#100HappyDays: Above the Fray's first advisory board meeting

A gathering of greatness on the 22nd floor of the Esquire Building in downtown Sacramento, June 4, 2014. The Above the Fray team (including yours truly up front at the moment) presents program info to an advisory board for feedback.
Now, I'm normally not one to promote hours-long meetings as a source of happiness, but this week, the Above the Fray* team sponsored its first advisory board meeting. Doesn't sound exciting?

Well, it turned out to be an extraordinary discussion where we--Thomas Dodson and Aja Uranga-Foster, cofounders of Above the Fray, and yours truly, resident research nerd--presented our work researching and understanding youth/teen social media use. And of course, our grand plan to change the world by fostering education, engagement and empowerment for youth, parents, and educators who are navigating through our increasingly digitally-focused world.
Perks of being 22 stories up. What I love about working with Above the Fray is the chance to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. For instance, we conducted eight youth/teen focus groups this winter. It was an incredible experience to hear about the joys and struggles kids face as they learn, use and sometimes obsess over social media. Thanks to those kids, we know where to focus to help others.
The best part was hearing reflections and feedback from others in the room including another professor researcher, a high school teacher, app designers, and business folks. We've got so many great ideas to build upon as we move forward with the goal of empowering youth to lead safe and responsible lives online. More on that soon!

Panoramic view of Sacramento. Spectacular!
xoxo,
shawna

P/S Are you asking yourself "What is Above the Fray?" It's an organization committed to helping youth and their supporters (parents and teachers) negotiate the crazy world of social media in safe and responsible ways. Keep your eyes peeled this Fall for a full website, app and speaker series!

#100HappyDays
1. 24 Hours of Happy
2. If loving a wheelbarrow is wrong...
3. A trip to the nursery
4. Transplants
5. Sweet peas
6. Cool as a...
7. A Butterfinger Blizzard
8. Happiness by the yard
9. Keeping the vampires at bay
10. Giving P.F. Chang's a run for its money
11. A little Spring snow in the Sierras
12. Communing with fellow comm nerds
13. Ladies' night
14. Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico
15. The shredded cedar fitness plan
16. Baby's first Easter
17. Bathmat runways
18. Oasis in progress
19. My kind of Easter egg hunt
20. Mass cookie production
21. West Coast Formation Clinic 2014
22. West Coast Ravens, smoke on!
23. West Coast Formation Clinic All Up
24. Colorful, if not magical, beans
25. Stinking roses
26. Noodle salad
27. Tomato mania
28. Real smiles
29. Conquering cross-wind landings
30. Gypsy chickens and birthday celebrations
31. Conjuring a rainstorm
32. Bountiful boxes
33. The reluctant birthday boy
34. Copper poppies
35. Caprese chicken magic
36. Moms love waffles
37. Hearty soup for a hot "summer" day
38. A friend of the library
39. Talking Above the Fray
40. Go, go gadget green beans
41. Clinking frapps
42. Berries and bosom friends
43. Little red ZHP
44. Scratch pasta goodness
45. The sweetest final ever
46. A beautiful birthday girl
47. Mac & cheese for breakfast
48. Seattle sunshine
49. Spectacular Seattle
50. Rocking the International Communication Association convention
51. Veggie box
52. A bumper plant
53. Unusually tasty vegetables
54. My poor Corolla-mobile
55. Anti-fashion
56. My lovelies
57. Super soaker
58. Because you can never have too many tomatoes
59. Civic participation

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