The White House Director of Digital Strategy will deliver a keynote address at VidCon Baltimore

When VidCon makes its East Coast debut in Baltimore, its first keynote speaker will come from just down the road. Christian Tom, an official Assistant to the President and the Director of the White House Office of Digital Strategy, will share some opening remarks to kick off VidCon Baltimore.

Tom will use his keynote to share details about his office’s creator partnerships and influencer-focused campaigns. The Biden administration has used digital platforms to appeal to young voters since the 2020 campaign. After moving into the White House, President Biden continued to court TikTok stars — even as he mulled a federal ban on that same app.

“Our efforts to reach all Americans online are rooted in meeting people where they are. This increasingly means not only by creating White House content from White House channels, but also working with a wide range of creators, on topics that matter to them and their audiences,” Tom said in a statement. “It’s hard to think of a better way to engage with the creator community than VidCon, and we are thrilled to be attending this year’s VidCon Baltimore.”

Tom’s keynote will kick off a politically charged edition of VidCon that will take place just a few miles from the nation’s capital. One of the main programming themes at the convention will be “Politics & The Internet,” with attendees learning strategies they can use to spread their message online. Another brand with ties to the D.C. area — Arlington-based PBS — will activate at VidCon Baltimore by bringing its Nature series to life.

VidCon announced its Baltimore expansion exactly one year before the event’s planned start date. The creator excursion to Charm City begins on September 28 and runs until October 1. The list of featured creators includes a few Maryland locals, such as Rich Black Guy and CircleToonsHD. Meanwhile, a bulked-up industry track will offer insights from creator economy power players.

Tickets for VidCon’s Baltimore debut are still available. A full list of featured creators can be found on the convention’s official website.