Organizers of the upcoming Creating Change Conference will use social media and other techniques to encourage participation in next month’s event in Philadelphia.
The Creating Change Conference Host Committee and members of the National LGBTQ Task Force met at William Way LGBT Community Center Tuesday to discuss these strategies for the 29th-annual conference, which will be held Jan. 18-22 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.
“We certainly want to engage not just people that are physically at Creating Change but those who are joining us electronically by social-media platforms,” said Jorge Amaro, media and public-relations director for the Task Force. “Our goal is to elevate the voices of LGBTQ people. We represent possibly one of the most diverse communities in the globe so there are different voices, there are different faith groups and there are different people across the country that are being represented. We really want to engage people not just who are able to join us physically, but through social media as well.”
One initiative the Task Force will use is Facebook Live. Task Force Digital Strategies and Social Media Manager Kayley Whalen said the organization plans to broadcast two to four short video segments each day of the conference featuring presenters, speakers and attendees. Additionally, officials and businesses will raise LGBT-themed flags to welcome Creating Change to the city. The Task Force plans to present these events in real time through the social-media platform.
“[Facebook Live] is a new and emerging trend and we want to be on top of these trends that the community is really listening to,” Whalen said.
Whalen said the conference will feature signs at the Marriott encouraging participants to engage on social media.
“On social media, it’s the chance for everyone to share their stories, to show all the diversity of their identities and share through the hashtag #CC17,” Whalen said. “People [may say], ‘This is so exciting. For the first time, I feel safe and OK and celebrated for being me.’ We’re all coming here and sharing our experiences.”
Samantha Giusti, executive director of DVLF and a Creating Change co-chair, said local businesses will have signs on doors and windows welcoming individuals to the conference.
“Philadelphia is a premiere, inclusive meeting and convention city,” Giusti said. “We are inclusive of the LGBT community and we want folks to feel welcomed and see what our city has to offer. Some of [the businesses] are decorating their windows for us, which we think for local Philadelphians will draw awareness to this great conference that’s coming here but also for participants of the conference to really see how welcoming our city is.”
Participants can view portions of the conference at www.facebook.com/thetaskforce. Additionally, the National LGBTQ Task Force will post updates on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat through the username @TheTaskForce.