Twitter is bringing people together in unexpected ways and building the Albuquerque community in the process.
Chroma Studios and Best Buddies New Mexico have come together to present Albuquerque's first charity Tweet Up on Thursday June 11 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Twitter is unique among social networking sites because the format is a 140-character text-only message known as a "tweet." At the Tweet Up, users of the online social networking tool will gather and socialize IRL, or "in real life."
Ashley Drake-Gephart is the event organizer and President of the Best Buddies New Mexico Advisory Board.
Drake-Gephart said the first time she came across Twitter, she was using it to stay in contact with colleagues.
"I couldn't make heads or tails of it," she said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
She came back around to Twitter last December and now relies on it for everything - from getting involved in the community (it's how she found Best Buddies New Mexico) to how the weather looks across town.
Drake-Gephart said attendees - who don't have to be on Twitter to participate - can peruse the gallery's diverse collection of local artwork, enjoy live classical guitar music by Aaron Lewis, snack on appetizers and sip champagne donated by Gruet Winery.
Kevin Cronk, the state director, said Best Buddies is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with mental disabilities, and pairs 50 intellectually disabled buddies with classmates in Albuquerque's middle and high schools.
The charity Tweet Up is Best Buddies New Mexico's first fundraiser. Cronk said he is excited to use funds raised from the event to found more chapters of the group.
The suggested donation is $15, and all proceeds from a silent auction and 10 percent of all gallery art sales that evening go to Best Buddies New Mexico.
Paula Manning-Lewis, artist and owner of Chroma Studios, said the gallery boasts an acoustic performance space as well as several rooms of paintings, sculpture, and mixed media art by local artists.
At the event there will be a silent auction of donated goods, including over $500 of Iphone and Mac OS X software donated by developer Andrew Stone. There will also be artwork donated by Manning-Lewis, and a book package donated by Bookworks and gift cards donated by sandwich shop Which 'Wich, Drake-Gephart said in an e-mail.
Manning-Lewis said she got involved with the charity Tweet Up by chance. Her original gallery shares an office with Best Buddies New Mexico, and with the enthusiasm and constant tweeting of Drake-Gephart, the event came together perfectly.
Cronk said his organization has a waiting list with eight New Mexico schools who want to build a chapter for Best Buddies. The Tweet Up event will raise money to start these other chapters.
Buddies take classes together, head to Hinkle Family Fun Center for games and miniature golf and develop lasting friendships, he said.
Cronk said the charity Tweet Up is a great way to harness the energy of Twitter and apply it for social good.
Ana Bain-Allen, a Best Buddy who just graduated from high school, she said is excited to attend the charity Tweet Up. Bain-Allen said her passion is art, and she's considering going to college to continue her studies.
Bain-Allen said she may have the opportunity to sign up to be one of Best Buddies New Mexico's first members in the organization's newest chapter, which starts at UNM this fall.
"This is a great program for people with disabilities and people without disabilities getting together and having a great time, treating each other with respect," Bain-Allen said.
Donations to the silent auction are welcome and tax deductible. Contact kevincronk@bestbuddies.org.
Do you Tweet? Check out the hashtag #NMTweetUp to stay in the loop.
Don't Tweet? Check out NM Tweet Ups on Facebook to get started locally.
"Tweet Up"
Thursday
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Chroma Studios
600 1st Street NW
Suggested Donation $15
