Raleigh NC| Witches, Wizards, and Dumbledore’s Army

Harry Potter Mania Enters The Triangle, PR Savvy Fan Group Brings A Message

By Kathleen Mongero

After living through 7 Harry Potter books and the 5 subsequent film   adaptations thus far, the Triangle is more than familiar with release propaganda in the form of late night costume parties at Barnes & Noble, Harry Potter look-a-like contests and the infamous midnight movie screenings where teens have the opportunity to dress as their favorite wizard as they sit in a dark theatre for 3 hours of the ever-blossoming Daniel Radcliffe and friends.

But do not be so quick as to dismiss these fans as a frivolous kiddy-cult with the wave of your homemade, bedazzled cardboard wand.  A group known as the Triangle Chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance, a nonprofit organization that according to their Web site is “dedicated to bringing the themes of Potter into the real world,” has been using outlets such as social and news media to carry out their What Would Dumbledore Do Campaign.  The premise of the campaign is to unite Potter fans from all over the country in spreading inspirational messages from the book, which in turn, speaks to the organization’s mission to mobilize younger generations around social justice issues and promote change.

Using Twitter and Facebook contests as part of their promotion strategy, on the eve of the midnight showing of Harry Potter 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, members of the alliance showed up at local movie theaters such as the Regal Crossroads 20 in Cary sporting nametags in homage to Hogwarts headmaster and wizard extraordinaire Albus Dumbledore, each of which spelling out what they learned from his character throughout the series.

While the organization was founded by an adult, what is perhaps most impressive is how it has resonated with younger generations on both the local and global scale.  Not only are Triangle kids learning how to utilize social media in a mature and responsible way, but they are acquiring valuable networking skills on a level greater than telling everyone what they had for lunch via Facebook.  I think Dumbledore would approve, how about you?