PRSSA Kent Co-Hosts “Social Movements on Social Media” Workshop

KENT, Ohio (April 15, 2016) — The Kent State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent) co-hosted a workshop entitled “Social Movements on Social Media,” with the university’s Black United Students organization.

At the event, students heard from a panel of social media experts and social movement organizers. The panel discussed personal experiences with social movements, the strategies behind using social media to help these movements and spread messages, and the greater impact these movements have on generations.

“Our meeting created the opportunity to gain insight into the impact of social media on major movements such as the Black Lives Matter Movement,” said Samantha Durr, the director of governmental affairs and grievances for Black United Students. “This meeting gave greater understanding from firsthand accounts of how social media has shaped the major social movements of today as well as the perceptions of those participating in the major movements.”

Panelists included Kent State Associate Professor Stefanie Moore; Kent State Assistant Professor and former CIA Senior Intelligence Service Executive Stephanie Smith; community organizer Matt Vinzant; and Kent State sociology major and co-chair of the Ohio Student Association, Nyaruach Chuol. The panel was moderated by PRSSA Kent Intercampus Liaison Marcus Donaldson.

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“Creating a grassroots movement is difficult, but many movements within the African-American community have taken hold because they are near and dear to people’s hearts,” said PRSSA Kent Chapter President Gabrielle Woodard. “We as future PR professionals should learn to recognize the strength in these movements and how we can create them ourselves for issues we care about.”

The workshop was broadcast on the Periscope mobile application, and viewers from Chapters across the U.S. were able to take part in the conversation using the hashtag #SMOSM on Twitter. Read the Storify recap here.

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About PRSSA Kent
PRSSA Kent (www.prssakent.com) was established in 1968 as one of the 14 original Alpha Chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Named the 2014 Outstanding Chapter, the 70-member student-run organization collaborates with its parent Chapter, the Akron Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), to coordinate meetings and events that offer professional development and networking opportunities to Kent State University students interested in the public relations and communications industry.

About Black United Students
Black United Students (BUS) was founded May 21, 1968, at Kent State University, on three principles: brotherhood, unity and self-determination. In 1968, members of BUS organized and staged a mass walk off with more than 250 students to Akron, Ohio. BUS demanded a black cultural center and a black studies curriculum. As a result, BUS was granted the Pan African Studies department. The underlying philosophy of BUS is to serve and unify all black students at Kent State University by addressing their needs. It seeks to identify relevant issues and initiate appropriate action in order to reduce or eliminate any impediments believed to be adverse to students and their continued well-being and matriculation.

For more information, contact:
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Brenna Parker                                                 Michele Ewing, APR, Fellow PRSA
Vice President of Public Relations              Associate Professor/Faculty Adviser
PRSSA Kent                                                     PRSSA Kent
bparke12@kent.edu                                      meewing@kent.edu