I just finished this new video for Welcoming America. What do you think?

Quick aside for those of you new to Twitter (you know who you are, you’ve uttered the phrase “I don’t get it”). Let me explain a little background. In many ways, Twitter for me is more about following hashtags and topics rather than about following people. By hashtags, I mean those words or abbreviations preceded by the number or pound sign: #. People who use Twitter invent hashtags to tag and find conversations on certain topics within the Tower of Twitter Babel. Instead of following people on the Twitter website, users resort to applications like Tweetdeck (my preference), HootSuite, etc. in order to follow the issues they care about. I will openly admit that I’m one of those people who love to share information. Until recently, I was the person who posted too much on listserves. When I realized that Twitter is a space where you can’t share too much, I’ve re-directed my energy there and learned a lot in the process.

As a person passionate about immigrant rights, I’ve been noticing more people using Twitter who are opposed to just and humane immigration reform. I’ll refrain from calling them ‘haters’ or ‘racists’ but they believe in “personal responsibility”, abiding by laws even if they are unjust or outdated and, in the words of cognitive linguist George Lakoff, they have an authoritarian worldview that sees the nation as disciplined father-dominant family (“Do it because I told you so.”).  As someone who sees my country as a nurturing family, I often find it difficult to engage the other side. Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Judge whether an argument is really worth it. Outspoken opponents of your advocacy issue are not going to change their point of view; no matter how persuasively you state your case and no matter what facts you cite. The opposing tweeter is not going to suddenly type, “I see your point! You’re right and I was wrong!” Not going to happen. That said, debates can help sharpen your advocacy skills. To break out of our issue silos in our balkanized media age, it’s healthy to engage the other side. But often these are not the folks you are going to convert and enlist in your movement.  The people on the sidelines, the tweeters who are eavesdropping on your conversation, are the ones you want to enlist. Keep that in mind and be sure to tweet in a respectful manner. As Quakers put it, recognize the light of God in all people.
2. Give yourself a time or tweet limit. Debates on Twitter often go in circles, especially between entrenched sides. Before you jump in, tell yourself how much time or how many tweets you’re willing to commit. More than 10 tweets can be excessive no matter how passionate both parties are. You have a life offline: enjoy it (I say this in part to myself because I wasted an afternoon at the museum by tweet debating on my iPhone).
3. Use hashtags to tag team the opponent. When you start or engage in a debate, be sure to include a popular hashtag so that your allies can see the conversation and jump in. While Twitter is not the right place for a town hall (see #4 below), it is useful for your opponent to grasp that you’re not alone in your “kooky” beliefs. One funny thing I’ve noticed is that tweeters opposed to my beliefs are often using hashtags without realizing their meaning or perhaps to pick a fight. For example, #ri4a refers to “Reform Immigration for America”, a pro-immigrant campaign by many immigrant rights organizations. Some folks interested only in heavy-handed immigration enforcement, have used #ri4a in their tweets.
4. Redirect your opponent elsewhere. Conversations between multiple members are difficult on Twitter: the more people you include in tweets cuts into your 140-character limit. I think a better option is to redirect your opponent to a blog post or another online space where comments are allowed, i.e. “Let’s discuss this further over here…” There are many advantages to this. Not only will the blogger love you for getting a conversation going on their site, it provides a way to track an overall argument and involve others.

• For avid tweeters out there: Based on your experience, do you have other recommendations for debates on Twitter? What would you add or disagree with above?
• For folks unfamiliar with Twitter: don’t let this scare you away. It’s still worth dipping your toe into the white water rapids of Twitter. Be sure to use an application and follow hashtags or search terms you’re most interested. Find me on Twitter @willcoley and let me know how it goes!

It’s interesting to watch swarming behavior on-line and figuring out how it happens. Conflict and debate seems to be a  key part.

With the inauguration of Barack Obama just around the corner, the internet has been buzzing with hope for real change. As an example of this, Change.ORG, the social networking website that launched in 2007, has been compiling “ideas for change in America” to present to the new Obama administration. In the first round of idea-gathering, advocates on multiple issues rallied their respective members to post ideas and vote for them on the site. From November 24 – December 31, 2008, Change.org reports that it had more than 7,783 submissions for ideas and over 288,694 votes.

At the beginning of 2009, Change.org announced the winning issues for the second round and the results were contentious, especially in the case of immigrant rights.  Some proponents of immigration enforcement weren’t happy that their agenda didn’t make the final list. One of the “hater” groups, admitted to its members that it had confused Change.org with Change.GOV, Obama’s official site for his transition that launched in November 2008.

Student activists for the DREAM Act (which would give undocumented students legal status) saw the difference between the two sites and rallied their supporters on both platforms. The Dream Act is now in Change.org’s Top 10 issues and it’s also getting traffic on Change.gov. See one of their videos below “Vote for the DREAM Act at Chang.org.”

So who benefits from this flurry of activity?

Well, Change.ORG to begin with: it now has lots of new users and members. Even the people unhappy with the results are helping publicize the site. Advocates also benefit because they learn something about cyber-rallying supporters and what it means to communicate the change they want to see. Activists unhappy with the results might write off websites when they don’t see the results they want. Some idea “losers” are dismissing the entire site, citing that drug legalization tops both lists.

But unlike corporate media, social media means that people on both sides of an issue are learning what it means to frame and support thier beliefs, something integral to civic engagement.

Creative Counsel, the arts and media group and sister organization of The Opportunity Agenda, is pleased to announce the launch of the 1000 Voices Archive.

This multi-partner project brings together award winning filmmakers, some of the nation’s largest advocacy networks, and creative professionals to showcase 1000 stories, told by advocacy heroes, that elevate the core values that are central to a just and equitable world. The stories will be used in town halls, training rooms, organizer meetings, local media, policy briefings, and classrooms across the country.

The 1000 Voices Archive is Creative Counsel’s debut multimedia project intended to tap the tremendous power of stories to shape community dialogues and drive policy change. Many of Creative Counsel’s stories will be promoted through the outreach efforts of the 1000 Voices Archive team and communications networks, to ensure that they reach the largest, strategically-identified audiences possible. And in the coming weeks, Creative Counsel will announce their Facebook and mySpace pages, and postings on dozens of other sites, to launch the Archive’s social networking community.

Key content includes:

• The “crown jewel” — The Interactive Map of the Archive’s stories, searchable by Core Values, Issue Areas, and zoomable to key cities;

• A Toolkit accompanying each video, including zip code specific letter writing tools to contact elected officials and local media, with dynamically generated letter templates allowing the viewer to “shape public dialogue” by sharing viewpoints and a link to the video;

• Dozens of resources; factsheets, screening tools, recent news articles, facilitation guides, weblinks, and Share It tools related to the storyteller’s themes;

• A One Stop Policy Education Shop for viewers to learn about legislation, local public representatives, and to receive email updates on issues related to the storyteller’s themes.

Many Voices, Authentic Voices:

The archive emphasizes storytellers with diverse voices and backgrounds, including:

Timothy Hill, a Black Youth Vote! leader from South Carolina;

Merle Bell, an older Iowan farmer;

Heidi Pascual, an Asian American publisher;

Marina Caeiro, a Latina organizer;

Donna Land Maldonado, a Native American media leader;

and in the coming weeks, stories of the undocumented.

…all united by core values that have informed their lives and drive their work and life choices. At its best, the Archive reminds us that there are still many who care deeply and are working hard for the values of community, voice, and justice.

In 2008 and 2009, the 1000 Voices Archive will produce a significant number of stories on the themes of health care, immigration, racial justice, and women’s leadership. If you would like a customized tour of the 1000 Voices Archive platform or to learn more about the Creative Counsel, please contact info@1000VoicesArchive.org.

www.opportunityagenda.org | (212) 334-5977