Blog Post #2 - Viviana Rubio

In my Introduction to Communication course, we had an assignment to do a series of group presentations on various changemakers and how they impacted society. All groups had researched influential persons and presented information about their lives, achievements and contribution. The presentation wasn’t as stressful as the last one because we had about two weeks to prepare for it. Everyone had more time to research their topics, work on their slides, and rehearse their presentation. I enjoyed all three presentations because they were informative, visually appealing and helped me learn about people I didn’t know much about before. I also liked the way they linked her achievements to conversations about inclusion and social justice today. One thing I really liked was that each presentation had at least one short video about the changemakers being presented. The videos helped me picture the people we were learning about and provided me with more context that made the information easier to comprehend. Rather than just reading facts off of slides, I was able to see examples of their work and get a sense of the impact they had on society.

The first group featured a handful of historical figures, including Harriet Tubman and Aaron Burr. I knew a little about Harriet Tubman before this presentation, but learned a lot more about the struggles she faced and how she impacted American history. I thought it was interesting how her actions helped change the society and help influence generations. What was particularly memorable was the slide about her contribution to the abolition of slavery and the impact she had on the struggle for equal rights, showing how perseverance on the part of one individual can make a lasting difference. I also liked how the group connected her achievements to ongoing discussions about inclusion and social justice.  

Aaron Burr was also discussed in the presentation, he is a historical figure I honestly knew very little about before this project. I found his story fascinating because there were many parts of his life that I had never learned in prior history classes. Discovering his military service, political career, and infamous rivalry with Alexander Hamilton helped me to understand why he is still such a significant figure in American history. The group explained the events of his life clearly and organized the information in an easy to follow format. The slides were well designed and visually balanced which helped to keep my attention the whole presentation. Overall, Group One did a great job of presenting historical information in an engaging and understandable

The second group focused on influential figures such as Henry Ford and James Baldwin. I enjoyed this presentation because it demonstrated how changemakers can affect society in very different ways. Henry Ford revolutionized transportation and manufacturing, and James Baldwin revolutionized the way people thought about race, identity and equality. It was a great reminder of the great impact innovation can have on daily life to hear about the work of Henry Ford. He took the opportunity during the presentation to explain how his invention of the assembly line made automobiles affordable and changed the way products were manufactured around the world. It was interesting to think about how many aspects of modern life have been affected by ideas that were introduced more than a century ago.

The part I found most interesting was the section on James Baldwin. His name was familiar to me before the presentation, but I knew little of his work. I learned that he was a writer, speaker and activist in the Civil Rights Movement. I think what really hit me was how he used his voice to talk about hard topics like racism, inequality, identity at a time when many people didn’t want to have those conversations. His willingness to speak candidly about important social issues helped inspire future generations. I think the group did a good job of explaining why he was considered a changemaker and how his influence still continues today. The slides were creative, organized, and easy to read, which made the presentation even more enjoyable.

 

My group was tasked with reporting on changemakers like Tom Szaky and Nancy Pelosi. Of all the presentations this was obviously the one I was most involved in having helped research, create slides and present the information. The thing I liked about this project was that it was really easy to work with my teammates. Everyone was sharing ideas, contributing to discussions and willing to help out when someone needed it. We had two weeks to complete the project so we were able to split up the work fairly and give everyone enough time to research their assigned person. I enjoyed doing research on the person I was assigned when writing my section and I learned a lot of information that I did not know before. One of the things I liked most about this project was learning how different people can make change in different spaces of society. Someone in my group chose Tom Szaky. I learned that his work with TerraCycle has shown how innovation can help solve environmental challenges and encourage more sustainable habits. I found it interesting to learn about recycling initiatives and how businesses can impact environmental responsibility. And it made me think more about how small changes can add up to a bigger impact over time .

I also enjoyed learning about Nancy Pelosi in my group and her effect on American politics. Her achievements were a testament to how leadership and determination can shatter glass ceilings and open doors for others. Learning about her career helped me understand the impact political leaders can have on communities and public policy. I was nervous when it was my turn to speak even though I had spent time preparing and rehearsing for the presentation. I always get a bit nervous about public speaking. Once I started presenting though, I felt more comfortable and was able to get through my section successfully. In the end I was proud to have got over my nerves and been part of the group presentation.

Looking back at all 3 presentations I really enjoyed the experience. All groups worked hard to make their slides both informative and visually appealing. I also thought the introductions created by the project managers were excellent. Before each group began presenting, they provided historical background about the time periods being discussed. Group One's introduction helped explain the social and political climate of the 1700s and 1800s, Group Two introduced important developments of the 1900s, and my group's introduction focused on events from the 2000s to the present day. These introductions helped connect the presentations together and gave me a better understanding of how each changemaker fit into their specific historical period. The presentations were well organized, easy to understand, and full of interesting information. I learned about historical figures, activists, innovators, business leaders and politicians who all contributed to society in important ways. I also learned that communication is a major key in creating change because many of these individuals used their voices or leadership skills or ideas to influence others. I learned a lot from my classmates I thought everyone did a great job overall so I enjoyed it. This project helped me gain a greater appreciation for the impact that changemakers can have on the world, and it reminded me that one person can make a meaningful difference when they are passionate about what they believe in.