Foo Conner

{{Infobox person

| name =

| image = Foo Conner.jpg

| caption = Foo at Randyland in February 2019

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|8}}

| birth_name = Andrew Conner

| birth_place = Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.

| education =

| years_active = 2001–present

| occupation = {{hlist|Activist|Entrepreneur|Journalist|Humanitarian|YouTuber}}

| known_for = Occupy Wall Street, Randyland

| title = {{Unbulleted list|CEO of Jekko|Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Carnegie Mellon University|Co-host of G3AR}}

| movement = Occupy

| mother =

| father = Glenn Conner

| relatives =

| website = {{URL|https://foo.press}}

| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality|embed=yes

| channel_handle = GreekGadgetGuru

| genre = {{Flatlist|

}}

| subscribers = 615 thousand

| views = 63 million

| stats_update = October 13, 2022

| silver_year = 2014

| silver_button = yes

}}

Foo Conner (born September 8, 1985) is an American activist, entrepreneur, and journalist. He is known for his work on Occupy Wall Street, Randyland, Social journalism, and as a YouTube personality.{{cite news | url= https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/brian-oneill/2017/10/05/Old-journalist-meets-new-journalist-Ain-t-that-tweet/stories/201710050048 | title= Old journalist meets new journalist. Ain't that tweet? | last= O'Neill | first= Brian | date= October 5, 2017 | newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | access-date= February 25, 2019|quote=Conner squats in an otherwise abandoned North Side house and bikes to about 600 events a year, shooting photos and writing for his website, Jekko}}

Personal life

Foo Conner was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He grew up on a small subsistence farm right outside of the city in Mink Shoals, West Virginia. His father was a photojournalist for United Press International and taught Foo the craft at an early age.

Although he has been called Foo since childhood, Conner officially changed his name to Foo in 2018.{{cite AV media | last= Cullen | first= Lynn | date = August 15, 2018 | title = Lynn Cullen Live with Foo Conner | type = Radio broadcast | url = https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/lynn-cullen-live-8-15-18/Content?oid=10017896 | publisher = Pittsburgh City Paper | time =00:49 | access-date = February 25, 2019}} Foo squats an otherwise abandoned house to advocate for housing rights. Touring bands often play there.{{Cite episode | title = Hughshows w/ Morgan Erina | episode-link= | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvmADhUiP4Y | access-date = February 14, 2019 | series = Hughshows | series-link = | first = Hugh | last = Twyman | network = | station = PCTV 21 | date = 6 April 2016 | season =1 | number =2 | time =19:30 | quote = | language = English}} In February 2016, babies born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania were gifted prints of Foo's artwork.{{cite web |url=https://www.wearegreenbay.com/local-5-live/local-5-live-features/start-with-art/513086414 |title=Start with Art |last1=Malak |first1=Lisa |last2=Allen |first2=Shaina |date=Jul 21, 2016 |work=WFRV |access-date=March 20, 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Conner is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Carnegie Mellon University since 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.alleghenycounty.us/county-executive/proclamations/2022/04-01-22_april-foo-s-day.aspx|title=April Foo's Day Proclamation|date=1 April 2022|website=Allegheny County|access-date=13 October 2022| quote=He has collected and preserved local culture;}}

Career

Conner got his start producing free punk rock festivals at Skatopia.{{cite web |url=https://archive.triblive.com/aande/museums/silver-eyes-photo-exhibits-tell-strong-stories/ |title=Silver Eye's Photo Exhibits Tell Strong Stories |author=Trib Staff |date=January 17, 2015 |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |access-date=March 20, 2019 |quote=Foo Conner, former event organizer for Skatopia...}} The anti-authoritarian atmosphere of his events caught the attention of Rolling Stone.{{cite magazine | url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/welcome-to-skatopia-eighty-eight-acres-of-anarchy-in-the-usa-223163/ | title= Welcome to Skatopia: Eighty-Eight Acres of Anarchy in the USA | last= Binelli | first= Mark | date= August 1, 2008 | newspaper= Rolling Stone | access-date= February 25, 2019}} Upon hearing the call to protest, he became a core organizer for Occupy Wall Street movement speaking out against Economic inequality.{{cite book | last= Gerbaudo | first= Paolo | date= October 11, 2012 | title= Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism | jstor=j.ctt183pdzs.8 | publisher= Pluto Press | page= 129 | chapter= Chapter 4: The Laborious Adding Up to the 99% | isbn= 978-0745332482| quote= Foo Conner, one of the core organizers, managed to leave before police encircled the camp. After meeting up with others at the office space, Conner helped direct the dispersing crowd to a common re-gathering area.}}

On the weekends he co-hosts the G3AR YouTube channel, where they build super hero gadgets and test them similar to the Mythbusters. The channel has amassed over 600,000 subscribers.{{cite news | url= https://www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/the-tao-of-foo-how-this-northside-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-build-community/ | title= The Tao of Foo: How this Northside entrepreneur Uses Tech to Build Community | last= Green | first= Ashlee | date= February 1, 2019 | newspaper= The Northside Chronicle | volume= 35 | issue= 2 | access-date= February 25, 2019 | archive-date= February 28, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190228024558/http://www.thenorthsidechronicle.com/the-tao-of-foo-how-this-northside-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-build-community/ | url-status= dead }}

In 2015, Conner became the co-director of Randyland, an outsider art museum promoting happiness.{{cite news | url= https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/06/29/Randyland-Randy-Gilson-changing-art-space-with-a-familiar-face-north-side/stories/201806290131 | title= Randyland, an ever-changing art space with a familiar face | last= Bonk | first= Carley | date= June 29, 2018 | newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | access-date= February 25, 2019}}{{cite news | url= https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/after-randylands-namesake-loses-partner-friends-chip-in-with-crowdfunding/ | title= After Randyland's Namesake Loses Partner, Friends Chip in with Crowdfunding | last= Hanz | first= Joyce | date= January 28, 2019 | work= Tribune Review | access-date= February 26, 2019}} Leaning on his skills as a photographer, he overhauled Randyland into a Selfie Museum. His curation was wildly applauded. The New York Times described it as, "an expression of joy and an extraordinary piece of public art."{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/travel/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-rust-belt-arts-culture-budget-travel.html|title=Built on Steel, Pittsburgh Now Thrives on Culture|last=Peterson|first=Lucas|date=12 April 2017|website=The New York Times|access-date=13 October 2022|quote=expression of joy and an extraordinary piece of public art.}} Conner left the museum in February 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2019/06/18/Randyland-Mayor-Peduto-Public-Art-Award-North-Side-randy-gilson/stories/201906180115|title=Randyland 'therapy museum' honored with Mayor's Public Art Award|last=Eberson|first=Sharon Eberson|date=18 June 2019|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=13 October 2022|quote=Mr. Conner, the co-director of Randyland for the past four years, received the award}}

=Occupy Wall Street=

In 2011, Foo helped plan the Occupy movement online.{{cite news | url= https://www.thedp.com/article/2012/07/occupy-movement-holds-national-gathering-in-philadelphia | title= Occupy Movement Holds National Gathering in Philadelphia | last= Clozel | first= Lalita | date= July 4, 2012 | newspaper= The Daily Pennsylvanian | access-date= February 25, 2019 | quote= "Foo Conner, who helped plan the initial Occupy Wall Street movement on the internet."}} He would move to Zucotti Park in the fall. Though a leaderless movement, Conner would be recognized as a core organizer {{cite news | url= https://www.bild.de/geld/wirtschaft/occupy-wall-street/occupy-wall-street-foo-conner-kopf-der-bewegung-im-interview-20520412.bild.html | title= Wall-Street-Rebell bläst zum Banken-Sturm | last= Bauernebel | first= Herbert | date= October 19, 2011 | newspaper= Bild | language= German | access-date= February 25, 2019 | quote="One of the leaders of the Occupy movement, the media consultant Foo Conner"}} and speak on behalf of the movement.{{cite news |author= |title=Occupy Wall Street Protesters Return To Zuccotti Park After Thousands-Strong Times Square Turnout |url= https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/15/energized-occupy-wall-street-protesters-plan-march-party-in-times-square/ |agency= Associated Press | location= New York, NY |date= October 15, 2011 |access-date= February 14, 2019}} During his time at Occupy, Conner played rolls in the social media strategy and coordinate street protests. Towards the end, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges told Conner, "a real activist would get into the news". Conner would use his experiences and that advice to go on to found Jekko, a news website covering current events and technology news.

=Journalism=

Foo is a prolific journalist covering upwards of five hundred events a year through social media.{{cite news | url= http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/next-up/next-foo-conner/ | title= NEXT Up: Foo Conner | last= Baron | first= Jennifer | date= September 14, 2014 | newspaper= NEXT Pittsburgh | access-date= February 25, 2019}} Conner's society photography is reminiscent of late American photographer Bill Cunningham who took candid photos and traveled to events by bicycle.{{cite web | url= https://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast/252-foo-conner-new-media-pioneer-of-pittsburgh | title= Foo Conner, New Media Pioneer of Pittsburgh | last= Watson | first= Aaron | date= October 9, 2017 | newspaper= Going Deep with Aaron Watson | access-date= February 26, 2019 | archive-date= February 26, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190226234131/https://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast/252-foo-conner-new-media-pioneer-of-pittsburgh | url-status= dead }} The uniqueness of the style has led other society columns to occasionally mention if Conner attends an event.{{cite web |url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/citys-plan-for-strip-flummoxes-vendors/ |title=City's Plan for Strip Flummoxes Vendors |author=Trib Staff |date=September 20, 2014 |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |access-date=March 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://pittsburghquarterly.com/between-the-issues/item/1428-mattress-factory-celebrates-40th-anniversary.html |title=Mattress Factory Celebrates 40th Anniversary |author= PQ Staff |date=June 18, 2017 |work=Pittsburgh Quarterly |access-date=March 20, 2019}} In 2016, he was nominated for Blogger of the Year at Style Week Pittsburgh.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.post-gazette.com/living/stylebook/47235-style-week-pittsburgh-heads-downtown-for-annual-style-awards |title=Style Week Pittsburgh heads Downtown for annual Style Awards |last=Bauknecht |first=Sara |date=August 20, 2016 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=March 20, 2019 |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825110437/http://blogs.post-gazette.com/living/stylebook/47235-style-week-pittsburgh-heads-downtown-for-annual-style-awards |url-status=dead }} He is known for his gonzo journalism "activistartist-journalist" style.{{cite magazine | url= https://passportmagazine.com/the-art-and-soul-of-pittsburgh/2/ | title= The Art and Soul of Pittsburgh | last= Heilman | first= Jeff | date= August 7, 2018 | magazine= Passport | access-date= February 25, 2019 | quote= Conner, an activistartist-journalist with punk-vagabond spirit}} His work aims for a neutral point of view. This applies to his technology commentary too, which he has been doing for over a decade.{{cite news | url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/fashion/16ipad.html | title= Coming to Grips With Lugging an iPad | last= 8. Lee | first= Jennifer | date= December 15, 2010 | newspaper= The New York Times | access-date= February 25, 2019}}{{cite web | url= https://arkenea.com/blog/virtual-reality-expert-roundup/ | title= 16 Experts Predict the Future of Virtual Reality | last= Shah | first= Nidhi | date= May 14, 2016 | work= Arkenea | access-date= February 26, 2019}}{{cite web | url= https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2019/01/28/Apple-Android-software-developer-programmers-coders-pittsburgh-smartphones-google-pixel/stories/201901110005 | title= Apple or Android? For Software Developers, it's Usually Both at Work, One at Heart. | last= Linder | first= Courtney | date= January 28, 2019 | newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| access-date= February 26, 2019}}