BlogHer 2006 - 2010 and Latinas in Social Media

About four years ago I met Lisa Stone the originator of BlogHer, co-founder of BlogHer with Elisa Camahort Page and Jory Des Jardins at a retreat in Oaxaca, Mexico.  She was inspiring, beautiful and up to creating a very cool platform for women bloggers.

Over the course of the subsequent months, I became involved with BlogHer and met the other members of the founding team.  I participated in one of BlogHer's panels in 2006 (more here,  here, here and here) and even became one of the BlogHer editors (I edited the Religion & Spirituality blog).

I have been amazed and delighted at the growth of BlogHer and the impact it has had in elevating the voices of women bloggers and technologists in the private, nonprofit and political sectors.  Four years later, there is a group of us that is hoping to do with Latinos in Social Media (Hashtag on twitter #Latism) what Lisa and her partners did with BlogHer; and we are hoping to learn from BlogHer and partner with them to find out how they did what they've done.  We have so much to learn from their success.  I started the conversation with Erin Kotecki Vest  (@QueenofSpain) during Gov2.0LACamp earlier this year and we are supposed to continue the conversation post SXSW.

In addition to chatting with and learning from the members of the BlogHer team, the LATISM family is committed to being engaged and a part of the BlogHer community as well.

This year several Latinas in Social Media will be participating in a panel at BlogHer.  To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that there will be a panel comprised exclusively of Latinas at BlogHer.  The Latinas in Social Media panel will include a diverse group of Latinas with different blogging experiences.  Meet the phenomenal women involved:

Silvia Martinez:  http://www.mamalatinatips.com
Melanie Edwards:  http://www.modernmami.com
Carolyn Gonzalez:  http://caroincarolina.blogspot.com
Monica Vila:  http://www.TheOnlineMom.com
Jeannette Kaplun:  http://www.todobebe.com
Lisa Perez:  http://Newyorkchica.com 
Lexi  Esparza:  http://laprimerablog.com 
Migdalia Rivera:  http://latinaonamission.com 
Mariana Perez: http://ridingwithnohands.com
Denisse Icaza:  http://thecouponchica.webs.com
Ana Roca Castro:  http://premiersocialmedia.com

You can register for the BlogHer conference here.

I will close with a famous quotes by Eugene V. Debs, "When we are in partnership and have stopped clutching each other's throats, when we have stopped enslaving each other, we will stand together, hands clasped, and be friends. We will be comrades, we will be brothers, and we will begin the march to the grandest civilization the human race has ever known."

My only question now is what lies ahead after this panel in 2010?

Latinos in Tech Panel at SXSW 2010: Latinos, Technology and the Census

Here is the first video from the Latinos in Tech Event at SXSW. Thank you @mlackey for filming and @JulieDiazAsper for letting her use the flip!

Thank You Technology and Social Media

Over the course of the last decade my involvement with technology and social media has touched my life professionally and personally.  However, I have to admit that perhaps the most poignant moments for me personally involving new media revolve around the last few days and the incredible support that I received through the Twitterverse and Facebook when I shared with my followers and friends that my mother had suffered a stroke.  I am deeply moved, touched and inspired by the response of everyone who reached out to me through Facebook and the Twitterverse.  Thank you.  The power of the community that we can and have created in this space is not lost on me.  Thanks for making it so real and personal.

David Spark's Interview of Julie Diaz-Asper and myself at SXSW

While we were at SXSW this year, Julie Diaz-Asper and I were interviewed by David Spark on Latinos in Social Media.

Reflecting on the fact that one out of every four births in the US is Hispanic David asked us, "If I have four children will one of them be Latino?"  We couldn't help but laugh.

"Maybe," said Julie.

"It depends on your choices," I said.

Good one David.  Watch the interview and please comment on his post on tweetshare.

Comment on this file shared by David Spark

Are social media challenges for Latinos
different? @ketye & @juliediazasper run
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One Voice Radio Interview on Immigration Reform and the Online and Offline Organizing of the Latino Community

Yesterday I was interviewed by One Voice Radio on immigration reform and the online and offline organizing of the Latino community in 2010 and beyond.  You can listen to the interview here.

Today we welcome Kety Esquivel, Executive Director and CEO of Latinos In Social Media (Latism). Kety Esquivel has over fifteen years of experience in the non-profit, private and political sectors. Her work has taken her to China and Ethiopia with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. She worked as the New Media Manager for NCLR (the National Council of La Raza). She is a graduate of Cornell University. She is a published author, world traveler and TV commentator. Her commentary has been featured and quoted in stories for the Wall Street Journal, CNN, Televisa and Univision. We will be discussing immigration and immigration reform and what we as a community can do to help! Join the discussion!

Category: Culture

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• BorderAction  
• immigration  
• reform  
• Arizona  
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Immigration March pictures 3/21/10

Pictures from yesterday's immigration march, courtesy of my fiancé Richard McCarson.

My Contributions to the "Web Thinking Manifesto"

Earlier this month, I was interviewed by one of my friends Michael Silberman from EchoDitto for a white paper that he was writing with Tim Walker from Biocreative.  The title of the white paper, "Web Thinking Manifesto."  In it Michael and Tim argue,

Our field is maturing rapidly. The next generation of movement leaders is overcoming its fetish with technology and expertise as secrets to online success. Indeed, now faced with existential challenges from a fast shifting landscape, the time has come for us all to rethink our most deeply held tenets in this struggle to remain relevant. Thankfully, a brave few are trying – and they're finding answers. Looking beyond traditional online strategy, they're fundamentally transforming how they and their organizations work – shifting their entire perspective towards what we call "Web Thinking" – to better reflect the reality of our time. And they're winning. They're charting a path forward for us all.

When they interviewed me for the white paper they gave me a sneak peek at it and their ten proclamations.  I must confess I agreed wholeheartedly with what they had to say.  During the interview I gave them quite a bit of additional feedback, but here is the quote that they decided to use from me for their piece--

We Will Hire Digital Natives

KETY ESQUIVEL

ED and CEO, Latinos in Social Media

Former New Media Manager, National Council of La Raza

"So many people are now branding themselves as "social media experts" without the proper experience. I learned first-hand during my time at National Council of La Raza that organizations need to be clear what they are getting and what they need. Digital natives are not just people who say they are. And orgs should avoid devaluing the position or the space by hiring people with entry-level experience to do mission-critical or senior-level work."

To read their full white paper go here.

Marching for Immigration Reform (3/21/10)

In 2006 the Latino community took to the streets to protest the broken immigration system.  In 2007 the Latino community registered to vote.  In 2008 the Latino community voted.  In 2009 the Latino community began to organize in our communities and online.  In 2010 Latinos and their allies have mobilized online and off and are marching in Washington, DC to call for immigration reform.

When campaigning for President, President Obama promised the Latino community that he was going to work on immigration reform.  Over one year later, said promise remains unfulfilled and unanswered.  Today one hundred thousand folks will be marching in Washington, DC to remind the president of his unfulfilled promise and urge him not to break it again in his second year in office.  This effort is a complex and multi-faceted one, but one that needs to be tackled in earnest by our politicians who promised to do so when courting the Latino community for votes.  We are waiting, watching and willing to hold those in elected office (in Congress and the White House) on both sides of the aisle accountable.

Read more about the march and different efforts organized by folks here, here, here, here and here.  Some links in Spanish can be found here and here.  This last link has loud video so you may want to turn down the volume on your computer.

If you are in DC, see you there!  Where?  According to the New Latino Movement:
2-4 p.m. MARCH FOR AMERICA @ National Mall in Washington,D.C. March starts at 7th Street between Jefferson and Madison streets. The audience area will flow all the way back to 14th St between Jefferson and Madison. Note: Wear white shirts and bring American flags!

Latinos in Tech Panel at SXSW 2010 (Pictures)

I am finally back from SXSW interactive.  Those of us who went had a phenomenal time and we are looking forward to bringing many more friends with us next year!  I will be doing a few blog posts reflecting on my experience on SXSW in the coming days but in the interim wanted to leave you with a few pictures from our first ever Latinos in Tech Meet Up at SXSW this year.  Enjoy!  And thank you to Zunostudios for sharing your exceptional photographic talents with us! (Pictures courtesy of Zunostudios.)

     

  

 

  

You can see all 251 of the pictures here.  Thanks again SXSW, Latinos in Tech SXSWi team, panelists and LATISM familia for helping to make this happen!

Kety at Blacks in Techs at SXSW

Earlier this month I was asked if I would participate in the Blacks in Techs panel at SXSW.  Not being Black, I was curious why I was being asked to present.  The organizers shared that their invitation was spurred by their desire to create a panel which would discuss issues that affect not only the Black community but also other communities of color like the Latino and Asian community.  

Given that context and being Latina, I accepted considering it an honor to be able to speak on a panel at Blacks in Tech in solidarity with amazing Black folks in tech at SXSW and the local Austin community.  I was honored because I hold in high regard the opportunity presented by and the need for Black and Brown collaboration and was thrilled to be, in this small way, a part of that; and I was honored because the Black in Tech folks did over the course of their five year evolution at SXSW what I was hoping we could do with the Latino community this year and next.  Moreover, the Latinos in Tech meet up at SXSW which is happening today was inspired in great part in my participation last year at SXSW and seeing what the folks at Blacks in Tech had done.  So to me it seemed only logical to accept and say yes. 

The panel was phenomenal.  The conversation rich.  It spanned over one hour and while many people did not see the whole thing, it was great to be able to share it with those that did.  One of my favorite parts of the panel was our focus on ensuring that we as communities of color be not only the consumers of technology but also the producers, the entrepreneurs, the leaders, the panelists, the speakers, the business owners and the investors.  I am clear that this is the solution and I will be discussing this in further detail during my panel today at SXSW Future 15 at 3:30pm ACC Level 3 Room 9abc. 

It was in the midst of this that the controversial question was asked.  Someone came to the microphone and asked why we (myself and one Asian panelists) were on the panel given the fact that we were not Black and this was a Blacks in Tech event.  Having had this same question myself when first approached to speak, I did not take the question personally.  I thought it was a valid one.  The context of the question was as follows - given the fact that I and the Asian panelist were there, we were taking away an opportunity for two other talented Black folks in tech to be on the panel.  Given the lack of representation of people of color, Black and Brown at conferences like SXSW I completely understand the spirit in which this question was asked and did not take it personally.  However, I was very clear in my response that the reason I had accepted had not been to take away but to try to give back and contribute to a larger conversation of Black and Brown partnership and solidarity.  That was the context in which I had been invited, as a Latina and that was the context in which I had accepted.  

Although I wasn't insulted by the question, other folks at the panel were.  Several people walked out in the middle of the question.  After the panel, several other folks came up to me en mass and apologized embarrassed by what had been said.  One of the panelists drafted a blog post sharing his impression of what had happened: http://om.ly/gxP.

My take away is as I have posted here, namely:

1- Communities of color need to work together in solidarity.

2- I am always honored to be a part of that when invited to do so in the spirit of partnership and collaboration.

3- There is a need for more opportunities to feature experts in tech from communities of color. At present conferences do not represent folks from our various communities on panels in a proportional way to our White counterparts.  I am hopeful that next year SXSW and other conferences have many Black and Brown folks on panels not only as a part of a #LatinosinTech event or a #BlacksinTech event but in a way that is proportional to the numbers in which we exist nationally and internationally. 

4- There is always not just one truth.  My father's lessons from childhood when he taught me Aesop's fable about the elephant are as true now as ever.  We are all blind men and women standing around the elephant and all of the pieces that we hold are true and yet none of them are true on its own individually.  The elephant has a tail that resembles a rope.  The elephant has an ear that resembles a fan.  The elephant has legs which resemble tree trunks.  And in the end it is in truth an elephant.  

I am hopeful that we can continue to work together  within our own communities and between our communities to build power and continue to raise our voices individually and collectively to make this nation and the world a better place through tech. 


It is only together that we're going to be able to take on that elephant in the room. 

Join Me for Three Sessions at SXSW 2010

In a few hours I am heading to one of the biggest technology conferences of the year - SXSW Interactive.  I was invited to speak at the conference last year and after my presentation was truly overwhelmed with the number of panels offered in the remaining days I spent in Austin, Texas.  So this year, I am prepared.  I anticipate drinking a lot of water, sleeping as much as I can (as I crash at one of my good friends homes) and squeezing in as many panels and quality time with thought leaders in the interactive field as humanly possible.  Are you going to be there?  If so, let's meet up!  If you are on twitter, tweet me.  My handle is @KetyE.

I am speaking/participating in three sessions this year.  The first is a panel organized by Jeffrey Bowman (a partner at Ogilvy & Mather's Consulting Practice) which is happening at the Blacks in Technology Meetup at the Carver Museum http://bit.ly/9gcu6E.  It is open to both badge holders and locals without badges alike.  My fellow panelists include musician and 'new media pioneer' Ryan Leslie; the founder of the digital strategic consulting firm Everywhere James Andrews; and blogger and social media maven Nichelle Stephens.  

The second session is happening at the conference itself.  It is a part of the Interactive Future 15 Greater Good Series.  The topic, "Is Technology the Great Equalizer?" http://bit.ly/bvFiYI.  Its on Sunday, March 14 at 3:30 PM in room 9ABC at the convention center.  This session is only for participants of SXSW (only open to folks with SXSWi badges). 

The third session is happening at the first ever Latinos in Technology Meetup at SXSW which I have organized with the help of Julie Diaz-Asper, Marisa Treviño, Deanne Cuellar, Maribel Lackey, Manuel Delgado, Fernando Labastida, Rob Garcia, Romeo and Armando Arayo.  It is also on Sunday at 6pm.  It is a panel at the Carver Museum http://bit.ly/9ffSbO which will be followed by a salsa social/networking event. Both badge holders and locals without badges are welcome. Dancing is not required, but encouraged.  RSVP here: http://bit.ly/9ffSbO.

If you are in Austin, Texas on these days, I hope to see you at one if not all three of these events!

Intersection of Technology, Social Media and Government: Gov 2.0 LA Camp

This video clip is from the "Intersection of Technology, Social Media and Government" panel I participated on at Gov 2.0 LA Camp with Erin Kotecki Vest (from BlogHer @queenofspain), Christine Lu (@christinelu) and Amanda Eamich (@amandare).


Intersection of Technology, Social Media, + Government 2/7/2010 from Gov20LA on Vimeo.