1. Clement
Coulston
Twitter
Meeting
–
July
16,
2012
at
8:30
PM
Eastern
Time
#StuVoice
#StuAction
#EdOpp
#Policy
#EdChat
Topic:
translating
#StuVoice
to
#StuAction
-­‐-­‐
what
are
goals,
hopes
and
examples
of
how
to
make
it
work
INTRODUCTION
During
the
#StuVoice
Twitter
Conversations
this
week,
the
topic
proposed
was
broad
to
spark
conversations
and
deliberations
about
how
we
can
transform
these
great
discussions
into
action.
This
sounds
easy,
but
there
are
key
items
required
for
a
group
of
united
leaders
in
changing
the
current
educational
system,
to
meet
the
diverse
needs
of
students.
This
prompt
sparked
high
interest
in
the
four
following
areas:
Social
Media
United
Community
Message
Building
Support
1

2.
Social
Media
Communication
Strategy
–
Using
this
free
yet
valuable
venue
is
a
great
way
to:
(1)
attract
new
members
(2)
share
content/knowledge
(3)
discuss
ideas
with
people
throughout
the
world.
However,
we
learned
that
there
are
some
considerations
for
effective
web
presence:
(1) Brainstorm:
Co-­‐think
of
the
various
answers/opinions
on
the
following
questions:
a. Who
needs
to
act
and
whom
do
we
need
to
reach
for
us
to
achieve
success?
b. What
are
the
voices
and
objectives
that
inspire
and
unite
us?
(2) Develop:
Using
the
content
from
the
brainstorming
section,
use
the
following
prompts
in
creating
a
communication
strategy:
a. What
methods
(quantity
&
timing
of
postings)
and
resources
(i.e.
Twitter,
Websites,
Facebook)
will
help
us
meet/rise
above
our
objectives?
b. Who
are
the
people
involved
in
implementing
this
plan?
c. Using
multiple
approaches
rather
than
one,
which
ones
should
be
our
top
focus
for
communication?
(3) Implement
&
Adapt:
Implementation
of
the
communication
strategy
is
first.
From
the
implementation,
monitor
the
activity
and
dialogue
it
provides.
Adapt
the
plan
as
necessary
to
enhance
the
impact.
Blogs
–
#StuVoice
is
officially
launching
their
website
on
07.31.12.
A
component
of
this
website
will
be
blogging.
Leaders
will
be
able
to
share
and
connect
with
each
other
on
these
blogs,
while
also
deepening
the
knowledge
gained
from
Twitter
Conversations.
As
we
develop
and
use
blogging
as
a
means
of
communication,
a
few
concerns
and
suggestions
were
proposed:
(1) Ensure
that
content
is
designed
so
that
readers
can
adapt
and
apply
that
knowledge
into
their
work/initiatives.
2

3. (2) Use
different
means
in
helping
the
reader
synthesize
the
information
–
“A
Call
to
Action”
is
a
great
method.
Meaningful
Blog
Posts
=
Unite
+
Take
Action
(3) Integration
of
Graphics
and
Pictures
to
support
the
content.
General
Considerations
–
• Using
online
as
a
springboard
for
action,
but
also
when
implementing,
using
the
WWW
as
a
support
resource.
• http://stuvoice.org's:
Resource
for
students
unite
&
centralize,
rather
than
splinter
off.
• "Twitter
is
over
capacity.
Please
wait
a
moment
and
try
again."
I
think
#stuvoice
should
take
credit
for
that.
• Social
media
is
major
channel.
Our
main
goal
is
to
enhance
and
increase
the
#stuvoice
in
#edpolicy.
That
is
#stuaction.
3

4.
United
Message
Leadership
–
• As
we
learn
and
work
together,
it
is
important
we
remember
and
embrace
how
each
of
us
are
leaders.
We
are
united
in
our
passion,
and
therefore
we
are
united
in
our
engagement.
Valuing
this
type
of
leadership
lessens
the
power
hierarchy
and
struggle
that
happens
between
leaders
that
can
diminish
our
impact.
• Co-­‐Creating
an
action
plan
can
help
us
channel
our
efforts,
enhance
existing
partnerships
and
create
new
ones.
Teamwork
–
• T.E.A.M.
–
Together
|
Excellence
|
Always
|
Materializes
• Collaboration
is
one
of
the
keys
for
success.
• Co-­‐Develop
the
Following:
(1)
united
message
(2)
core
action
items/strategy
(3)
incorporate
diversity
in
opinions
(4)
support/embrace
others.
• Remember
there
are
many
ways
of
achieving
the
same
goal.
Our
experience
and
leadership
style
can
influence
the
way
we
work
towards
the
goal.
• There
are
many
pathways
to
take;
each
will
teach
us
lessons,
and
challenge
us;
this
leads
to
innovation!
Vision
–
• Imperative
that
we
celebrate
the
successes,
identify
the
challenges
and
outcomes
from
our
work
• Remember
to
plan
for
the
long
and
short
term
goals
while
also
encompassing
them
into
the
“big
picture”
• Two
Key
Components
to
use
in
Presentation:
(1)
meaningful
integration
in
real-­‐life
(2)
engaging
activities/hands-­‐on
demonstrations
• Politics
can
often
be
"me"
verses
"you"
&
create
"I
win!
You
lose!"
mentality;
Our
Goal:
educate,
empower
&
inspire
students
to
be
engaged
members
of
society!
4

5.
Support
Youth
who
work
together
to
develop
and
implement
change
must
support
each
other
through
both
the
successful
and
challenging
times.
With
insufficient
support,
the
impact
of
work
will
be
lessened
and
the
support
of
future
people
can
be
negatively
affected.
Here
are
some
suggestions/inspirations
on
how
to
support
your
colleagues:
• “A
leader
is
someone
who
demonstrates
what's
possible.”
Mark
Yarnell
• “Leadership
and
learning
are
indispensable
to
each
other.”
John
F.
Kennedy
• Educate,
empower
and
inspire
is
powerful!
• Provide
opportunity
for
reflection,
and
time
for
open
discussion
about
the
current
state
of
the
movement/initiative.
• Embrace
and
meaningfully
ask,
“how
can
I
help
you?”
in
your
interactions.
5

6.
Community
Building
• Question:
how
do
we
envision
&
implement
that
our
efforts
be
(1)
recognized
(2)
valued
from
adults?
o Getting
prominent
adults
behind
the
cause
to
show
legitimacy.
o Helping/empowering
students
to
organize
on
campus
o Share
the
passion
of
the
leaders
involved
through
communication
via
the
web
and
positive
demonstration.
o Show
willingness
and
value
of
working
collaboratively
with
the
community
in
addressing
the
challenges
that
face
us.
• Active
Engagement
–
o Tweet
from
Participant:
“Man
I
love
how
were
gettin
involved
in
such
a
big
issue.
Its
gonna
be
more
challenging
than
any
school
project
we've
ever
done
b4!”
§ Response:
“think
how
much
we
are
learning
&
expanding
knowledge
base
-­‐
far
more
than
any
textbook
does”
6

7.
CONCLUSION
These
conversations
are
open
to
anyone
who
wants
to
share
ideas
about
how
we
can
change
the
educational
system.
Rather
than
being
passive
leaders
in
“hoping”
for
change,
we
are
engaged
leaders
in
our
discussions,
deliberations,
and
action
items.
Join
us
on
Twitter
#StuVoice
at
8:30
PM
Eastern
Time!
NOTES
Content
in
this
resource
is
summarized,
changed
and/or
adapted
to
meet
the
needs
of
leaders.
The
Twitter
#StuVoice
&
#StuAction
conversations
are
included
in
this
resource
therefore
the
ideas
and
proposals
listed
in
this
document
are
from
many
youth
leaders.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Clement
A.
Coulston
Special
Olympics
Project
UNIFY®
National
Youth
Activation
Committee
–
Youth
Leader
E-­‐Mail
–
Clement.Coulston@gmail.com
Skype
–
Clementc26
Follow
Me
—
www.twitter.com/clementc26
LinkedIn
–
www.linkedin.com/in/clementcoulston
7