Service - Dr. Craig Hayden is an assistant professor in the International Communication Program at American University’s School of International Service. His current research focuses on the discourse of public diplomacy, the rhetoric of foreign policy related to media technologies, as well as the impact of global media and media convergence on international relations. He is particularly interested in the comparative study of public diplomacy and media culture as a pivotal resource for international relations, as well as the impact of communication technology on international influence. Dr. Hayden received his Ph.D. from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California. Dr. Hayden's previous studies include analysis of media framing of the United States in pan-Arab media content, as well as analysis of media-based public argument by US presidential advisors prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
- Nick Martin (@ncmart) - Nick is the co-founder and President of TechChange. As President, he oversees all strategy and programming for the organization. Nick is an educator, technologist, and social entrepreneur with significant international peacebuilding and development expertise. He currently teaches courses at the United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE), and has given a number of guest lectures and speeches on the role of technology in peacebuilding, development and humanitarian work.
- Anand Varghese (@vargheseanand) - Anand Varghese works in the Center of Innovation: Science, Technology, and Peacebuilding at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). The Center develops innovative strategies for applying science and technology to the challenge of peacebuilding in fragile states, active conflict and post-conflict societies. Varghese has authored USIP reports on topics such as new media, online discourse, and science diplomacy. He graduated from Georgetown University with a masters degree in Democracy & Governance. He grew up in Bangalore, India and pronounces the “h” in “herbs.”
- Ashleigh Zimmerman, Seeds of Peace - Ashleigh Zimmerman is an accidental technologist and Director of American and Graduate Programs for Seeds of Peace. Seeds of Peace brings youth from regions of conflict to develop the leadership skills necessary to advance reconciliation and coexistence. Ashleigh is the Director of the Seeds of Peace Graduate Association which serves as a vehicle for all Graduates, in their diversity, to network, encourage and create local and regional initiatives to end conflict and promote cross-border opportunities. Prior to joining Seeds of Peace Ashleigh worked with NGOs in the field of Peace and Conflict Resolution for over four years. She traveled and conducted research extensively in the Middle East and Arab world, including research at the University of Tehran and the American University of Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates. She has remained a strong advocate for the power of youth to make change in their societies and spoken on the topic at the United Nations and International Youth Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.