11/20: Free Conference Explores Digital Communication as Vehicle for Change

November 17, 2009

The sheer volume of information in circulation today can make the delivery of a clear message difficult. Under those circumstances, how do dynamic communicators connect with the right people? How are critical messages being shaped to cut through the clutter? Who is defining these messages of change? And where can people turn to feel more connected to the issues they care about?

These and other provocative questions are the central focus of “Communicating Change in a Complex World,” a November 20 conference at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA. Communicators for Change, a graduate student organization, will welcome over a dozen professional communicators and media managers from the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas to participate in discussions exploring how social networking and other digital communication tools can empower agents of change.

Representing a variety of world views, values and success strategies, conference speakers will include:

• Andie Grace, communications manager at Burning Man
• Bernhard Drax, musician and Second Life journalist
• Colin Gallagher, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and civic engagement professional
• Doniga Markegard, Earth Action Mentor
• Dr. James Lindholm, director, Institute for Applied Marine Ecology at CSUMB
• Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, founder and director of the Global Oneness Project
• Joe Johnston, technology adviser at the Pachamama Alliance
• Kevin Epps, award-winning documentary film director
• Nina Rosete, executive director of Dare to Dream Fund
• Rangineh Azimzadeh, World Pulse board member
• Rita King and Josh Fouts of Dancing Ink Productions

The conference’s afternoon plenary session, focused on producing concrete recommendations to help transform the sustainability conversation at the upcoming UN Climate Change Summit Copenhagen, will be webcast on the Communicators for Change website. The plenary session panel will feature James Hanusa, founder of Change SF; Michael Leifer, CEO of influenceXchange; and Alli Chagi-Starr, senior community engagement strategist at Green for All.

This conference is free and open to the public. For the full conference schedule and additional information, visit the conference website.

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