Our Closing Session is always memorable. This year AT&T will be sponsoring the 2014 Blogging While Brown Closing Session. Get your smart phones, tablets, and laptops ready because this year's Closing Session will definitely be noteworthy! Thanks to AT&T for returning as a sponsor of Blogging While Brown 2014.
June Carnival: Caribbean American Heritage month
The United States of America is a nation born of immigration. From early English settlers seeking religious freedom to African families kidnapped and sold into slavery to the global wave of today’s new arrivals. Seeking fame, fortune, safety and opportunity, these individuals and families bring with them new traditions and philosophies that have richly enhanced American culture and society.
One group in particular that has had a profound effect our society is Caribbean-Americans. From the arts to politics to science to sports. They have made their presence felt in all aspects of American culture. So much so that In June 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H. Con. Res. 71,sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. On February 14, 2006, the resolution similarly passed in the Senate.
Since the declaration, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This year marks the ninth anniversary of that honor.
To celebrate, my Caribbean-American culture blog, Rewind And Come Again is hosting a blog carnival that explores and celebrates the many contributions Caribbean-Americans have made to our nation.
We are accepting submissions through the end of June so if you have something to say about the Caribbean-American experience, write something nuh!
And be sure to join our Twitter chat on Tuesday June 10th at 8pm EST. #CaribAmeriBWB
Fetes
Pleasure Principle: Female Dancehall Artists, Sexuality, & Satisfaction. by Bee Quammie of ’83 to Infinity
Playing Mas
Toronto Carnival: Culture vs Corporate by Amy Juicebox for Now a Word Or Two
West Indian vs. American: The Identity Crisis by Jamal A. Potter
Memories of Trinidad Carnival by Gloria Blizzard for Anancy Magazine.
Where’s the Immigration Reform Coalition in the Caribbean Community? by Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown for Carry On Friends
11 Things to Know About Caribbean People in the USA by Jacqueline L. Scott for Anancy Magazine
Kiddie Carnival
Caribbean Mother’s Day by Sylvia Wong Lewis for Narrative Network
Trinidad and Tobago Flag Kids Nail Tutorial by Eva Wilson of SocaMom.com
Caribbean Genealogy Archives, Registry Offices by Sylvia Wong Lewis for Narrative Network
Attendee Spotlight: She Has Purpose by Rothesia Stokes.
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
She Has Purpose by Rothesia Stokes.
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
My hope is to connect with other bloggers and gain knowledge to take my blog to the next level.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I decided to start a blog because of my love for writing. I feel that blogging gives you the ability to express your thoughts, share your passions, and connect with others to make a positive impact in their lives.
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
Blog visitors will find information on how to look great, feel great, and be great.
What is your promise to the people who visit your blog?
They will leave inspired, informed, and encouraged.
Who are your blogging heroes?
Bob Lotich, founder of ChristianPF and co-founder of Blogging Your Passion.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Willingness to share ideas and exchange helpful information.
What do you have to offer blogger to take them to the next level?
I have over ten years of experience as a writer and editor. I can assist with creating content that is engaging to a target audience.
What are your top tips for bloggers?
Don't be afraid to connect and work with other bloggers.
Be transparent and let your personality shine through.
Be a continuous learner.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
In the next five years, I see my blog as a multi-contributor site that motivates women to live passionate and purposeful lives.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight : JackieBledsoe.com - Lead and Love the Ones Who Matter Most
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
JackieBledsoe.com - Lead and Love the Ones Who Matter Most
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
Connect with other brown bloggers, build new relationships, and learn others in this industry.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I felt it was the best way to build a sustainable and growing business without a lot of upfront costs.
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
They find content which gives them hope and provides practical tools to help the in the areas they need most in marriage, parenting, and family relations.
What is your promise to the people who visit your blog?
Hope and practical tools for their marriage. Marriages will find lasting love and create a healthy marriage. Dads will be find tools to help them be more engaged and active in their kids lives.
Who are your blogging heroes?
Lamar Tyler gave me my "big break," and gave me the belief that I could actually make money doing this. And he has been a HUGE inspiration! What he and Ronnie have done is nothing short of amazing. Another blog that inspires me tremendously is AllProDad.com, which was started with Tony Dungy's help.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
We are looking for married couples to be guest on our web show, The 7 Rings of Marriage Web Show. I also need men (husbands and dads) to be guests on my podcast, The Family Leader Podcast. I'm also looking for sites to write guest posts for.
What do you have to offer blogger to take them to the next level?
Yes, I did a talk last year about how I've used blogging for career advancement. I'll be speaking at a national convention this year, and this topic will be expanded. I can share my tools, tips, and what has worked for me.
What are your top tips for bloggers?
Be consistent. When consistent I've achieved the most results with my platform. When inconsistent my results have been up and down.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I see my blog as the place where men (husbands and dad) come for hope and practical tips to help them be the best they can be. I also see it as the place where couples of all stages, from engaged to the most mature stages in marriage to come to get hope they can make it and practical tools to help them.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight The Empowered Mocha Patient
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
The Empowered Mocha Patient by Meredith Hurston
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
I hope to get some tips that can help me grow my audience, meet new bloggers to partner with, get current info on the ever changing SEO and social media algorithms and trends, and learn how to monetize my content.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
As a result of working in healthcare for over 15 years and being an advocate for my Mom while she was sick for many years, I had a wealth of knowledge. I decided to blog to share what I know about navigating the healthcare system. I also use my knowledge of quality assurance in healthcare, patient safety and laboratory science to balance out my offerings to readers. There is great disparity between the clinical outcomes of minorities and the average American. I want to raise disease awareness, teach people who to navigate healthcare and how to be safe when a patient in a healthcare environment.
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
They will find: 1) current topics in healthcare that are particularly relevant to people of color 2) disease awareness campaigns 3) health information 4) products or things I like 5)patient safety and advocacy information 6) where to find credible sources of health information on the web.
What is your promise to the people who visit your blog?
I promise visitors that my site is devoted to improving the quality and safety of healthcare delivery for people of color, a.k.a. the mocha patient. The site will empower you to successfully navigate the healthcare system and be an active participant in your own care. This is achieved by arming you with the appropriate resources to develop a strong interactive relationship your healthcare provider(s) and build your confidence to make informed decisions regarding your care. The vision of The EMP is to present relevant healthcare topics that will broaden your understanding of chronic conditions, diseases that affect minorities at higher rates, and ways to close the gaps on disparities in care, treatment and outcomes. With this knowledge, you and/or your healthcare advocate will be prepared to expect and experience safe and effective healthcare treatment when the need arises.
Who are your blogging heroes?
Luvvie Ajayi, Marie Denee and Martine Ehrenclou.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Creative ideas for how to monetize my content. One of my unique challenges is that I provide useful content to people, usually when they are facing a health crisis or when a loved one is facing a health crisis. I find it difficult to "sell" this sort of information.
What are your top tips for bloggers?
1) Make sure your outbound links open in new tabs.
2) Treat your blog as a business.
3) Don't be afraid to ask for scholarships and sponsorships to conferences where you can perfect your craft.
4. Start building an email list, if you haven't done so.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I see myself covering healthcare, health disparities and disease awareness on an international level. I want to improve the health and access to healthcare for all people of color. I would like for my blog to be translated in at least 3 other languages within the next 5 years.
Welcome to BWB!
May Blog Carnival
Since its launch in 2008 Blogging While Brown has grown to become the premier blogging conference dedicated to education, collaboration, and innovation among bloggers of color. The conference brings Black social media experts, speakers, and independent content creators together to educate, inspire, and expand their influence in social media and technology. Along with panel discussions, keynotes, and networking opportunities this 2 day event also includes blogger training workshops.
Black bloggers from around the country will be gathering in New York City for the 7th annual Blogging While Brown Conference June 27th and June 28th. Find more information and register here.
Last year was a wonderful experience for me, I am looking forward to returning this year. Click here for my 2013 recap. This year I am hosting a Blog Carnival sharing tips and tricks from other bloggers in hopes of helping other bloggers learn new techniques and enhance their experience.
Design
6 Rules For Blog Design (@elembee_)
How To Customize the Pin It Button for Pinterest (@hernameiskim_)
5 Blog Design Mistakes (@hernameiskim_)
Inspiration
Four Tips For Writers Or Wannabes (@liber8ntheory)
BLM Blog Challenge (@curlsandmo)
Photography + Blogging from Beatrice Clay’s BEAUTIFUL BEST (@beatrice_clay)
Tips for Starting a Blog and Sticking With It (@funmom91)
F.O.C.U.S. On Your Blog (@NaturallyGlamTV)
Get Organized
Daily Blog Tasks (@ShapingUpMegan)
Time Saving Tips For Bloggers (@elembee_)
Blogger Wish List (@curlsandmo)
Daily Blogger Must Haves (@curlsandmo)
Increase Blog Traffic
Feedburner Tips & Tricks (@ShapingUpMegan)
Growing Your Readereship (@elembee_)
Blog Fabulously: Your Bounce Rate (@hernameiskim_)
How Fast Does Your Website Load? (@Queen_of_Saving)
Attendee Spotlight Rewind and Come Again
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Rewind and Come Again by AlysiaSimone
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
I hope to learn more on how to use other forms of media to flesh out my site and ways to grow, retain and better engage my audience. And of course how to monetize my blog, both on and offline.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I always wanted to be a writer but didn't think that 'writer' was a viable career choice. Blogging allows me to indulge in my passion.
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
They will find articles and videos exploring various aspects of Caribbean/Caribbean-American life. From music and food to parenting traditions and cultural events.
Who are your blogging heroes?
JayBlessed of JayBlessed.com, Eva Wilson Greene of Socamom.com, Shannon Washington of ParlourMagazine.com, Luvvie of AwesomelyLuvvie.com and Bee Quammie of 83toInfinity.com
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Yes. I hope to connect with other bloggers in my niche (Caribbean / Caribbean-American culture), as well as mom bloggers of teens (boys in particular).
What are your top tips for bloggers?
Excellent organization and time management skills. Your blog can very easily fall by the wayside if you don't stay organized and learn to balance your blog and your life.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
In 5 years my blog will be a major online destination for the discussion, exploration and expression of the Caribbean / Caribbean-American experience. We will also have expanded our offline activities to include community events, film/web series and literature.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight : Immigrating With A Purpose
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
I hope to network with other women, get inspired, learn how to increase my blog's audience, and learn how to turn my blog into a money-making venture.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
I decided to start a blog because I moved to Venezuela from the US. It was a way to keep people back home abreast of my experience while teaching abroad.
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
Above all, visitors to the blog will find high quality writing pieces. They will also find reflections on the education profession, race, gender, and travel. There are also photos of my travels while abroad.
Who are your blogging heroes?
My main blogging inspirations are the following blogs:
SojournersSojourns
The HeSo Project
Kitchen Ventures
My American Meltingpot
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I am specifically interested in blogs related to travel, education, and Black women.
What do you need from your fellow bloggers?
I need tips on how to increase my audience and turn my blog into a stream of income
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
As an English teacher, I can proofread articles. I can also write guest posts that pertain to education, race, gender, and/or working/living abroad.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
In five years I see myself living back in the States and writing full time. My blog will be a way in which admirers of my book(s) can get a closer look at my personal opinions, experiences, and beliefs. The blog will also serve as a space where I can publicize new publications and speaking events.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight From the Soles Up
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Fania who's blog is From the Soles Up
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
I want to network and learn the mechanics of being a successful blogger. The business behind the writing and pictures.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
First it was an outlet for my love of shoes but then continued because I want to help other women to enjoy and embrace their own personal style
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
Styling tips and personal style with witty writing
Who are your blogging heroes?
Fashion Bomb Daily, Demetria Lucas
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Fashion Blogger and Personal Style Bloggers.
What do you need from your fellow bloggers?
Marketing Expertise.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I am an excellent writer and am willing to share tips. I also feature personal style on my blog but work with regular women on how to accomplish a style that works for them
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I see my blog as an extension of my styling and consulting platform and a way to showcase success stories of women accomplishing their own style.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight Life and Lips
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Michellette "Mimi" Green who's blog is Life and Lips
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
I hope to network with a lot of amazing bloggers and learn all that I can about the blogging world. I would like to know how to increase genuine traffic and readers.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
It was a great place for me to have something of my own. I wear so many different titles I wanted my own outlet. I am a mother, girlfriend, daughter, employee, business owner, friend, sister, etc.
When people come to your blog, what will they find?
A blog about life as I see it, live it, love it or not. I blog about any and everything. I things that I experience in my day to day life.
Who are your blogging heroes?
Bloggers who have found their way, know their final destination. I'm still not sure what mine is at this time.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
No, I'm a lifestyle blogger so I'm down for meeting everyone.
What do you need from your fellow bloggers?
To gain insight on how to grow my audience.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I am a small business owner but it doesn't directly relate to blogging. I custom design canvas shoes (Converse, Chuck Taylor)
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Be yourself.
Don't focus on numbers so much that you don't product good content.
When you constantly post about reviews and give aways its a turn off.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I hope to have grown my viewership and exploring new arenas.
Welcome to BWB!
Attendee Spotlight Witches' Brew
Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Yolanda R. Arrington who's blog is Witches' Brew
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2014?
I plan to make new friends and connections with other bloggers, as well as, learn new tools and tips to help monetize our blog.
Why did you decide to start a blog?
We (there are 4 of us) felt there was a lack of content for women over 30 who like to laugh and follow pop culture. We also felt there was room for our brand of snarkiness.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
I am especially interested in meeting bloggers who write about women's issues, health and wellness, spirituality, and jazz.
Who are your blogging inspirations or heroes/ heroines ?
Luvvie Ajayi, Angel Laws; Michael K of dListed
What is your experience with attempting to monetize your blog content?
Our audience comes to our site for entertainment and pop culture stories. They want to read our take on what's hot for the day. They do not respond to being sold to. We have sold some items from our Zazzle store and we have seen traffic to our Google banner ad at the top of the page. Occasionally, we will get a conversion on an ad on our sidebar, but for the most part, people who visit us are not interested in shopping.
Are there specific types of bloggers you are interested in connecting with at the conference?
Entertainment, lifestyle and tech bloggers
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
Help with monetizing a site whose audience traditionally doesn't like to be "sold to."
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I am a social media consultant and journalist by trade, so I can offer help with creating content and pushing it out via social platforms
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
Leave your computer and get out to meet people! You never know who you'll meet and how they can help you get closer to achieving your goals.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
I see our site as the leading place for humor and entertainment content and myself and my fellow bloggers will be frequently called upon for commentary across various platforms.
Welcome to BWB!
Blogging While Brown April Blog Carnival and Twitter Chat
In the space of the blogging world, the "mommy' blogger has garnered much of the attention. Add to that the new documentary American Blogger which has a huge slant if not a completely horizontal line towards Caucasian bloggers with the only voices in the blogosphere, and you can see why it is so important to shine a light on Brothers of Blogging.
Black and Brown men, of course, should be heard; should be a part of the conversation especially since there are so many untruths being told about them. Speaker at the 2013 Blogging While Brown conference and Brown Blogger, Lamar Tyler, is expanding his brand and his impact on the community. He and his wife started their blog, BlackAndMarriedWithKids.com, with the goal of showing positive images of black marriages. The couple has added a production company, a series of DVDs, and a web series. Tyler has taken his brand to the next level, but understands his base and his business started with the blog.
Marc Polite has a different way of getting his message across. Blogger at Polite On Society, he writes social commentary, political analysis and literature. When the verdict in the Trayvon Martin case was announced Polite's call to action was to boycott a convention he had planned to attend in Florida.
I must admit he got my ire for not attending the National Association of Black Journalists conference because there are other people of color in Florida and you can't just shut them out, but I digress. Our Brown Brothers bring it when they blog; they also take the heat their opinions often spark.
The Single Fathers Blog's founder, @showtimesays, had this to say about the responsibilities of being a Brown blogger:
I have to dig deeper and reach for those stories that have a direct impact on my community. It means that I have to be conscious of the things that I say because I do not want to portray myself in a way that would feed into any stereotypes that society may already have about men of color.
The blogs and posts of the Brown bloggers we are featuring range from sports to politics to tech, but they all have the same thing in common. There are some amazing men in the Brown and blogging communities, and they aren't going to let anyone else dictate the conversations.
You can find more contributions below. And don't forget to join our Twitter Chat April 30th at 9PM. You can find us at @BWBConference, hashtag #BrosBlogBWB.
Why Gabrielle Union Should Forgive Dwyane Wade & You Should Mind Your Business
Love Letter To The Black Woman
The Strategy Of Shaming Deadbeat Dads Is Failing
Why Complaining About Lack Of Inclusion Is Hurting The Entire Black Community
I Am Not Jesus! My Love IS Conditional!
20 Successful Habits I Learned Working For Two Billionaires
How To Teach Momma 'Nem About Technology
Have Relationships Between Black Men and Women Changed At All Over The Past 30+ Years?
Trayvon Martin: Progress Toward a Better Tomorrow
White House Recognizes STEM Champions Of Change
A Discussion On Fatherhood And Mentorship With @Robhillsr And More
Ella Rucker is an Ohio native living in NYC. Ella is a freelance writer who blogged for two years for Good Enough Mother and is currently producing #MentorMonday for internationally-known and Oprah hired Paul C. Brunson. Along with her blogging, she recently self-published The Poetry of Prose and was included in two books by Marion Licchiello including Anyone Can! Live A Happier Life. She tries to inspire everyone to believe in Something Wonderful and share Best Blog Content through Facebook. You can find her there or follow her on Twitter @ellalaverne.
You can currently catch her blogging at They Met Online about dating and parenthood.
2014 Blogging While Brown Conference Schedule
We're excited to announce the schedule of the 2014 Blogging While Brown Conference. The Business of Blogging Pre-Conference Session has a separate registration.
Friday, June 27, 2014
3:00PM-4:00PM Registration
4:00PM -5:30PM Opening Remarks
Girls Compete Women Cooperate: How to Use Bloggers in Your Niche to Build a Network
Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche, The Budgetnista
Kara Stevens, The Frugal Feminista
Tonya Rapley, My Fab Finance
Marsha Horton Barnes, Financial Empowerment
Tiffany Victoria Williams, My Fab Finance
How to Form Kickass Collaborations to Boost Your Web Traffic & Increase Your Social Media Following
Sheree Adams, Smart & Sassy Mom
Christine St. Vil, Moms ‘N Charge
Heather Hopson, Diary of a First Time Mom
6:00PM OPENING PARTY - Aloft Harlem
Registration Continues
Saturday, June 28, 2014
8:00AM-8:45AM Registration
8:45AM-10:00AM Opening Remarks
TECHNOLOGY KEYNOTE
Markus Robinson, Interactive One
10:00AM-10:15AM BREAK
10:15AM-11:15AM Breakout #1
Six Ways to Make Six Figures From Blogging Without Ad Revenue
Lamar & Ronnie Tyler, Black and Married with Kids
Breakout #2
Learn to Code 101
Keisha J. Reed, KJR Consulting
11:30AM-12:30PM Lunch & Learn #1
Blogging 101
Arsha Jones, BrandBuildSell
12:00PM-12:45PM Lunch & Learn #2
Walking Away from Your Blog
Gina McCauley, Blogging While Brown
1:00PM-2:00PM Breakout #3
The New ABCs of Growing Your Business
Elisa Camahort Page, BlogHer
Breakout #4
Social Currency - Using Triberr To Grow Your Blog
Jaha Knight, Karasi Media Group
Breakout #4.5
Yeezy Taught Us
Will Hatcher, Delicious Bath Water
2:00PM-2:15PM BREAK
2:15PM-3:15PM Breakout #5
How to Get Invited to Speak at Conferences
Sarah Milstein, Lean Startup Productions
Breakout #6
You Can't Be Social Without Mobile First
Kristin Bolton-Keys, Mobile Product Manager
Alicia Dixon, Product Manager
3:15PM-3:30PM BREAK
3:30PM-4:30PM Breakout #7
Visual Blogging
Sarah Glover, Social Media Editor NBC10 Philadelphia
Breakout #8
Media Relations and Pitching
Matt E. Stevens, Prune Juice Media
Michelby L. Whitehead, Everything Girls Love
Jorian L. Seay, Ebony Magazine
4:30PM-4:40PM BREAK
4:40PM-6:00PM Closing Session
6:30PM+ Closing Party - Aloft Harlem
2014 Business of Blogging Pre-Conference Schedule
2013 Business of Blogging Pre-Conference Session
The Business of Blogging Pre-Conference will once again be EPIC. For those making flight plans, here are the session times so you can make arrangements according. The Blogging While Brown Conference will kick off immediately after the Business of Blogging Session. There are less than 20 tickets left to attend the pre-conference. We sold out last year. Register Today!
Business of Blogging Pre-Conference (Updated 4.24.14)
FRIDAY, June 27, 2014
8:15AM-9:00AM Registration
8:45AM- 9:00AM Opening Remarks
9:00AM-1000:AM How To Build A $100K Blogging Business
Jullien Gordon, SideHustla.com and B.P.A.I.D.
10:15-11:15AM Email Marketing
Kendra Webb-Scott, Ideazio, Inc and ClosetConfections.com
11:30AM-12:30PM Law for Bloggers
Miriam Nicole Huffman, One Loop Consulting
12:30PM -1:30PM LUNCH
1:30PM-2:30PM Blogs and Brands
Marie Denee, The Curvy Fashionista
Tola Lawal, SixOne7Creative
Nadia Jones, Niche Parent Network
Brandi Riley, Collective Bias’
2:45PM -3:45 PM Productizing & Ideation for Bloggers
2014 Conference Scholarships and Student Discounts: Thanks Kapor Center
Student Discounts and Kapor Center for Social Impact Scholarships
Student Economic Hardship Discount
If you are a full time college student or recent graduate who is experiencing an economic hardship, send an email to Lianne at bloggingwhilebrown [dot] com from your school address and tell her would would like to receive a student discount on a conference registration. The cost of a conference registration will be reduced by 50%. Please be sure to thank the Kapor Center for Social Impact for making this discount possible.
Non-Student Economic Hardship Scholarship - Made Possible by the Kapor Center for Social Impact
Due to a generous sponsorship by the Kapor Center for Social Impact, we are able to offer scholarships to the 2014 Blogging While Brown Conference. Scholarships will be awarded until they run out or until May 5th, whichever comes first..
- You will need to post about why you would like to attend Blogging While Brown 2014 in New York City. Explain how attending Blogging While Brown will help you meet your blogging goals.
- You will need to link to a post from a previous attendee who discusses their Blogging While Brown experience.
- You will need to link to www.bloggingwhilebrown.com.
- You will need to include one of our video highlight reels from the Blogging While Brown Youtube or Vimeo channel.
- Once you have posted to your blog, email the link to Lianne [at] bloggingwhilebrown [dot] com and if your post meets the criteria and you will be provided a code to receive a complimentary Saturday Day Pass.
- You may post this information on any of your social media platforms as long as you can provide links to Lianne.( Blog, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook)
Again, the deadline is May 5th or until all of the scholarships are handed out.
We will not provide any guidance on how to obtain the information for your post or how to write it. Scholarships do not include the Business of Blogging Pre-Conference.
2014 Badges Are Here! "I'm Going!"
You love 'em and so do we, the 2014 "I'm Going" conference badges are here!
March Blog Carnival and Tweet Chat: Change Makers - #BWBChange March 25, 2014 at 8:30 p.m EST.
"We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us." ―Cornish & Russwurm
By: Sarah L. Webb
For centuries, people of color have used various forms of media to plead their case for change. Frederick Douglass, Olaudah Equiano, and Solomon Northup wrote compelling autobiographies and memoirs to depict the horrors of slavery. Samuel E. Cornish, John B. Russwurm, William Lloyd Garrison, and W. E. B. Dubois started newspapers and magazines to expose injustice and counteract the racism in mainstream media. Whether blatant or subtle, poets, filmmakers, designers, songwriters, painters, and educators have all used their platforms for political, spiritual, and social campaigns throughout history.
Blogging is a relatively new medium, but imagine what our predecessors could have accomplished in their efforts to be recognized, to share their art with the world, to tell their stories before a wider audience, and to achieve human rights for all, if they had access to this technology the way we do. Even more important than imagining what could have been, is imagining what could be. What will we do with the powerful platform of blogging?
When I began blogging three years ago, I didn’t have a clear answer to that question. I was just going to blog because I wanted to write, publish, and share. However, the more I wrote and learned, the more potential I saw for blogging as an instrument for something more than my random musings. Then one day, I found the courage to write my first post on the “sensitive” issue of colorism (bias based on skin color, hair texture, and other features among people of the same race).
It was challenging to write, and I hesitated before clicking “publish” on my Wordpress editor. And then the responses came. Several people were thankful that I was covering the topic and were eager to join the discussion and see what else I would write. Others were less familiar with the subject but were curious to learn more. And, yes, some were annoyed. Some were downright livid. I was practically cursed out on Facebook by people I knew and considered friends.
That intense response, positive and negative, let me know that I had done something worth continuing. So I wrote a second post. And a third. And eventually I launched a site completely dedicated to the issue of colorism.
By no means was I the first person to write about the subject. Others had researched, studied, and written about colorism for decades. But blogging presented a new opportunity that writers did not have prior to the internet age. I saw three important ways that blogging could advance the work previously done on colorism.
First, as previously stated, it allowed readers to have real dialogue. Rather than just reading a book or article with no engagement with the author or other readers, blog audiences can take part in the discussion. People seem particularly apt to share their perspective on colorism, but conversation is valuable for any cause.
Second, a blog’s ability to compile and curate media and information in one place over time is priceless. Now I can lay out the historical work done on colorism, while also giving readers the current events version. Readers don’t have to worry about which edition they have, as one would do with a book, because a blog is always the most current edition.
Third, blogs can be free and accessible. I think the accessibility of blogs has played a huge role in advancing the conversation around colorism. In the past, most of the writing done about colorism was in scholarly, academic papers that were not only difficult to digest, but often required expensive subscriptions to journals or databases through a university or some other institution. Even when authors wrote books on the subject, there was still less availability for the general public.
Finally, I return to the opening words of Cornish and Russwurm. Bloggers are part of that same legacy, using our creative power to advocate for change.
Here is a special group of bloggers who each have a unique message and use their blogging platforms to create a bit of positive change in the world.
>> A'Driane Nieves is a powerful spokesperson for motherhood and mental health on her blog Butterfly Confessions. She states her case in this post: Universal Mental Health Screening for Pregnant and New Mothers is a MUST
>> Shimira Williams advocates for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education on her blog TekStart. In this post she explains why STEM is important in the earliest years of education: What’s Your Position on STEM in Preschool?
>> Sherese Francis, creator of the blog Futuristically Ancient, explores the African Diaspora through the lens of Afrofuturism. She breaks it down in the post: “God Is Change” – The Meaning Behind Futuristically Ancient
>> On her blog Sailing Autistic Seas, Miz Kp offers practical guidance, resources, and inspiration to parents raising children with autism. Here’s a sample of the important work she’s doing: How Couples Can Support Each Other in Parenting a Child with Autism
>> Stanley Fritz is an outspoken “political activist who plans to change the world” with his words. You can get a good dose of those words here: Waiting for Superman, The Black Complacency Crisis
Please take the time to read each of these posts and show your support by sharing widely!
Remember to join us for the “Change Makers” Twitter Chat: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. Central Standard Time using #BWBChange.
Wednesday, February 26th - Blogging While Brown Talks Net Neutrality
Join us February 26, 2014 at 1pm EST for a Google+ Hangout on Net Neutrality. This LIVE hangout will discuss net neutrality and what the recent ruling against the FCC could mean for bloggers and their audiences.
Watch the hangout at http://www.youtube.com/bloggingwhilebrown, follow @BWBConference, and track the conversation with our hashtag, #BWBBroadband.
Meet the Panelists:
Angela Benton is the Founder & CEO of NewME Accelerator. Launched in 2011, NewME’s mission is to accelerate underrepresented entrepreneurs around the world. NewME has received critical acclaim from The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Inc. Magazine, among others for the work they are doing to ensure the technology entrepreneurship is accessible to women and minorities. Additionally, Angela and the inaugural class of NewME Accelerator were featured in CNN’s award winning documentary series Black in America: The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley in 2011. Since their launch NewME has accelerated over 200 startups through their 12 week program in San Francisco and their national 3 day program in cities around the country. Angela has been recognized as a change agent and trailblazer by numerous publications and organizations including: Fast Company, Business Insider, Ebony Magazine, TheRoot, TheGrio, National Urban League, Black Enterprise Magazine, et al. She is the youngest Hall of Fame inductee of Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) and has been honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.”
Danyelle Little is the founder and Editor in Chief of TheCubicleChick.com, an online blogazine focused on Career, Work/Life Balance, Family, Everyday Technology, and Watercooler Topics. A former HR Manager, Danyelle created her highly popular website after finding that there were not many reliable online resources for working parents. In four years, she has grown her site to national prominence and has been featured on many online multimedia portals including CNN.com, HLN.com, Huffington Post Live, ABCNews.com, Wall Street Journal, Glamour, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, to name a few. Danyelle has worked with several leading brands as a Brand Ambassador and Advocate.
Danyelle is also the mother of two, and has written two eBooks and working on her first printed publication. She currently speaks at conferences and conventions on topics relating to of Work/Life Balance, Career, Family, Entrepreneurship, and Social Giving. She is currently a professional member of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Joseph Torres advocates in Washington to ensure that our nation’s media policies serve the public interest and builds coalitions to broaden the media reform movement's base. Joseph writes frequently on media and Internet issues and is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media. Joseph also serves on the board of directors of the Center for Media Justice and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Before joining Free Press, Joseph worked as deputy director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was a journalist for several years. He earned a degree in communications from the College of Staten Island.
Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee is Vice President and Chief Research and Policy Officer for the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) where she is responsible for designing and implementing a research and policy agenda that supports MMTC’s mission, and advocates for telecom and Internet policy reform through legislation, rulemaking, executive orders, public-private partnerships, and best practices. Prior to joining MMTC, Dr. Turner-Lee was President and CEO for the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), a national membership association that educates, advocates and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry through pipeline development, hiring and retention. Prior to NAMIC, Dr. Turner-Lee was Vice President and the first Director of the Media and Technology Institute for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, one of the nation’s leading research and public policy institutions whose work focuses on issues of concern to African Americans and other people of color. During her tenure, Dr. Turner-Lee created the first “National Minority Broadband Adoption Study” that has been cited by government, industry and community-based organizations interested in understanding and advancing Internet use for people of color. Most notably, the study was cited in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) congressionally mandated National Broadband Plan, and the FCC’s subsequent report detailing the information needs of communities. She also served as a senior executive at One Economy – a global nonprofit that uses the power of technology and information to expand opportunities for low-income people.
Dr. Turner-Lee serves on the board of directors for the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference (TPRC). She is a former Research Fellow with Northwestern University’s Asset Based Community Development Institute, a Ford Foundation Rockwood Leadership Fellow, and has served as adjunct faculty at Northwestern and North Park Universities. She is the author of several research and policy publications and a sought out speaker on a variety of topics. She graduated with honors from Colgate University, has a doctorate in Sociology from Northwestern University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Meet the Moderator:
Jeneba Ghatt refers to herself as a social media butterfly and a momtechpreneur. She has founded and cofounded over a dozen businesses, startups, websites, blogs and nonprofits in the past in the service and digital online markets. She has also worn several hats in recent years: a blogger, columnist, publisher, adjunct instructor, political analyst and a managing law partner at her own boutique firm representing nonprofits, small businesses & individuals before administrative agencies, courts and the US Supreme Court. She is a Beltway insider who has reported news from the inside of the White House, Congress and court houses, and frequently attends media gathers and other summits at the White House. She is a frequent guest on various shows on the SiriusXM POTUS (Politics of the United States) channel. As the managing law partner at her own boutique firm, Ghatt Law Group, Ms. Ghatt represents nonprofits, small businesses & individuals and has won landmark communications law cases before the Federal ommunications Commission and represented small business and national civil rights organizations before the federal courts and the United States Supreme Court.
Participate in a Blogging While Brown Blog Carnival April- June
Blogging While Brown Los Angeles
Blogging While Brown is more than a conference, it is a community. Part of our mission is to promote the work of members of the Blogging While Brown family. Each month leading up to the conference, we're hosting a blog carnival and a Twitter chat on a theme. Some of your favorite Blogging While Brown family members are curating each carnival's theme and leading a Twitter Chat.
If you missed January and February, check out the hashtags #BWBFit and #BWBHistory!
You can create a new blog post specifically for the carnival or submit previously published material. Each carnival host has their own submission instructions. Read more about themes and submission criteria from each blog carnival host below:
Upcoming Blog Carnivals and Hosts
March - Change Makers hosted by Sarah Webb @SLWrites, Colorism Healing
For all you activist bloggers, the March blog carnival theme is “Change Makers.” If you blog with a social agenda, whether focused on the environment, family, race, education, health, or politics, this is your chance to share with us your vision for a better world. Show us how you are using the new media platform of blogging to continue a legacy of revolutionary work. You should submit posts that illustrate your message, mission, or methods as a blogger and “Change Maker.”
April - Brothers Who Blog hosted by Ella @ellalaverne, Best Blog Content
We all love Brothers Who Blog, and this April we get to celebrate the best in the blogging biz! Join BestBlogContent.com and the Brothers Who Blog Blogging While Brown April Blog Carnival by telling us about your favorite or most influential, or even your most controversial Brown Brother Blogger. Send your info and I'll hit you back with my master plan to get these guys some love and your blog some views. Thanks!
May - Top Blogging Tips hosted by Curls and Mo @curlsandmo
The May curlsandmo.com Blog Carnival Topic is Blog Tips. I am looking for blog posts that share information and suggestions on how to improve your blog and blogging better. This can include but is not limited to SEO, google authorship, blogging as a business, monetizing your blog, blog design, etc.
June #1 - National Caribbean American Heritage Month hosted by Alysia Christiani @racablog, Rewind and Come Again
This coming June Rewind And Come Again will be hosting a blog carnival to celebrate National Caribbean American Heritage month. We are looking for submissions that reflect the varied experiences of the Caribbean American community. Whether your are Caribbean born now living in the States or American born of Caribbean ancestry (living in the States or in another part of the world) or some next permutation of Caribbean American, we want to hear from you. We are seeking submissions that speak about what your Caribbean heritage means to you and how it effects your life, good , bad, ugly or indifferent.
June #2 - Dad Bloggers
February Blog Carnival and Tweet Chat: Black History
Join us on February 13, 2014 at 8PM EST for our Black History Tweet Chat. #BWBHistory.
By Marc W. Polite
I have been picked as the host of Blogging While Brown’s blog carnival for February. As a first time attendee of BWB conference last year, I decided to become more involved in the happenings of this organization for people of color online. As many of you are aware, February is Black History Month. It is a time of reflection for African-Americans in particular, as well as Black people throughout the Diaspora. It is often a time where many people talk about the achievements of Black people in America, in addition to appraising how far we have come as a community.
This year in particular, there is a special focus on assessing precisely where we are in our history as a people in this country. 2014 is the 50th anniversary of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, and this watershed moment in American history is already the topic of discussion. Placed within the context of last year’s 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and some of the set backs in voting rights that Supreme Court decisions yielded last year, it is no surprise that such reflection is under way.
However, it is important to recognize that the knowledge of what came before is not just an academic exercise. The uses of studying history are not just to understand the past, but to figure out where we are in contemporary times. Learning from the lived experiences of those who came before us, can keep us grounded in dealing with the day to day realities and encourage us to take the long view on some contemporary matters.
Malcolm X once said: “Of all of our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research.” Keep in mind that this requires learning different aspects of the Black experience, not just the same rehashed lessons of yesteryear. If one only studies what is palatable and acceptable to study, then the possibility of learning and engaging is minimized. The subject becomes predictable, and those who stand to benefit the greatest from the lessons of the past become disinterested.
So here, for the purposes of getting a discussion going about the depth and breadth of Black history beyond what is usually presented, I in collaboration with scholars and Black bloggers with a historical focus present to you the following challenge:
1. Dig Deeper- There are so many under recognized Black historical figures to be rediscovered by people. Search for those stories
2. Relevance- Make it relevant. The teaching of history does not have to be just facts and figures. Keep in mind context and conditions as well.
3. Reaching others- Reach out to others that know, and others that do not.
Yes, Black History is important, but it’s also important to dig a little deeper and find the lesser known figures of Black history. These movements and people’s deserve as much recognition as the greater known personalities and organizations that you are most certain to hear about during the duration of this month.
With that said, I present to you the following blogs from these great contributors:
Stanley Fritz on The Haitian Revolution and Black History-
Shawn Hamilton of Dueling Interests(http://www.duelinginterests.com/) talks about 1960's NAACP activist Robert Williams and "Negroes With Guns"
Malaika Carpenter of In Your Good Shoes(http://inyourgoodshoes.wordpress.com/) on Black women abolitionists Frances Harper and Sarah Redmond.
Leigh Langston of Dangerous Lee on Deanna Brown-Thomas, James Brown's Daughter.
Prof. Karen Johnson on Betsey Stockton, 19th century educator.
Tanya Ndip talks about John B. Russwurm, 19th century Black journalist
Femi Lewis on The Importance of Teaching Black History
Paula Wright on the Gist Settlement of the 1830's
Sylvia Wong-Lewis on Elizabeth Jennings: New York's Rosa Parks With Attitude
Hank Williams on "Poems That Kill: A Brief Look At Black Arts Spoken Word" -
Join other amazing bloggers like these in New York City, June 27-28, 2014 at the 2014 Blogging While Brown Conference. Register Today!
