This week’s Connect Live Attendee of the Week is Megan Coburn ( @Kwiksatik ), a Level 10 Local Guide inBozeman, Montana. Megan is passionate about sharing information on Google Maps about women-led businesses, safe spaces, and accessibility.
She was nominated for Connect Live Attendee of the Week by fellow-attendee Lynne Campo ( @lynneannec ). “I first learned about Megan through her charmingBozeman coloring book project. I thought, ‘This is exactly what Local Guides is all about! Helping your town through creative ways!’ Then as I learned more about this sweet, humble, single mom, I saw all she has accomplished!” Lynne told us. “She is an advocate for the disabled and women. She was my partner on International Women’s Day, when I joined her virtual meetup. She comes up with innovative ideas on the Idea Exchange, writes informative inspiring posts on Connect, but most of all, is an active Level 10 Local Guide who strives for excellence.”
This year’s event in San Jose will be Megan’s second Connect Live experience. During last year’s event, Megan discovered some new ways she could make an impact through her Local Guides contributions.
“When I applied, it was because of my love for the product,” Megan wrote in a post on LinkedIn after Connect Live 2018. “What I never could have anticipated is that I would be so deeply impacted by the altruistic passion that drives the community of Local Guides or that it would alter my view of the world for the better.”
Megan started contributing on Google Maps by adding what she calls “shelfies,” photos that show the inventories at stores. “In my hometown, the drive to a store in a blizzard for a required item can be hazardous, and knowing which stores carried diapers, medications, and specific foods was an invaluable resource for me (and hopefully others),” she wrote.
Megan attended a session at Connect Live 2018 called “Design a Richer Lists Experience” where she was able to learn more about creating useful, relevant, and shareable lists on Google Maps. Since then, Megan has created several lists, including #WomanLed Bozeman which features female-owned businesses in her community. She also spearheaded an initiative on Connect encouraging Local Guides to create Google Maps lists of safe spaces using #SafeSpaces in the title.
“We need to help each other. Every tiny bit of help counts,” Megan told us. “Before attending the session, I knew lists existed, but I hadn’t considered how many ways they could be used. They are a live-update way to share causes and purposes with the people who follow them, and a way to group locations as part of a set that otherwise might be missed. Now I see lists as a versatile tool. They take minutes to make, but have long-reaching, passive benefits.”
After the event, she also deepened her interest in accessibility on Google Maps. Inspired by the Local Guides she met, Megan began contributing to a content series on Connect called “Accessibility Uncovered” where she focuses on informing others about the ins and outs of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
As a Level 10 Local Guide with over 150,000 points, Megan has written more than 1,000 reviews, added more than 16,000 photos, checked more than 14,000 facts, and edited more than 1,000 places. So, why keep going?
“I keep seeing the good it does. I see people in my community benefiting. I see businesses growing,” Megan said. “Google Maps has replaced the Yellow Pages. Maps delivers immediate, sustainable and long-lasting benefits to my community. It’s how I scratch my altruistic itch.”
Want to learn more about past Connect Live Attendees of the Week?
- July 19, 2019: @lynneannec. Read about Lynne here.
- July 26, 2019: @CaroGuiniazu. Read about Caro here.
- August 2, 2019: @ermest. Read about Ermes here.
- August 9, 2019: @OmerAli . Read about Omer here.
