As nearly everyone who reads this blog is already aware – it was one week ago today that Ali and Jamie McMutrie, along with the 54 orphans under their care, found themselves here in Pittsburgh and far from harm’s way that was the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. Some have attempted to chronicle the Herculean effort that was required to gather them all up and get them out of Haiti. So many people are responsible for making things happen, and I’ll leave it to others to identify them and tell their tales.
All I can do is talk about the social media side of the story, and highlight the individual who first told us all about BRESMA.
The first time I spoke to Jonathan Wander was via Twitter when I needed his help. Ginny (PittGirl at the time) had suggested that I speak with him because someone I knew was asking if anyone could help her get some freelance writing gigs. I contacted him asking about any suitable opportunities at Pittsburgh Magazine. I found him to be gracious and willing to take her information and distribute it if the opportunity arose.
It wasn’t too long after that when Jonathan contacted me about a story he was doing for Pittsburgh Magazine about the Pittsburgh Bloggers website. I spoke with him for over an hour and covered not only the site and the Pittsburgh blogging community, but also technology topics and even a little bit about our kids. I think it was safe to say I liked him immediately.
Over the succeeding months, we exchanged e-mails and direct messages via Twitter including a volley around the launching of That’s Church – knowing that he had met with Ginny and that he himself was a fan of her writing. Over several months, we had the chance to spend some time talking at several events and exchanged thoughts on our similar interests of technology, social media, and things made by a particular company named after a fruit. One of those events was the event benefiting Ali and Jamie’s efforts in Haiti, where I had the honor of meeting them both as well as Doug (Jamie’s husband) and Diane. I’m forever thankful to him for letting Ginny and I know about the event and inviting us to attend.
Jonathan is the kind of guy you feel like you’ve known for years, even though you only may have just met him. He immediately makes you feel at ease. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him on a few stories for Pittsburgh Magazine and one thing that struck me was how well he gets to know his subjects. And, more importantly, how he keeps up, stays involved with, and continues to care about those whom have been involved as primary sources for his article. I experienced it first-hand with my own contributions, and saw it as well with Ginny, iJustine, of course Ali and Jamie.
As important as his professional contribution was in first writing the BRESMA orphanage story in the January, 2009 issue of Pittsburgh magazine and working with Ginny to release the updates/messages related to the orphanage in conjunction with the family during the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, his most important contribution is probably one that goes unheard, untweeted, or unblogged.
It was simply being there for the McMutrie family as someone to lean on.
As much support as the family had in the local community and around the world – being in the center of a media storm can, at the same time, be tremendously isolating. I’m imagining there were countless phone calls and meetings over those six days at all hours where just talking through things with Diane, Doug, and the rest of the McMutrie family that were so supportive and no doubt appreciated. Not to mention all the efforts of serving as a information coordinator and interface buffer along with Ginny to the social media world. I know they valued his friendship and his tremendous efforts as reflected in the final released statement where they refer to him, as well as Ginny, as “trusted family friends.”
My mother used to have a term of endearment for someone who had done something great or merited affection. She would say “God Love Him / Her!”
I can think of nothing more fitting.
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