The SXSW Interactive Festival (scheduled March 13-17, 2009 in Austin, Texas) is a mega huge social media industry event. The final program is done through a combination of an open submission and community voting process with staff and advisory board feedback. The panel picker process just opened - so you have until August 29th to vote for as many panels as you think are worthy of being on the program or not.
Last year, I was on a panel organized by Ed Schipul and we were hoping that there would be a larger nonprofit presence on the agenda for this year I just scanned the list of over 1200 panel submissions to SXSW in search of nonprofit oriented panels (in addition the two I submitted) and found a number of them for your consideration. Please try to vote for as many nonprofit panels.
(And, if you submitted a nonprofit panel - and I managed to miss it while scanning 1200 in ten minutes - please add the link and description in a comment. I'll do another Get Out The Nonprofit Vote at SXSW Post each week)
To vote:
2. Vote for the choices below
3. If you want to search for others, scan the list
Social and Nonprofits ROI: Case Study Slam submitted by Beth Kanter
Using a poetry slam format, each panelist will present a five-minute poem or story about how their organization has successfully implemented a social media strategy experiment and how they considered the ROI. The audience will have ample opportunity to ask questions and respond. (I've gathered up some of best of the best folks in the nonprofit tech field to share their stories, metrics, and lessons learned - this will be informative AND entertaining. I will do an overview connecting the idea of metrics to poetry ... How do I measure thee, let me count the ways, etc)
THIS is Iron Chef … Battle Non Profit submitted by Beth Kanter
Using just one special ingredient (a small in-need non profit), three web teams will meet in the heat of Austin to craft an exceptional meal, featuring a tasty new homepage design, a well-seasoned fundraising email and a perfectly balanced social networking plan. Who will prevail? It’s up to YOU, sxsw!
Social Change Behind the FireWall submitted by Holly Ross
Successful nonprofits using social media are masters of social change behind the firewall. This panel shares best practices through stories from nonprofit institutions and examines how to get past resistance,uncooperative IT departments, and skepticism from management to reap the power of social media for social change beyond the firewall. (PS - Jonathan Coleman, David Neff and I will be on this panel and we'll be wearing special costumes ..)
Social Media for NonProfit Rockstars submitted by Ed Schipul
Nonprofits wanting to enter into the Social Media arena are faced with endless new networks and tools to try, but a few have kicked some major butt. We’re here to share real NPO Social Media stories and solutions that rock it and rock it good.
Real Time Representation - How Social Media is Changing the Face of Government submitted by Erica O'Grady
2008 marked the year of the first Twitter from inside the Oval Office. As more and more politicians dive into the world of Social Media, the way we communicate and interact with our local and national representatives is changing. This panel will explore and discuss the impact of tools like Twitter, Qik, Utterz, Ustream, and more on current and future elections.
Understanding Social Networks, Beyond the Graph submitted by Ruby Sinreich
We all know it's the network, stupid, but what what do we really know about networks? This
session will get beyond the trendy obsession with social networks and help participants better understand the dynamics and metrics of successful networks. We'll touch on academic research, business implementation, and grassroots organizing strategy.
Lessons in Local Tech: Sustainable Food 2.0 submitted by Rachel Weidinger, Common Knowledge
Are you eating well? Accessing sustainable food is easier with for
mobile access to databases (Seafood Watch), delivery of hyper local
foods (Spud.com), online links for farmers and buyers (Roots of
Change), and maps of food grown in your neighborhood (Forage Oakland).
Learn how shortcodes, custom social networks, and mashups are
delicious. With snacks!
Open Source Disability Gadgets: DIY for PWD submitted by Liz Henry, Blogher
Gear and software for people with disabilities is usually provided
through charity or from medical supply companies. It's hard or
impossible to repair it, or get anyone to repair it. We need to hack
the model for accessibility tools! With a culture of open source
designs, Instructables, wikis, and blogs, we can start an international
movement.
Convergence of Social Health Media With Youth Culture submitted by Matthew Zachary Social media healthcare means a revolution in consumer-driven and patient-focused content delivery. The convergence of click-and-mortar youth culture trends, coupled with Search2.0 is yielding a new generation of advocate, fostering social enterprise to drive change in a broken public healthcare system.
Non-Profit Technology Work: How You Can Do Good submitted by Fred Benenson, Creative Commons
Do startup phrases like "exit strategy" and "vested options" turn you
off from working in the tech world? Ever wonder if there's a higher
good you could be serving with your tech skills? Come for some quick
presentations from some of the hottest tech non-profits and a
discussion about the perks, achievements and challenges you can look
forward to.
How to Save the World with Firefox Extensions! submitted by Joe Solomon (@engagejoe)
Get ready to explore the world of Firefox extensions that are helping to save the world – from replacing ads with art to alerts when you visit the websites of companies that threaten the environment. We will talk about the challenges, best methods, & incentives for creating your own superhero extension!
Nonprofit RockStars: Using Video to Share Your Message by David King
Video is a great way to share your organization's message, start conversations, and move people to action. How do online videos fit into your non-profit's digital space? This panel discusses ways to incorporate online, interactive video into your organization's digital space.
Social Networking Lessons from Nonprofits Jeff Patrick, Common Knowledge
We believe that social networking is the most important trend on the Internet for nonprofits. We are creating dramatically more engaging websites for clients like the Sierra Club, Community Gatepath, IFAW and the Arthritis Foundation. How should nonprofits plan for staffing and growth? How can you leverage your existing online supporters? Should you build from scratch or use a commercial solution?
The Mobile Web for Good submitted by Katrin Verclas
80% of the world will access the web first through a mobile -- what
does that mean for social good? Panelists will include app developers
of mobile web solutions for health, environment, economic empowerment,
and social justice. Do they make a difference? Explore cases and key
issues in a fast-paced and interactive session.
My Life With NF in Web 2.0 submitted by Reggie Bibbs
Reggie Bibbs is on a one-man mission to raise awareness of his
disorder, neurofibromatosis. His "JUST ASK!" campaign has utilized all
facets of Web 2.0. Reggie was also be the first non-profit to take part
in Reggie Camp. Come learn how to take your non profit to the next level.
Using Microformats to Save the World, or at Least Try submitted by Ruby Sinreich
Shared data standards, open source, Creative Commons, and portability seem like lofty ideals, but how practical are they - especially for the typical nonprofit with little or no technology budget? We will hear nonprofit and geek perspectives on how these tools can help (or hinder) the good work of nonprofit organizations.
Breaking Through the Digital Ceiling Allyson Kapin, Women Who Tech and Rad Campaign
Are you a woman (or a man) who loves to tech out but is tired of sexism, ageism, and the lack of diversity? Women in tech and social media experts identify strategies for breaking through the digital ceiling. The panel will discuss topics such as getting heard by upper management, how to effectively advocate for your work and expertise, what men can do to help promote women in technology as well as how to break through the barriers of being too young or too old in the tech sector.
Non-Profit Communications in the 2.0 World by Ted Fickes, The Wilderness Society
The death of traditional media is old news to some but has left non-profits and advocacy groups without familiar platforms for distributing information. How do organizations successfully distribute facts and data in the media-rich but journalism poor world? Can (and should)non-profits become news sources themselves?
ACLU-WA's Drupal redesign! submitted by Sarah Davies
This presentation will go through the technical details of a start to finish Drupal redesign, including theming, plugins, coding, testing, and cost. A basic knowledge of php and css is highly recommended for this panel to make sense to you.
Plus Ed Schipul has a list of panels from folks in Houston.
Doing a panel about nonprofits at SXSW? Not on this list? Probably missed it from scanning the 1200 panel names and titles - so add it in a comment. I'll plug the list again next week or closer to the deadline.
And, thank you for voting for panels as well as those submitted by my colleagues.
Thanks for compiling this list. I will go and vote right now. As the executive director of a small non-profit, I feel there's alot of great material here that my team could benefit from. Thanks for your efforts to put this together.
Posted by: Alicia C. Staley (@stales) | August 08, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Two thoughts - first, do you sleep? Ever? How did you get this posted so fast!? Wowza. And thanks for the link!
Second - it is SO GREAT to see such a strong showing of panel submissions for nonprofits. Given the size of the community, it's nice to see more representation in the submissions. Now we have to get these panels into the big show!
Thanks Beth!
Ed
Posted by: eschipul | August 08, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Thanks for putting this together. Amazing. I'd heard from Hugh Forrest that they saw a lot of non-profit panel ideas this year. Little did he know.
Some info about one I submitted...
http://snurl.com/3cz4z
We Are Media: Non-Profit Communications in the 2.0 World
The death of traditional media is old news to some but has left non-profits and advocacy groups without familiar platforms for distributing information. How do organizations successfully distribute facts and data in the media-rich but journalism poor world? Can (and should)non-profits become news sources themselves?
Posted by: Ted Fickes | August 08, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I'm doing a panel on ACLU-WA's Drupal redesign! http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/791
Posted by: Sarah Davies | August 08, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Hi, I come from a non-profit & gov background, but my topic isn't NGO stuff.
I thought you might also be interested sharing links to marginalized community prezzies, though. Mine is on the Queerosphere, and I'd love support from allies!
http://tinyurl.com/6qttnl
Posted by: Deb on the Rocks | August 08, 2008 at 10:01 AM
I found it annoying that I had to input non-profit and nonprofit separately to get the full list. It'd be nice if we could solve that problem -- wouldn't it? Being the asociation person, I searched for not-for-profit as well and found an interesting session that would rate a "5" from me.
However, searches on "trade association" and "professional societies" did not yield anything. I did manage to find a few other interesting items via searches with "strategy" "planning" and "tools."
The most interesting thing for me as a former conference planner was the voting tool itself and how simple it was to use.
Thanks for the link and the conference info -- now to see if I can swing attending....
Posted by: R andi Sumner | August 08, 2008 at 10:51 AM
This is great a great panel. I was lucky to have met Erica O'Grady this year at Mashable's Social Media Camp LA. I believe that more people will be turning to the nonprofit sector as things change.
Posted by: socaladvocate | August 10, 2008 at 07:55 PM
The Sunlight Foundation has submitted three panels. We would love your support for them: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/index/3/q:sunlight
Coding for Civic Participation:
How the Internet is Transforming Governance
What your Startup Can Learn from Barack Obama and Howard Dean
Posted by: Nisha Thompson | August 11, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Global Underground: Youth, New Media, and Social Change
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/1969?return=%2Fideas%2Findex%2F3%2Fq%3Aherson
This panel explores how digital technology is affecting social change on a global scale from three angles: advocacy, art, and media.
Posted by: Maia | August 15, 2008 at 09:04 AM
It's such a pleasure to read through all of the great non-profit ideas out there on the panel picker. It seems like it's been a busy year and people have a lot to share.
We've submitted two panels, both with a focus of quality online relationship building, through social networks.
How can we connect people and keep them engaged? Are customized networks the solution? What does this world look like beyond Facebook?
http://tinyurl.com/sxswpanel1
The second is similar, with a focus on mentoring relationships and how social networks are strengthening relationships, while maintaining flexibility.
http://tinyurl.com/sxswpanel2
Many thanks!
Posted by: Lauren Andrews | August 18, 2008 at 09:35 AM