Recycling Meeting this Thursday 10 am

This THURSDAY morning, join Tricia and I as we meet with Michelle Maynard and Bert Schlingmann from the Facilities Management office to discuss recycling at SAIC:  changes that are being implemented, suggestions for further improvements, etc.   

10 am Sharp Building room 1001

Here’s part of the email from Michelle:   “It will be a great opportunity for Bert and I to tell you about the new campus co-mingle recycling we're rolling out (bins with green stickers) and some of the work we're trying to initiate with the Residence Halls to reduce their waste during the Summer Move -Outs.  We would also like to get some recycling program FAQs posted on the school's website, perhaps
you can brainstorm with me regarding what the community would be interested in knowing about the program, etc.”

 Hope you can join us to add your voice to our discussion!

Homelessness and Hunger Outreach

This SUNDAY afternoon, from  3:30-6:30, join me to volunteer as a Guest Chef at the Laboure House, just north of the loop (3938 N. Leavitt St Chicago, IL 60618). 

Laboure House is an intergenerational assisted living residence for impoverished seniors run by the Saint Vincent De Paul Center, and is affiliated with the Chicago Cares Network.

If you would like to join me for the activity, please call/ shoot me an email and/or contact project coordinator Stephanie Keeney: 219 629 4659, stephanie.keeney1@gmail.com.  

Sign up on the Chicago Cares network at chicagocares.org to learn more about this and other local volunteer opportunities.  

 

Some of you expressed interest in coordinating a donations drive to go to the Lincoln Park Community Shelter or other local homeless shelters, but I can’t do this alone!  This would be a great project, but it would require your participation for publicity, manning tables, etc.  Let me know if you’d be interested in helping to set up tables in SAIC lobbies to ask for monetary donations to purchase food for LPCS.  Additionally, we could coordinate a drive asking for donations of food or supplies.  I have sent emails to the managers of local supermarkets asking if they would be interested in donating food for LPCS, but have yet to receive a response.  Let me know if you could help me to get in touch with these or other grocery store managers.  

 

Also, would our group be interested in becoming a CORE team with the Chicago Coalition for Homelessness?  This could be a great opportunity for us to do some meaningful long-term outreach work.  I’ll be meeting with leaders from their organization in two weeks, and would love for you to join me.   Shoot me an email if you’d like to be a part of our meetings, since we are currently in the process of securing a meeting time.

News on our Save Darfur projects

Check out the Youth Darfur Rally's new website: http://www.youthunitedfordarfur.org/

This Sunday at 9 pm join the Youth Darfur Rally conference call, to participate in planning for the event.  Conference Call Number: (712) 432-1100 Access Code: 224081#   Let me know if you want to meet up here at SAIC Sunday night to call in together via speakerphone.  

 This Friday March 27^th you’re invited to join former Lost Boys of Sudan and other members of Chicago’s Sudanese refugee community to watch the film “God Grew Tired of Us” followed by a discussion.  

7 PM - Friday, February 27^th
Meiley-Swallow Hall - North Central College campus

(Accessible via bus/train.  Allow about an hour from downtown.)
31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville, IL  Building #14 on this campus map:  http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/x8880.xml
RSVP to: Karly Kupferberg / Karly@SudaneseCommunityCenter.org   / 847-636-9177

 

In our efforts to foster friendships between Sudanese families and local supporters, the Sudanese Cultural Center has also organized a party where both communities will come together to watch Sudanese native Luol Deng and his Chicago Bulls play the Golden State Warriors at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, March 4^th.  Please join us and make some new friends. Here are the details:

Watch the Chicago Bulls vs. the Golden State Warriors with Illinois Sudanese Community
7:30 PM - Wednesday, March 4^th
Rolland Center Boilerhouse Café - North Central College campus
29 N. Loomis St., Naperville, IL
(Accessible via bus/train.  Allow about an hour from downtown.)

Building #9 on this campus map:  http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/x8880.xml
RSVP to: Karly Kupferberg / Karly@SudaneseCommunityCenter.org / 847-636-9177

 

On Friday March 6^th Columbia College will screen “Darfur Now” and hold a panel discussion to follow, in preparation for the Youth Darfur Rally.  I’ll get you the exact time/ location as soon as I know.  

Want to put your DESIGN skills to good use?  Create a poster/flyer for the Youth Darfur Rally (taking place April 19^th in Fed Plaza)!  You can see current flyer designs (with the relevant info of time/ location, etc.) in the “photos” section of the Youth Darfur Rally Student Reps Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=49268190167&view=all

Please email me your designs!

 What would you like us to do here at SAIC in preparation for the April 19^th Youth Darfur Rally?  The rally is in part intended to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Darfur, and in part to raise money to provide educational resources to Sudanese refugees here in Chicago and in the camps in Chad. (Our group’s fundraising page will be online shortly.)

 -We could host Film Screenings (The Devil Came on Horseback, Darfur Now, etc.) at SAIC and invite speakers from the Sudanese Community Center.  What do you think would be the best time of the week?  An evening Mon-Thurs?  A Friday evening?  I’ve been in touch with the Sudanese Community Center, and they would welcome our group’s collaboration in their work, and in organizing educational programs for the SAIC community if we are interested.  What do you think?

 -We could design informational posters to educate the SAIC community about the crisis in Darfur.  Let me know if you’re interested in designing an informational poster, or just send me your designs!

 -We could set up informational tables in SAIC lobbies, handing our informational flyers, asking for donations, selling “Save Darfur T-Shirts” etc.     (Do you think it would be a good idea to sell Save Darfur T-Shirts here at SAIC?  Let me know and I can put in an order.)

There's lots we can do to make SAIC an active participant in Chicago's Save Darfur efforts,  but it requires YOUR active participation to make this happen! 

Google Earth + VolunteerMatch.org = Awesome way to find volunteer opportunities nationwide!

New VolunteerMatch Google Earth Demo

Source: www.youtube.com

Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch, demonstrates how easy it is to use our new Google Earth plug-in to get the big picture about what is going on in your community so you can find a great place to volunteer.

    Amazing program allows you to find local volunteer opportunities!   

Sign up for "Chicago Cares!"

This is a fantastic online database of current volunteer projects in the Chicago area.  

Sign up as a member today, and look over the MANY volunteer projects currently going on around Chicago.  You're welcome to sign up as a solo volunteer, but this is also a great opportunity for our group to connect with other volunteers around Chicago.  

Check out their website, and let me know what you think! 

http://www.chicagocares.org

Graphic Artist/ Illustrator Volunteer for Chicago's Homless!

Stand Up for Kids is seeking dedicated and talented volunteers to help us tell the story about homeless and street kids on the web! Please visit our site and see what we've done already: http//www.standupforkids.org. We have many ideas and concepts we wish to implement on our site, and we always need new volunteers that can be original in their work on-line! Volunteer and collaborate directly with the Founder and CEO of StandUp For Kids, Rick Koca. CLICK HERE for more info.

Development Volunteer needed for Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is looking for a work-study student, intern or volunteer to assist with data entry, donor acknowledgement and special event prize solicitation. You will be working in the

development department. The time commitment is flexible, but work must take place during regular business hours (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mon. to Fri.). We prefer volunteers able to work long-term--for
at least several months--but welcome all interested volunteers. College students are welcome! Database experience is preferred but not required; you must be detail-oriented. Please email a resume or brief description of yourself to Mimi Chubb at mchubb@chicagohomeless.org.

Competition for Visionary Thinkers

 Re:Vision is a revolutionary competition to create the prototype for an innovative, sustainable urban community.
Learn more at http://www.urbanrevision.com/competition.php

Apply for intn'l art symposium on sustainability!!

International artistic symposium/exhibition on global sustainability

In a Planet of Our Own
A vision of sustainability from across six continents

15-22 March 2009 
AEC World Expo 2009, Bombay Exhibition Centre, NSE Complex, Mumbai, India
IIT, Mumbai, India and other venues.

This international event is aimed at creating awareness on sustainability and simultaneously offers a platform for interaction for professionals and activists from various fields and the general public. The events are centered around the interests of students, educationists and practicing professional designers, engaged in any manner with a broad vision of sustainability and aims to address the need to reach a wider audience and create greater awareness. The event has been designed to be lively, interactive and thought provoking and will provide great opportunity to interact with stalwarts in the field of sustainable development and related practices, connect with thought leaders and listen to visions by
outstanding speakers.

The event comprises many exhibition opportunities and provides a wide platform for sustainability-related work done by individuals and institutions over the years. We are organizing public installations along with film/video screenings for the same. The films will be used for screenings within the exhibition and as part of a larger compilation to be exhibited in public spaces across Mumbai. We expect to exhibit work that deals with a wide variety of themes within a broad ambit of sustainability, especially culturally specific endeavours, and will appreciate work that is visually stimulating and engaging in its depiction.

If you have relevant work in this area, we would like to include it after a preliminary viewing. There is no restriction and the work could span any visual representation from prints to photographs, film/video/animation or work in any other digital media.

PLEASE FORWARD US YOUR WORK AS A CD/DVD IN ANY VIEWABLE FORMAT KEEPING IN MIND THE FACT THAT IT MUST BE SUITABLE FOR PROJECTION/PUBLICATION, HENCE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD QUALITY PRINT (AVI/MPEG/DVD FOR VIDEO AND IMAGES IN 300 DPI JPEG OR TIFF).

For film/video submission, please include -

- 5(or more) high-resolution images from your film
- Brief write-up of less than 150 words about your work/ideas 
- Short biography and photograph of yourself

This information will be used for inclusion in the exhibition and related publicity material with your permission.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR WORK BEFORE 28TH FEBRUARY 2009.

You could send us your work at the following address:

Exhibition - In a Planet of Our Own
c/o Vaibhav Singh
Industrial Design Centre (IDC)
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Powai, Mumbai 400076

For an overview of the event please visit http://www.inaplanetofourown.net

For all queries please email us at sustainability.iit@gmail.com

Call for Proposals: Catalyst Arts, Belfast, N. Ireland

Exciting progressive art project in N. Ireland!!!

Call for Proposals Summer 2009 - Catalyst Arts, Belfast

Deadline : 20 March 2009

Catalyst Arts are looking for proposals for its Summer 2009 Project: Capitalyst Arts.
Capitalyst Arts will consist of an exhibition, a series of interventions, discussions, and works in the public realm. We're interested in practices which explore the idea of value, exchange and map alternative modes of commerce, and we aim to get work out of the gallery into the city, exhibiting site specific work and utilising vacant retail properties.
For complete information visit http://www.catalystarts.org.uk/index.php?page=call-for-submissions

Election Underway for Chicago's 5th Congressional Dist.

Are you registered to vote in Chicago's 5th Congressional district? This includes Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Schiller Park, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Melrose Park and Northlake.

If so, don't pass up the opportunity to participate in the important current election to select a new Congressional Representative to replace Rahm Emmanuel, who left to become Obama's Chief-of-Staff. 

CLICK HERE for an editorial by Don Rose about this election.  

Early voting is already underway, and the official election day is March 3rd.  

Among the candidates is labor lawyer Tom Geoghegan, who's received endorsement from Democracy for America & the Nation among many others.   He was an early opponent of  the war in Iraq, and advocates for cutting the military budget, single-payer health care, increases in Social Security payments, no more blank check bailouts, an end to foreclosures and abusive bank card interest rates, etc. etc.   You can check out his website for a detailed list of positions (www.tom09.com).

Final Vet Art Project Events! Show Mon Feb 23 and Final Workshops Tues Feb 24

 

All month long the Vet Art Project has hosted Community Building Workshops,

Community Discussions, and Creative Arts Programs. These events have inspired a

wealth of new art to be featured in a culminating Public Performance to be held:

Monday, February 23, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. 

Reserve your tickets NOW!!!!

For tickets to this performance contact the DCA Theater Box Office by calling (312) 742-8497, or go to www.dcatheater.org. 

To learn more about the Vet Art Project, please visit www.vetartproject.com .

You can also check out their blog, http://vetartproject.blogspot.com/

=====================================================

The following day, Tues February 24th, the Vet Art Project, in association with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs Theater,  will also host TWO MORE at the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph Street) :

9:30 a.m.-12 p.m  Tuesday, February 24, 2009    Workshop exploring the art and science of soul retrieval.    This Final Vet Art Workshop Explores A Powerful Alternative Healing Art, hosted by alternative healing artists Mary Kay Ryan and Lindsley Field.  They have more than fifty years

of combined experience in their field, and together they will discuss both the process of

assisted soul retrieval and the different ways soul retrieval is practiced in other cultures.

This workshop is free of charge.  (This event will take place in the Washington Room, on the 5th floor. It is recommended that attendees use the Washington Street entrance.)

6 to 10 p.m Tuesday, February 24, 2009  Presentation by Dr. John Fisher of the Soldier’s Heart Foundation. The presentation will explore how trauma affects veterans and how our communities can help. Dr. Fisher is a Vietnam Veteran and coordinator for the Colorado/Southwest Soldier’s Heart Foundation. Soldier’s Heart (www.soldiersheart.net) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating nationwide safe-return programs for veterans. Dr.

Fisher’s presentation is open to the public and free of charge.  This event will be held at the Studio Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center.

===============================================

The Chicago-based Vet Art Project creates opportunities for veterans to work in

collaboration with artists from all disciplines to create new art about war for public

performance and viewing. The program aims to support veterans, create stronger voices

among veterans, provide new opportunities for artists, offer a venue to hear the voices of

veterans and artists, and foster discussions about how war affects everyone. The Vet Art

Project, spearheaded by lead artist Lisa Rosenthal, has been in residence at the DCA’s

Studio Theater throughout February 2009 as part of its Incubator Series.

The Vet Art Project is made possible, in part, by the Puffin Foundation, the Illinois

Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General

Assembly, and is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas.  

Our new FACEBOOK page!

Make sure to join the SAIC Student Activists' new FACEBOOK page! 

The page is set up to let everyone upload links, photos, comments, etc! 

Join the member list today!

Exhibition Opportunity!!

"Bearing Witness: Art as Social Action..."

...How and why do artists act as social witnesses?  This juried exhibition seeks artwork made in response to witness--artwork that expresses social issues that may be inspired by personal, interpersonal or societal events.  Beyond containing the experiences and providing a vehicle for investigation, these pieces shine light on events, making them available to others.   

Juried by Barbara Fish, artist, art therapist, and psychologist who is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Graduate Art Therapy Program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Dr. Fish's work focuses on response art and the artist's ability to use images to contain, explore, or express what they have witnessed. Her own images lead the way in her investigation of the concept of harm's touch, which she defines as how we are affected by what we witness. She presents this work nationally, and is in the process of writing about it for publication. 

Click here for more info and a detailed Bearing Witness prospectus 

Deadline for submissions:  March 1, 2009;   Exhibition Dates:  May 27-June 20, 2009. 

Send Petition to Obama!

From Amnesty International:

Take action. Send an email to US President Barack Obama and ask him to demonstrate a commitment to human rights in his first 100 days in office.

CLICK HERE to sign!

Vet Art Project in the News!

Click here for a great article on the ongoing Vet Art Project, featuring Matt Ping, a new student at SAIC and recent Army vet.

Chicago Recycling (or lack thereof!)

Click here for a great NPR article/radio spot about the current status of recycling in Chicago!

"Chicago's Recycling Bin Overfloweth" Produced by Gabriel Spitzer

"For many environmentalists, there’s a big flaw in Chicago’s green image: a lackluster recycling program. The city ditched its controversial blue-bag recycling system last spring. But phasing in the new blue cart program is taking years. So for most Chicagoans, there’s only one option for city-sponsored recycling: a network of drop-off centers. Some recyclers say those centers are a half-hearted solution—symbolic of a city that’s been behind on recycling for years...."

More info on Darfur

Here's a message from one of the leaders of the Youth Darfur Rally: Three sites for you all to check out if you haven't done so already... Sudanese Community Center: www.sudanesecommunitycenter.org Sister Schools: www.darfurdreamteam.org Here's the official FB Sister Schools link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=57769477188&ref=mf i-ACT (Stop Genocide Now): www.stopgenocidenow.org This is Katie-Jay and Gabriel who will be going to the camps and documenting with video coverage and you can see the type of footage that they have done their previous 5 or 6 trips to the camps in eastern Chad

Global Activism in Chicago + on the Radio!!

CLICK HERE for a line-up of  "Global Activism" programs aired on WorldView (an excellent Chicago Public Radio program), which highlight Chicago-based activist organizations!

From the website:

In this ongoing collection of interviews, we showcase individuals with Chicago-area ties who are working to improve the world through grassroots efforts. We've profiled activists fighting at the local level in the global battle against HIV, campaigning for sustainable water use in Nepal and combating illiteracy in Brazil. Tune in on Thursdays to hear stories from the series.

91.5 WBEZ

Also, CLICK HERE for a list of some of the many organizations they involved in the 2008 Global Activism Expo!!

Filmanthropy Scholarship Competition

Change the World Through Film!

Activist Short Film Competition!!

  Create a short film that tells the untold story of an American foundation 
and one of its good works in this country. 

- - -
  Your film should show:

By whom the foundation was founded and why.

How the foundation's good work is permanently improving the lives of individuals, 
communities, or worthy causes in  America.

How the foundation's good work is inspiring its beneficiaries to pay it forward ...
to help others the way they themselves were helped. 

- - -
Your film can be comedic or dramatic, scripted or documentary-style, 
live-action or animated. You're limited only by your imagination!

THE REWARDS

Twelve $10,000 Scholarships

Forty $500 Honorable Mentions

Winning films will premiere on a premium Web TV mega-portal!

CLICK HERE for more info

Sign Petition asking Obama to create Secretary of Culture!

CLICK HERE to sign Quincy Jones's petition asking President Obama to create a new position in his Cabinet: the Secretary of Culture.  Click here to read Rolling Stones' article about it.

More info on Youth Darfur Rally in April

CLICK HERE   to learn more about the Chicago-based  coalition of university and high-school students involved in the Youth United for Darfur Rally taking place in Feb Plaza April 19th.     CLICK HERE for info on the Chicago Coalition to Save Darfur and Chicago's Sudanese Community Center which they opened less than a year ago.

Tell You Senators To Support The Arts!!

Got a minute?  CLICK HERE and go to the American Arts Aliance's website to automatically send a letter to your Senators telling them to

Vote NO on the Coburn "Limitation on Funds Amendment No. 175"

from the website:

Urge your Senator to vote NO to Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) amendment prohibiting any funds in the economic stimulus bill from going to theaters and arts centers.  By raising your voice, you will be joining thousands of other advocates in the arts and non-profit communities calling for Congress to support the arts and our economic recovery.

• The arts community throughout the United States has been heavily impacted by funding reductions due to stock market declines and cut-backs in state and local support because of revenue shortfalls.  Consequently, countless jobs and services are at risk and non-profit arts organizations in communities nationwide are in need of immediate assistance.
• The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has existing mechanisms that can allocate funding quickly to these non-profit organizations to retain jobs.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009 designates $50 million to the NEA to provide direct grants along with block grants to state arts councils to fund grant projects and activities vital to communities nationwide. 
• 
  
• You can also CLICK HERE to send your senators a letter urging them to SUPPORT the inclusion of $50 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009.
•  

Bill Ayers lecture Mon Feb 9!

Save the Date!

The Right to Think:  

Expanding Imaginative Space

A lecture by educator and social activist BILL AYERS

Monday, February 9
6:00 p.m.
SAIC Auditorium
280 South Columbus Drive 

What's happening to intellectual space and what does the moment offer us as a way to resist? What's damaging the academy (including our own dogma) and how can we push back?

Sponsored by the Dean's Office, Art Education and Multicultural Affairs. 

For more information contact the Dean's Office at: 
312-899-1291 or at anepokroeff1@saic.edu.

This event is only open to the SAIC community. 
A valid SAIC ID is required for admission.

Image created by Ryan Alexander-Tanner

SaveDarfur Rally April 19th Fed Plaza

I've been in contact with Ethan Barhydt, a Chicago high school student, who is organizing a Darfur Rally for students that will take place on April 19th at Federal Plaza in Downtown Chicago.  I'll be talking with him tomorrow to find out more about how the Student Activists might be involved with this rally and preparations for it.  In the meantime, Click Here to find out more about the violent crisis in Darfur from the organization ENOUGH: the project to end genocide and crimes against humanity.  and CLICK HERE to find out more about what other activists with the Save Darfur Coalition are doing to address this humanitarian catastrophe.

This is from Ethan:

"Currently, about 14 high schools, 3 colleges, and some youth groups are involved in planning the rally. In addition, organizations like the Save Darfur Coalition, STAND, the Enough Project, and Amnesty International are involved in the organizing (I am working with people like John Prendergast, who wrote Not On Our Watch, and Rich Stasinski, who is the National Outreach Coordinator of the SDC). The goals are to 1.) unite students around Chicago, 2.) spread awareness about the genocide in Darfur through media attention, and 3.) raise over $10,000 for schools in Chad and Southern Sudan. 

It would be great to have even more students and schools involved, as it will increase our voice and make our statement against genocide more powerful. Do you and your group have any interest in getting involved?"

Let me know what you think:  studentactivists@saic.edu

The Vet Art Project

Art and Outreach 

to Veterans and the Chicago Community! 

This is a great project for artists who are interested in issues about the war, veterans, community engagement. Plus you get to engage with the Chicago Art Scene AND exhibit your work at the posh Chicago Cultural Center! Sound intriguing? Read on:

The Vet Art Project creates opportunities for veterans to work in collaboration with artists from all disciplines to create new art about war for public performance and viewing.

Matt Ping, new SAIC student and recent Veteran is very active in the project, and they're looking for more artists to participate!

For more info about the project  go to www.vetartproject.com or Click Here for their blog.

The Big Upcoming Showcase Event for The Vet Art Project will be:

 Monday, February 23, 7:30 pm
 Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater 
78 E. Washington St.
 FREE admission

Let me know if you're interested in participating, or shoot me an email for more information:   studentactivists@saic.edu