From the Nominator

Yale Alumni LIVE is a social media series developed and led by the Yale Regional Clubs team, that utilizes the “live” feature on Instagram and Facebook to tell the stories of Yale alumni across the world. Yale Alumni LIVE has capitalized on the increased use of social media platforms during stay-at-home orders to reach our audiences without the need to log in or RSVP. 

Engaging alumni from all decades and schools across the university to tell their stories, guests give insight into their personal and professional lives, and even sometimes perform or provide guided tours of their life's work. Episodes of Yale Alumni LIVE supplement and complement the academic and educational content that our shared interest groups, clubs, and faculty speakers provide, giving Yalies a chance to connect at the most basic human level without piped responses or PowerPoint slides. The environment that Yale Alumni LIVE creates is meant to replicate what it felt like to have an in-person conversation around the dinner table at a club event. Modeled after the exceptional storytelling of “Humans of New York,” Yale Alumni LIVE provides a live opportunity for alumni to meet and share—a modern twist on “show and tell.” Guests give us an opportunity to virtually travel to their home or place of business. This very personal storytelling aspect of Yale Alumni LIVE has helped to strengthen a sense of community and pride within the Yale family and beyond.

From the Judges

Yale Alumni LIVE started as a response to the pandemic and has continued as a response to the demand. A mark of success! The project includes collaboration with volunteers and campus partners, and engages alumni in multiple colleges and graduation years. Other institutions could replicate this effort.