Why I got involved with TwestivalTO
Posted: February 7th, 2009 | Author: Satish | Filed under: Community | Comments
It’s not news that I’m working behind the scenes on Twestival Toronto. If you follow me anywhere, you’ve seen it across Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Youtube, and then some. I want to tell you why I got involved.
The underlying concept is the most amazing thing I have ever seen happen through social media. Day to day in my life I’ve felt like a sitting duck in a line-up of 6 billion. We have so many deep-rooted global problems and even more ways to connect with one another on an equally epic scale, but we don’t put 2 and 2 together nearly often enough.
With Twestival, there are 175+ local communities mobilizing across the world for a single worthy cause (and fundamental human need). From Bangkok, to Bangalore, to Boston, people are getting engaged, reaching for the milky way, and working hard to make a difference.
Now this isn’t anywhere near the first grassroots event to take place, and not even the first that has a charitable cause at its centre. But it’s the first that has stuck out to me enough to not only want to attend, but to do everything in my ability to make it successful.
Success here means funds raised for charity: water and awareness that something we take for granted all too much is not a common luxury. That is first and foremost. People experiencing a unique glocal event and having an awesome time. That’s a close second.
Think of it as Live Earth concerts meets the Internet.
Every once in a while I am inspired by examples of social media for good. My friend Verne and team at Daily Challenge were the first such example for me. #hohoto followed shortly after that. TwestivalTO put me over the edge.
It’s been a wicked experience working alongside Sarah, Casie, Erin, Rahim, and the entire team. We’re almost there and I hope you’ll be joining me at CiRCA on February 12.
S
