On Tuesday, HUD hosted for the first time ever, a Twitter Town Hall to launch the Strong Communities, Strong Cities (SC2) Fellowship program.  The Obama Administration launched the SC2 initiative last summer as a pilot initiative to establish interagency collaboration and spark economic growth.  The fellowship program will be a fundamental element of this initiative.  Up to 30 early to mid-career professionals will be selected and deployed to one of the six U.S. cities selected, with the goal of helping to increase economic impacts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To launch this program, HUD opened its twitterverse doors to the public to tweet their questions using the hashtag #AskSOHUD, responses and ideas; or simply to tune in and watch the SC2 discussion hosted by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and PD&R Deputy Secretary Erika Poethig.

The town hall via twitter included a video streamed live from HUD’s own cyber café.  If you did not have the opportunity to tune in yesterday, please check out the video on HUD’s Youtube channel.  You can also visit www.huduser.org to find out more information about the SC2 fellowship program.

HUD always searches for new technologies to disseminate useful information to our audience in innovative and creative ways.  Social media, in particular, serves as a unique platform for creating a comfortable environment for people to ask their questions and receive immediate responses.

Overall, the Twitter Town Hall was a success – measured not by HUD standards – but on how well it was received, how many questions were answered and the level of participation from our followers.  We look forward to HUD’s next twitter town hall and future technological endeavors.