Is Snapchat just the social network of the moment, or is something bigger going on here? For those of us campaigning for social change, the opportunity that Snapchat and other messaging Apps offer have us buzzing with excitement.
In celebration of , Purpose will be hosting an event next Wednesday called “The Revolution Will be Snapped: How Messaging Apps are Changing Social Change.” The evening will feature a social hour for refreshments and networking followed by a panel discussion with the brains behind some of the most creative messaging app content of 2015 (speaker bios below).Social Media Week
Brands like GE, Acura, the NBA, and HBO, among others, have already caught on and are heavily using these tools to engage consumers. Now, celebrities are starting to share behind-the-scenes experiences that drive deeper and more authentic engagement with their fans. The social good world has been a bit slower to adopt, but we are beginning to see pockets of campaigning and content genius that have us inspired by what’s possible.
In the spirit of applying what’s working for big brands and media outlets on Snapchat and other messaging apps to campaigns for social change, we’ll be digging into important questions such as: How can these tools be used to sustain campaigns over time? What kinds of communities can they build? What are the barriers to engagement for specific audiences? What are some issue spaces where these apps could have an immediate impact given their unique super powers?
We hope you will join us (and of course add live coverage to your Snapchat story). RSVP here!
And as promised, meet our speakers:
Eytan Oren, CEO, Block Party
Eytan Oren is CEO of Block Party, a digital consultancy that builds strategy and creative campaigns for media companies, non-profits, brands, and celebrities, on major chat apps like Snapchat, LINE, Kik, and Viber. He has designed messaging app campaigns for iHeartRadio, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The New York Times, Global Poverty Project, One Direction, OK Go, and Fall Out Boy, among others. Eytan is also a Tow Fellow at Columbia Journalism School, and recently co-authored a short book for news organizations called « Guide To Chat Apps. » He holds a degree in music from Columbia University, and previously worked at Google and IPG Media Lab.
Ashley Codianni, Director of Social Publishing, CNN
Ashley Codianni is CNN’s Director of Social Publishing where she leads a global social team publishing content across all CNN social platforms. Prior to joining CNN, Codianni was Director of News Video for Mashable, lead the Washington, DC bureau of NowThis News, and was a producer for MSNBC’s Way Too Early and Morning Joe. At NowThis she oversaw the company’s original and sharable political content and was instrumental in developing social mobile video for the outlet’s political coverage.
Talya Minsberg, Social Strategy Editor, The New York Times
Talya Minsberg is a Social Strategy Editor at The New York Times who focuses on emerging platforms, optimizing news for social and mobile, and guides social strategy across the newsroom. She has been at the Times for over four years, starting in the community department working on elevating reader comments and on community engagement. She lives in Brooklyn and can be found looking for the best running routes (and pastries) in the city. Find me @tminsberg on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. 
Michael Jones, Deputy Managing Director, North America, Change.org
Michael oversees a team of people who work closely with petition starters — providing them coaching on how to tell their stories, campaign powermapping, engaging decision-makers, and working with the media. He’s worked on some of Change.org’s biggest petitions — including petitions to overturn the ban on gay Scouts and leaders in the Boy Scouts of America and campaigns asking the Obama administration to work with female-genital-mutilation (FGM) survivors to strengthen U.S. policy on FGM. He writes regularly on LGBT issues, global human rights problems, and entertainment trends. Before his time at Change.org, he served as the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School. 
Ivy Li, Tech & Digital, Bloomberg Philanthropies
At Bloomberg Associates, Ivy works with clients to develop strategic roadmaps focused on positioning a city for digital success and assists clients in implementing initiatives that support the local tech industry, create an open government and streamline online government communications. Previously, Ivy served as the Digital Communications Director at NYC Digital, part of the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment. She also worked at Scholastic Inc., where she managed digital content and corporate web initiatives, and at The New York Times Company, where she began her career. Ivy is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Communications, where she received her B.S. in public relations.
for Equity & Evidence