Creating Community with ChambanaMoms

Live Webinar
Mon, Apr 5, 2021
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join Laura Weisskopf Bleill and learn about how the community resource and popular blog ChambanaMoms was founded and how they pivoted to reach their community during the pandemic.

As less people are using social media and as the pandemic has closed many in-person avenues, how do you reach your online community? How do you get more people interested in what you are creating or services you are producing?

The popular hyperlocal online magazine, ChambanaMoms.com, is the definitive resource and guide for families living in and around Champaign-Urbana. While it started in 2009 as a news source for families, it quickly grew into an online community that is used by a diverse group of people. Learn how ChambanaMoms evolved to its current status, how they pivoted their content and adapted to the pandemic, and how they're exploring new ways to connect with and grow their online audience.

About the Presenter: Laura Weisskopf Bleill is a mom, entrepreneur and community volunteer, and co-founded chambanamoms.com in November  2009. She manages the community building portfolio of the Research Park at Illinois and develops the strategy behind Research Park’s events and programming; communications, branding and marketing efforts; and directs the Research Park’s efforts to grow and retain its workforce. She also works with the entrepreneurial ecosystem across campus and has been part of the National Science Foundation I-Corps at Illinois team. She is the co-PI and co-founder of the AWARE entrepreneurship inclusion effort funded by NSF, which now has been replicated at other universities. Laura has been on the Research Park team since 2010, having served in a variety of capacities. Formerly a sportswriter, she has a master’s and bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

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