Social Media: Connecting and Empowering Communities

Written by: Stewart

Social media. It is a tool that connects  families from around the world. It can connect people to news, politics, and entertainment. It can act as a starting point for global change. It can also help to connect and empower communities.

In particular, in this post I want to discuss the influence that social media has had on my home community of Lucasville, Nova Scotia. Lucasville is a 25 minute drive from downtown Halifax and is one of Nova Scotia's historically black communities.

Being from Lucasville has given me an unique perspective on the impact that technology and social media has had to organize and motivate the residents of the community. Something as simple as a Facebook group for the Lucasville Community Association has allowed for increased connected between the members. A monthly community meeting can mean that issues are not being discussed for a long period of time. Now that residents are connected on Facebook the issues discussed at the meeting can continue to be discussed online. One common problem for areas all over Nova Scotia is that young people are leaving to move out west (that is what I did). Being a part of the Facebook group allows me to stay connected to my community and its issues. I have also been able to take part in a few community meetings via Skype.

Lucasville faces many challenges including a lack of city bus service, the large amount of fast moving traffic traveling along the street, and a farm which is operating in the community without the proper permits. With the help of social media the residents of Lucasville are mobilizing and fighting to make their community a better place to live.