I don’t think I have the words to adequately describe how much I loved this conference, but I’m going to give it a try.
I’ve never been to anything like it before. I was very anxious about navigating such a huge crowd. I had no idea what to expect. But my concerns quickly melted away as I met my assigned buddies in person for the first time and listened to Luvvie Ajayi speak. By the end of the conference I was totally stoked for #19NTC!
Here are 8 things I loved about #18NTC:
1. NTEN’s focus on accessibility. While looking at the registration information for #18NTC, I was pleasantly surprised to find a whole section in the FAQ regarding accessibility. I’d already looked at a map of the convention center and had started wondering if it was really feasible for me to attend, because, as my faithful readers know, I have mobility challenges, and the convention center is huuuuuge. I figured I’d never be able to get around without being in a lot of pain. I imagined I’d spend most of my time sitting somewhere icing my knees and wishing I hadn’t even bothered. And then I saw the information about renting a mobility scooter. I’d never used a mobility scooter before, so I was curious about what that would look like. So I sent an inquiry to the email address given, and after a few email exchanges with the lovely conference director, Andrea Post, I was set up with a mobility scooter that I could pick up the first day of the conference and drop off on the last day, courtesy of NTEN. I cannot tell you what a beautiful relief it was to have that scooter. I am so grateful. I was able to attend all the workshops I wanted, easily maneuver around the main hall to get food and beverages and check out the vendors and demos, go back and forth between the hotel and conference venue, and attend the official #18NTC party!
There were also sign language interpreters and closed captioning on a big screen during all the speeches and presentations, gender neutral bathrooms, and preferred pronoun ribbons we could wear on our badges. So awesome!
Here you see the Admin Unicorn on my mobility scooter in front of a giant unicorn I had high hopes of winning. I’m not saying the game was rigged, but… Congrats to whoever won it! 😉
2. Luvvie Ajayi was the keynote speaker. If you don’t know Luvvie Ajayi stop what you are doing right now, and check out her blog. I’ll wait…
Also, read “I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual.” Her book is “the handbook the world needs now, doling out the hard truths and a road map for bringing some “act right” to our popular culture, social media, and our lives.” Luvvie described her path from a career in marketing and digital strategy and blogging as a hobby to becoming an award-winning New York Times best-selling author. She told the story of how she came to understand the power of the community she had cultivated with her blog and social media presence after she sent out a single tweet asking folks to donate money to help her attend a conference, and she raised that money literally overnight. I am inspired by her journey.
Luvvie Ajayi
https://twitter.com/B_RadWill/status/984077750138007557
3. The Ignites Series. The #18NTC Ignites theme was “My biggest smallest lesson.” Each speaker was given five minutes and allowed 20 slides that advanced automatically every 15 seconds. The topics were all engaging and clearly personal for each of the speakers. I understand that videos of the Ignites speakers are forthcoming, but for now here are pictures of a few of my favorite presentations.
The first speaker I saw was Monica Curca. She is the founder and director of Activate Labs, and according to her bio, she “has designed and led strategy for immersive storytelling and social engagement campaigns with Palestinian Youth Movement at Standing Rock, Mothers of the Movement against police brutality, and The Refugees Welcome Project.”
Sacred listening makes us whole. – Monica Curca.
BJ Wishinsky’s superpower is making digital content accessible to people with disabilities.
Regarding digital accessibility: check your assumptions and check your content. – BJ Wishinsky
Meico Marquette Whitlock is the founder and CEO of Mindful Techie. He is a speaker and trainer on mindfulness and technology.
Your life is your race, and you are the only competitor. – Meico Marquette Whitlock
4. The buddy system. This may come as a surprise to some folks, but I am actually quite socially awkward and shy when it comes to large groups of people, especially if I haven’t had a few adult beverages to provide some social lubrication. So when I was presented with the option to pair up with a “buddy” who has attended previous NTCs I gratefully accepted. I was actually blessed with two buddies! It was really nice to have a plan to meet friendly people for breakfast on the first day. It diminished that awkward feeling like I’m walking into the cafeteria on the first day of school trying to figure out who I can sit with.
5. The fabulous NTEN staff. The NTEN staff is obviously dedicated to providing a top notch conference experience for all who attend. My first electronic interaction with the aforementioned Andrea Post was lovely. Our communication was easy, and I felt like she really cared about me and my experience at the conference. She was friendly and very kind. She made sure to introduce herself on the first day and check that everything was set with my scooter.
I also had the great fortune of meeting Pattie Carlin during an overwhelming moment with an accessibility issue on the bus. Her passionate and compassionate response to the situation was just really amazing. She made what was the one dark spot on the whole trip so much lighter. I started out feeling awkward and humiliated and left the situation with a heart full of gratitude for her kindness and for the kindness of the other women who gathered around me to provide loving support. This is what community looks like.
6. The overwhelming number of workshops. It was so hard to choose which workshops to attend, because they all looked so awesome and chock full of important information. I love that I can access each workshop’s collaborative notes on Google docs, so I can read about the sessions I wasn’t able to attend. I’ve already written about one of the sessions I attended; stay tuned for highlights from some of the others.
7. The food and catering staff. The food was straight up delicious. Every bite I put in my mouth filled me with joy. The coffee was perfect (and much needed after drinking the hotel room instant stuff they dared label as coffee). New Orleans really does have the best coffee ever (aside from hotel room instant coffee). The catering staff was on point. They really hustled to keep everyone fed and the space clean. They were really friendly and super helpful whenever they noticed I needed some assistance. That down-home southern hospitality is definitely alive and well at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Gumbo
8. Making new friends. Everyone was so friendly! I met some of the nicest folks. As a rule I found that the folks attending and presenting at the conference were very kind and lots of fun. Everyone seemed to be having a lovely time. Many folks smiled and waved to me as I rolled by, and some even stopped me to chat. The atmosphere was quite jovial. Any social anxiety or awkwardness I felt when I first arrived had pretty much disappeared by the end of the trip. And now I have fabulous new connections on the social media. I hope to see them all at #19NTC in Portland!
Cheeeze!
9. The #18NTC official party.
9. This pin and the queers at #18NTC. #NTCQueer
#ntcqueer
10: #AdminUnicorn #Fatshion. Getting to dress in my Admin Unicorn finery for fabulous fun festivities.
You can see more of my photos from #18NTC on my Instagram.
Also, check out #18NTC and #NTCQueer on Twitter.
The Admin Unicorn 