Linda and Annie from Vassar College
Posted on April 7, 2013
On behalf of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), I was thrilled to once again present at the Global Health and Innovation Conference (GHIC) at Yale University on April 13th. More than 2,200 professionals and students from all 50 states and more than 55 countries attended the GHIC, which is one of the world’s largest global health conferences. Their website calls this a “must-attend” conference and I agree.
I presented “The Power of Dynamic Digital Storytelling” and discussed innovation and implementation, highlighting new social media advocacy trends, especially social storytelling. ADAO has pioneered new ways of shaping public policy on a global level by using social media, mobile technology, and new media. I focused on our two digital storytelling campaigns that communicate our mission, expand community, and create policy change in the “6-Word Quotes” and “Share Your Story” campaigns. What’s always most exciting is ‘hallway’ discussions after the “Leveraging Social Networks and Social Media” session with those interested in learning more about our techniques, social media trends, and frequently used platform and analytics.
In 48 hours, one of our “6-Word Quote” questions had more than 100 submissions. The “Share Your Story” archive currently includes over 50 stories and photos from asbestos victims and their families. I referenced the new ADAO Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed our Lives book. Each time sometime turns a page and reads one of the 50 stories, our voices strengthen.
The power of dynamic digital storytelling has advanced education, advocacy, and community efforts to shape public policy. I was proud to share ADAO’s successes at the conference, but our successes are only possible because of each of you. Through our stories, ADAO continues to raise asbestos awareness in efforts to prevention exposure and ban asbestos. If you haven’t “Shared Your Story”, please do so today.
I am excited to connect with conference individuals, organizations, universities, and social entrepreneurs to advance our ADAO mission to prevent exposure to eliminate asbestos-caused diseases.
Together, change is possible.
Linda Reinstein