Social Media for Social Advocacy

One thing to love about social media is how it really does bring people together. It takes time and effort to build a community of followers and listeners, but what truly is exciting is how even just a handful of an engaged audience can make a difference (or an enormous handful, if you think recall Iran protests on Twitter.)

A homeless woman in Chicago has become a Twitter celebrity with her account, @PadsChicago. While homeless, she would update her account from a cell phone or at her local public library. After meeting a case worker at an area TweetUp, she found housing and is no longer living on the streets as of last April.  She now tweets about homeless advocacy, post-traumatic stress disorder (which she says she has) and her experience as a homeless person. She joined Twitter two years ago and says she finds comfort in knowing there are so many kind people out there wanting to help, which is why she is now an advocate for spreading awareness of homeless people and those experiencing PTSD.

We at Momentum have also witnessed social advocacy via social media, such as with our Charleston Basket Brigade efforts in 2010 and with Wonder Works’ 7,000 toy donation to MUSC Children’s Hospital, and it truly is an unbelievable feeling when an online community bands together to raise awareness and make a difference. Social media is about being social, but depending on how you use it, it can bring about good, positive change.

Ask us today how we can help your business make a difference.