Refugees, Christie Pitts, and Outreach in the City

I had the pleasure to experience an event put on by Doctors Without Borders last Saturday at Christie Pitts. It was called A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City and it was awesome. As I waited for my two friends to arrive I watched as group after group was brought into the outdoor exhibit that showcased all the components of a modern day refugee camp. Most of the tour guides that I heard introduce themselves where fresh out of the field sharing anecdotes throughout the orientation to the exhibit.

Once we met our tour guide he brought us to a border crossing guard.

The guard asked us for paperwork disclosing our identity and told us we couldn’t pass otherwise. We were encouraged earlier to act as if we were refugees, who generally wouldn’t have ID after they fled their homes. After much bargaining the guard told us that the women and children could cross if they left the men behind.

Would you say yes? What if they asked you to leave your son or daughter behind? This happens every day.

Our first stop was shelter. Our guide showed us various types of shelters and explained that each would typically have 10 people in each.

He showed us the types of shelters that are being used by internally displaced people in Haiti. Mere sticks pulled together with string draped with sheets. It seems that people are so afraid of the earth’s instability that they won’t have anything heavy built over top of them. It really put things into perspective.

Each refugee gets 2,000 calories a day to ensure that they have a balanced diet. If Doctors Without Borders gets into an area and there is little organization they give out energy bars with 1,500 calories each.

As you can see, they didn’t taste very good. I think cardboard was echoed a few times throughout the demonstration. Thankfully the water station was next on the agenda.

Littered at the station were 5L and 20L bottles containing water. When Doctors Without Borders arrives they will usually distribute 5L bottles to each family and will start to distribute 20L bottles when a sustainable water source is found near the camp.

Because most refugee camps are huge, women often have to carry these bottles back to their shelters. I could hardly lift the 5L and failed to budge the 20L!

The thing I liked most about this exhibit was the open and effective nature of the tactic. Being outdoors, it was accessible to all, it was free and it was in a park where people would typically flock to on a nice summer day. The exhibit was staffed by field workers who had seen things for themselves and who could inform, educate and inspire participants.

As a PR professional who is looking for ways to engage citizens and create opportunities for people to better inform themselves, this exhibit is something I won’t forget.

Inspiration in the HAUS

On March 1, 2010 a new and interesting concept store was launched in Toronto called HAUS. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with William Ashman of HAUS to discuss the concept and their public relations strategies.

William spoke of his shared vision, created with partner Rachel Beauparlant, of a genuine platform for emerging artists to explore, create and play. As someone who is often overwhelmed by the stifling nature of modern society, their vision was refreshing and nothing short of inspirational.

It became very clear, very fast that HAUS was no ordinary vintage shop like most voyeurs may think. In fact, it’s not a vintage shop at all. It’s the platform of a movement promoting sustainable, grassroots capitalism. A platform for artists, designers, performers and creators to launch their products in a fun, engaging and sustainable environment. All items in the store are sourced by consignment and are selected personally by Rachel and William.

The HAUS philosophy is that when a designer is brought in it becomes their HAUS as much as it is Rachel and William’s. They make a conscious effort to have strong and lasting relationships with all stakeholders. It is clear they are doing what they love and are loving every minute of it.

I left HAUS with an understanding that aside from running a successful retail operation in order to support local artists, William and Rachel are committed to the promotion of people doing what they love without fear. For them HAUS is their platform to do just that.

“Follow your fears, never your dreams – it’s so much more fulfilling” -William Ashman

I look forward to working with HAUS and watching the concept transform and grow. I encourage anyone looking for a refreshing environment, unique and one-of-a-kind pieces and a little inspiration to stop in at HAUS. They are located at 1265 Bloor St.W, just east of Landsdowne on the south side of Bloor. You can also follow Rachel and William on twitter by clicking on their name.

WORDLE

The Fluidity of Things

http://bit.ly/avpFF7

Everything on earth happens in fluidity.

Seasons, the carbon cycle, the water cycle, electricity flow, the cycle of political power from left to right and back again, periods of recession and periods of growth – all are examples of fluid systems. It is indeed one of the only constants that is sure to exist. Fluid Change.

Ideally things change in such a way that a pattern is recognizable.

It is when things change in such a way, that the unexpected is the norm; things become unstable. There is no ability to act with prevention. The key to success in this type of environment is preparing for anything. And that means rising from complacency.

This picture made me think about the fluidity of the earth. It made me consider how many things on earth are cyclical. And that in order for fluidity to function properly it needs one thing – balance.

Do you want to Take IT Global? Find out how youth around the world are making a difference.

TakingITGlobal Website

UPDATE: TakingITGlobal is looking for volunteer interns to work in their Toronto office for the summer! Have a look at the opportunities here – and please forward on to any friends or colleagues you think might be interested.

When asked to review a social media application with a couple of colleagues for my social digital media class, I didn’t think it would be the most interesting project. I’m not someone who gets her excitement from tech applications.

What we found however, was really interesting and made me rethink my relationship to social media applications and the potential they have.

TakingITGlobal is a website that was founded in 1999 by two young Canadians,  Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk when they were 19 and 17 years old. It seeks to bring youth together through inter-cultural dialogue and information sharing.

The tag line, ‘Inspire. Inform. Involve.” communicates the essence of the tool. Mobilize youth across the world by inspiring them to get involved, through the stories of other youth who are doing the same.

The online community of this website is home to 289,530 members and growing. These members span across 261 countries. The website can be read in 12 languages and discussion board topics range from health care, to human rights, education, environment, peace and conflict, technology, culture and media.

The one limitation that I noticed was that a large percentage of the online community was situated in North America. Canada alone as over 20,000 members. If the TakingITGlobal tool wishes to be as global as its mandate suggests, then I think it would be useful to reach out to more members in the other 261 countries.

Another interesting thing about the online community is that there are many events that happen in real communities throughout the globe that bring youth together. These events are highlighted on the website and help to encourage more people to get involved.

Check out this video where I show you some of the coolest features of the application:

If you are interested in learning more about TakingITGlobal, I recommend that you visit the website and read some of the personal stories of youth who participate. Additionally, my two colleagues Kathleen and Jacque have posted their perspectives on the utility and usability of the website.

I look forward to connecting with you and TakingITGlobal!

Social Media and the Momentum for Action in Haiti

"In the age of new media, action is just a click away." -Bryn Weese, Toronto Sun

UPDATE: It is clear that SMS fundraising mobilization is here to stay. By the end of January the Red Cross raised over $35 million in SMS donations and the number continues to grow.

On January 12, 2010, a link was formed between citizen awareness and citizen action that propagated the largest mobile donation campaign in history. Within minutes of the initial tremors in Haiti, tweet updates, twitpics, facebook statuses and you tube videos provided a raw and personal window into the plight of Haitians fighting to survive. The U.S State Department quickly responded by creating the SMS relief campaign, which urged individuals to donate $10 to the Red Cross by simply texting Haiti to 90999, as seen below. The campaign generated $1.7 million in the first 24 hours of operation and to date has raised over $10 million from more than one million donors.

The initiative was promoted through existing online social networks, by getting celebrities and bloggers with large followings to appeal to their networks for action. Jimmy Buffett was just one of many who used his resources to reach out to as many people as possible.

Social media facilitated the connection between citizens’ thoughts and actions in response to the earthquake in Haiti. The immediate and constant stream of images and stories pouring out of Haiti, left concerned citizens with a sense of urgency prompting action. Twitter posts like the one below, personalize events for followers and forge connections to unfolding events. The staging of a convenient way to take action provided an outlet to contribute to the cause immediately and comfort one’s conscious.

Instant information. Instant mobilization. Instant results. Instant gratification.

The mobilization in support of Haiti highlights the opportunity for social media to inform, mobilize and engage citizens with convenient and tangible action.

Initially, technology such as the telephone and television appeared to isolate individuals and discourage active citizenry. Civic engagement dwindled as families were entertained in their own homes. People adapted to this social deficiency by engaging in ‘checkbook affiliation’, by providing financial donations to those groups and organizations that they cared about. Within this system, organizations received funds towards their objectives but were limited in their ability to galvanize their supporters into coordinated action due to a lack of group solidarity.

It is clear from our experience with the Haiti relief effort that ‘checkbook affiliation’ has reached its version 2.0. The social capital and civic engagement that was lost in decline of associations and group membership has been reborn into a series of vast and powerful online networks with greater ability to influence change. Constant twitter streams, discussion boards and online events keep people informed about current events and perpetuate solidarity around an issue. Understanding the success of social media in mobilizing relief efforts for Haiti is vital to effectively engaging citizens, to take action on a myriad of other issues.

Social media as a tool for grassroots mobilization and public issue mobilization is still largely untapped. We must take lessons from the massive and momentous mobilization that brought so much aid and awareness to Haiti and apply those tactics to achieve similar results for others in need. Utilizing the rapidly changing tools of social media to engage citizens and provide outlets for action is key to the future of democracy and the quality of life of millions.