So, I've been beating this drum for a while - oppressive governments are increasingly quick and intelligent in responding to protests that use mobile and new media to organize and get the word out. So, join us in July (http://www.meetup.com/intlrel-76/events/23103221/) to hear from an amazing panel and discuss the next steps in this cat and mouse game:

The Twitter Revolution.  The Cellphone Revolution.  The Facebook Revolution.  While the "Arab Spring" uprisings succeed based on real-world organizing, protests and democracy-building, it's no secret that mobiles and social media provided tools to broadcast, coordinate and amplify these movements.  Oppressive governments are responding both faster and smarter to these digital tools.

Please join our panel of experts discussing the role of online activism going forward.  What are the next steps in information empowerment in a more hostile environment for online activism?  What is the role of mobile and new media in affecting change in government, and what are the risks?

We will begin with a discussion by the panelists, then move into an open question and answer session.  Afterwards, we'll transition to a happy hour at Circle Bistro.

This meet-up is co-hosted by IREX and Appropriate IT.

Online Activism after #ArabSpring : What's Next?

When: Thursday, July 14th 5:30 PM
Where: IREX 2121 K St NW # 700, Washington D.C

Agenda

• Gathering, Networking: 5:30-5:45
• Panel discussion 5:45-6:30 (about 5-7 minutes per speaker)
• Questions: 6:30-7
• Optional happy hour at Circle Bistro: 7-9

Panelists

Eleeza V. Agopian Program Officer, Media Development Division, IREX

Eleeza V. Agopian's portfolio includes programs that foster partnership exchanges between media outlets, journalism associations and journalism schools; provide support for media legal defense organizations; and help develop journalism school curricula. She is a program officer working on the International Media Partnerships Program, the Ukraine Media Partnership Program, the Azerbaijan Media Defense and Public Information Program, the Media Advancement Project for Azerbaijan, the Georgia Media Partnership Program, and the Georgian Media Enhance Democracy, Informed citizenry and Accountability program.

Keith Hammonds Director, Ashoka’s News & Knowledge initiative

Keith Hammonds is director of Ashoka’s News & Knowledge initiative, a program funded by the Knight Foundation to identify, seed, and connect emerging media leaders – social entrepreneurs whose innovations promise to better inform and engage change-making citizens around the world.  Hammonds most recently was executive editor at Fast Company magazine, where he helped shape editorial strategy across the magazine—and where he co-founded the Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capitalist Awards. Over eight years, he wrote many of Fast Company’s defining articles, including: “Why We Hate HR,” “Balance is Bunk,” “Size is not a Strategy,” and “The New Face of Global Competition.”  Hammonds also has been a bureau chief and editor for BusinessWeek in Boston and New York; a writer for The New York Times in London and Johannesburg; a consultant to New Nation in Johannesburg; director of an emergency food distribution program in Namibia; and (currently) coach of the Firebolts, a fearsome girls soccer team.

May Kosba Civic Health Index Fellow, National Conference on Citizenship

May Kosba is an Egyptian grant writer, cultural activist and freelance writer who is particularly involved with challenging stereotypes and bridging cultural gaps.  She currently works as Civic Health Index Fellow at the National Conference on Citizenship as part of the Atlas Service Corps Exchange Program, having previously worked with a number of civil society and human rights organizations in Egypt. She was a Freedom House fellow in 2009 and had served at Youth Service America organization. Earlier in March 2011 she was featured on C-Span. She co-authored a book titled "Hello. It's a Muslim Calling" along with other Egyptian writers.

Moderator: Jon Camfield Technology Strategist, Ashoka Changemakers

Jon Camfield is the Technology Strategist for Ashoka's Changemakers program. Jon joins Ashoka from the worlds of ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) and nonprofit technology. Prior to Ashoka he ran the technology program at YSA and consulted for NGOs on technology and business process issues. Jon served in the Peace Corps, where he worked with the Jamaican Ministry of Education on open source and educational technology projects. Jon has a Master's degree in International Science and Technology Policy from the Elliot School at GWU and a B.A. from the University of Texas' prestigious Plan II honors program.