Since its formation in the late 80s, South by Southwest (also known as SXSW) has become the festival to show off the latest and hottest in music, films, and interactive entertainment. Held once a year in Austin, Texas SXSW has become known as the main stage where new technology and creative ideas are represented and the meeting table where future ones are thought up.
While from all over the country, and world, venture to the event to display their latest discoveries there has been one particular group is barely seen at the event: Latinos. Noticing a lack of Latino presence at the event, an Austin-based Cultural Strategies launched the Social Revolución@SXSW utilizing the SXSW website with the intention of generating an “interactive movement of Latinos using social media to create change.”
Concentrating on those within the online Latino community who hold a high presence amongst the online community, the event main goal was to recognize such individuals through a nomination and vote system in order to honor them. Out of 140 nominations submitted to the event’s site a selection of 7 winners were chosen.
Winners of the first Social Revolución@SXSW were: Maria Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino; Social activist and musical group, Calle 13; artist and political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, and the other winners were honored for being the founders in the growing trend of Latinos utilizing the power of the web to make changes through action via social media.
With another SXSW event drawing near (sometime in March) the second installment of Social Revolución@SXSW will be taking place. Wanting to continue a awards geared towards recognizing Latino activists, the interactive relies on online-users to submit nominees who are innovative and compassionate Latinos and Latinas who strive to make a difference.
Right now nominations are opened for the second Social Revolución@SXSW with the winners being announced at this years’ SXSW interactive. Currently the nomination contains three specific categories:
The Mobilizer: Someone who makes noise in spreading the news of causes and campaigns.
El Innovator: Someone who uses unique technologies that makes a difference.
The New Americano: Someone who masters the wheel of social media to create cultural shifts.
So, if there is anyone or any organization you can think of that has done something to change the Latino community or the community at large head to http://www.thesocialrevolucion.com to nominate those social changers or vote for someone you may already look up to; the deadline is midnight on February 23rd, 2013.
