Local Guides gather in San Jose to kick off Connect Live 2019

[KatieMcBroom]

Caption: A photo of two Local Guides standing with the Google logo sign, holding #localguidesconnect signs, in front of a globe.

Earlier this afternoon, 200 passionate Local Guides gathered together with the Google Local Guides team to officially kick off Connect Live 2019 at our welcome reception in San Jose, CA. The energy was infectious as friends who connected online joined to share experiences in real life.

With attendees hailing from over 60 different regions and countries, cultural attire was encouraged during the welcome reception. We hosted a “world market,” where Local Guides received the opportunity to share mementos, gifts, treats, and other items from their home country with their new friends from around the globe.

Caption: A photo of a shelf at the “world market” featuring treats from Costa Rica.

It was truly a showcase of togetherness and connectivity. Mara Chomsky, Global Lead of the Local Guides program, echoed this sentiment in her welcome speech to the group. 

“We feel like Local Guides and this community, you guys, are our family,” she said. “We really want to capture that on our family tree.” Attendees were then invited to take a photograph of themselves to stick on a beautifully designed tree mural to visually commemorate this momentous occasion and champion our tight-knit community.

Caption: A close-up shot of the family tree mural with images of various Local Guides hanging from the branches.

Guests also received the opportunity to send postcards home to their families, shop the Google pop-up shop, eat and drink, and above all, connect with each other. The welcome reception closed out with a bang as each attendee received a Google Pixel 3 XL, offering everyone a chance to capture the magic along the way. 

It was the perfect way to kick off an event full of inspiration, community, and connection. Over the next three days, this group will participate in 14 different informational panels and talks, along with 15 different breakout sessions and workshops to learn even more about contributing to the Local Guides program. Stay tuned to see more here on Connect throughout the week, and be sure to follow #localguidesconnect on your favorite social media channels for a closer look at Connect Live 2019.