Jimmy Young, the coordinator for the 2010 Uniting Alabama Debate, is the fifth (and possibly final) part of the Q&A series on civic engagement in Alabama.
Jimmy and I met in Boston during high school, and then became great friends in throughout college. Through his work at UA, both in general and specifically with the gubernatorial debate, he has impacted numerous students with his dedication and commitment to ethical leadership.
Enjoy, and many thanks to Jimmy for participating. He's busy with a new job, so I'm extremely grateful to him.
1. What does civic engagement mean to you personally?
One could argue that civic engagement has been an integral part of American society since the country’s inception. From the revolutionary leaders to the colonist in the battlefield, everyone placed themselves in harms way with the goal of creating a better tomorrow. Since that time, people and groups have routinely banded together in support of their neighbor, community, state, and nation.
For me, civic engagement are those acts where people come together and work towards a better tomorrow for not just themselves but for society as a whole.
2. How have you seen the college generation use technology and social media for civic engagement? What most surprises you about their use? How have you used it personally?
Over my time in school, social media became increasingly more important in student engagement initiatives. For better or worse, social media reached students quickly and effectively. A cookout could not be planned without a facebook page or a leadership group without a twitter account.
In my experiences with social media, I would say the most surprising aspect is the room for growth still available. While some social media campaigns reached all over campus, many never fulfilled their potential, As more students continue to develop strategies for effective campaigns, students from all over can be united quickly and effectively for one common cause.
3. Beginning in April 2009, you worked on the Uniting Alabama Gubernatorial Debate. How did this project evolve in the next 16 months? What were the most difficult challenges you and others had to overcome? What was most rewarding about the project?
Working on the debate was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Over those 16 months, the small idea of having the candidates to campus evolved into a national televised event that reached all 4.7 million people in Alabama. Beginning by meeting with university administrators, a group of students was able to develop the premier events of the 2010 Alabama election cycle.
In the planning of the debate, the most rewarding moment came in watching people fill the concert hall. As I watched over 750 people walk through the door, some stopping to give interviews to the news stations present, I stood in amazement that a collaborative effort of students and administrators had been able to build an atmosphere of such excitement and anticipation. For at least one night in the 2010 election cycle, the students of the University of Alabama were able to listen to the candidates and their platforms first hand.
4. How does the debate relate to civic engagement at The University of Alabama and in the state at large? What do projects like this one say about The University of Alabama?
Similar to other civic engagement initiatives, the debate strived to create an educated electorate. However unlike others, the debate did not push one thought or idea but a hope that people would make smart informed decisions when electing Alabama’s next leaders. By giving both students and Alabama’s population a opportunity to hear both candidates answer questions, the debate allowed every listener to hear plans for leading Alabama forward. Hopefully, listeners took those plans and voted in an educated manner. Only making educated votes and electing quality leaders will communities, states, and the nation continue to prosper.
5. If you were starting the project over again, what would you change? What advice would you give someone who is looking to start a similarly sized project?
The biggest piece of advice I can provide is to build the best team of people as quickly as possible. Even though ever group has a leader, that leader only accomplishes as much as his teammates allow. Planning an event that has parts ranging from television production to parking and ticket distribution requires a team of people who will work together and hold each other accountable.
6. How did you and others incorporate technology and social media in the debate to reach a larger audience? What were the keys to successful integration of technology and social media into this project?
From soliciting questions to releasing information, social media played a large role in the debate. Members of our team used twitter and facebook to inform people of how to submit a question or request a ticket. Other members worked with web designers to build an interactive website filed with all the vital information.
For us, the key in making social media successful was partnering with people who had experience and knowledge in the area. Going back to building the best team possible, we had certain members that provided assistance in a select area that played a huge role in making the event a success.
No comments:
Post a Comment