Guwahati: The world is already in reeling from fear and shock amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To spread some hope in these tumultuous times, Mark Laitflang Stone, founder of Group Avenues, has hosting been ‘Saturday Night’ live on Instagram for quite some time now.
As part of the live talk show, the Shillong-based impact coach will celebrate the spirit and music of legendary musician Bob Dylan at 9 pm on Saturday (May 23).
“Today, we have some unique guests in our live show, as we celebrate the spirit and music of the legendary poet-singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, whose life is now an edifice of popular culture, the day before his birthday. I’ve always wanted to do something special for the man on the 24th of May,” said Stone.
Episode 8 on May 23 will feature artistes like Lou Majaw, Hammarsing Kharhmar, Sarahlee Nicholas, Gino Arnold Thangkhiew, Jeffrey Z Laloo, Grace Maureen, David Baker, Lalchhan Bawitlung, Droopad Bujarbaruah, and sisters Anees Ailynti Noronha and Denees Noronha. The live will be aired at 9 pm on Stone’s Instagram handle @markstoneinspires.
Stone runs Group Avenues, Northeast India’s pioneering indigenous personal-excellence coaching and training organisation. Based in Shillong, Group Avenues has touched the lives of over 90,000 people through programmes that nurture personal growth, career preparedness, professional development, skills for life and leadership capacities for a wide audience.
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Meanwhile, Stone said social media platforms can be used both for positive and nefarious purposes. “Facebook and Instagram are in constant use by the youths, especially during the lockdown,” said Stone, adding: “In the already strained emotional and mental wellbeing of the youths, why not use these same platforms to provide a ray of hope to all,” he said.
Stone has been hosting his ‘Saturday Night’ live on Instagram for eight continuous weeks now. In the show, he brings inspirational and motivational figures, including women entrepreneurs, counselors, life coaches and singers, to talk on various issues every weekend. Stone holds engaging and interactive discussions to remind people what normalcy actually feels like. Through these lives, Stone and his team want to connect the youths with inspiring stories, life experiences, and opportunities for growth and personal development while checking on their emotional and mental well-being in a time of great change and uncertainty.
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Commenting on his choice of social media for the live shows, Stone said: “Instagram has always been a source of superficiality, beauty, and monetary concepts but we wanted to showcase that it too can be a source of meaningful and positive content.”
But the problem remains that the ones who can provide such meaningful and positive content often belong to the senior group of people and do not use Instagram. Stone aims to bridge this gap. He also wants to create role models who are not superficial and can inspire youths via meaningful content.
“Hilariously, the only challenge that we faced while formulating the music live was to get most of them to open an Instagram account,” he said. Other than that, all the artistes came forward on their own accord.
“Also, once we do a live on Instagram, it remains there for eternity on IGTV for anyone from the four corners of the world to experience,” he added.
