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. 

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  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   

Want to help the homeless in Chicago?

Here's some information sent to me from the Lincoln Park Community Shelter (LPCS).  Look it over and let me know what you think/ what kind of volunteer work you might be interested in!   

Their mission statement reads: 

"The Lincoln Park Community Shelter brings our community together to empower homeless men and women to make life changes."

Click here for more info on LPCS's vision and values.

Click here for info about the history of LPCS

Also, click here to see artwork and poems of LPCS guests.  From the site: "These are the creative expressions of the individuals here at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter. Guests have submitted art ranging from poetry to drawings, creative-nonfiction to photography. Guests have chosen to share this work with the larger LPCS community as a way of expressing their unique and diverse perspectives."

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HOW YOU CAN HELP AT LPCS       

Volunteering your time to work directly with people experiencing homelessness is one of the best ways to learn about homelessness and help to meet immediate needs at the same time. 

Call LPCS at (773) 549 6111 x 202 or e-mail LPCSinfo@lpcsonline.org to schedule.

 

Daily Needs

 

Nightly Meals: Purchase, prepare, and serve a nutritious dinner for 35 homeless guests.  Timeframe for this activity is 6:00-8:30pm.  Dinner Volunteers provide meals 365 days/year.  Great for groups!

Overnight Supervision: Provide supervision for the shelter and the guests (8pm-7/8am). Volunteers are not expected to stay awake all night. In a separate room they can read, finish work, or sleep. In the morning volunteers help set out the breakfast and help guests prepare for their day.  Must be at least 18 years of age. 

 

Sack Lunches: Purchase and prepare 30 bag lunches for the guests.  A sample lunch consists of: Meat & cheese sandwich, piece of fruit or cookie, juice drink box, and bag of chips.

 

Front Desk: Monday – Friday, 6-8pm, Sat/Sun11-2, 2-5 and 5-8pm – Volunteers are needed to oversee front desk duties, including answering and directing phone calls, answering the front door, signing in/out guests and visitors, and other light administrative duties.  Great way to work with staff, guests and fellow volunteers.  Must be at least 18 years of age.

 

Other Opportunities

 

Saturday Hot Lunches: Purchase, prepare and serve a nutritious hot lunch for the guests on Saturday.  Timeframe for this activity is 12:00 – 2:30pm.  Lunch is served at 1:30pm.

 

Track Activities Volunteer (TAV):  Spend one hour during the day or evening to host a TAV class, which focuses on enhancing guests’ personal and professional life skills (legal, health, computer tutors, reading and/or math tutors, financial, stress management, communication, art, hair dressers).  Share another talent – we are open to fun and new ideas!

 

One on One Volunteer: The One on One Program provides direct financial assistance up to $500 in rental assistance.  Work one-on-one with applicants on topics such as budgeting and goal setting.

 

Committee Members: Join one of five committees as a way to get involved with Shelter operations:

 

• Resource Development: Ensures the Shelter’s financial health and assists in the development of the Shelter’s strategic vision; includes budget monitoring & developing fundraising strategies.
• Marketing & Communications: Develops and implements strategies and tools to build awareness and support of LPCS through various communication channels.

 

 

 

Committees Continued:

 

• Special Events: Plans and executes the Shelter’s special event fundraisers including the quarterly happy hours, The Metamorphosis Party in the Spring, and A Taste of Fall.
• Program: Assist the LPCS Program Director in monitoring each of the Shelter’s programs (for the homeless) and will recommend and oversee changes to improve upon the programs.  Volunteers should have experience working in Social Services.
• Volunteer: Assists in recruiting and retaining volunteers by strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones with community organizations.

 

 

Supply Drives:  Contribute items to assist our shelter and its guests.  Collect much needed items such as breakfast foods, socks, shirts, and underwear.  Supply drives are an easy way to get your co-workers, family, students or friends involved!  Call ahead to coordinate your donations and for an updated list of Shelter needs, (773) 549-6111 ext. 202.

 

Clothing Items:  new socks and underwear; gently used professional clothing

 

Food:  Cereal, oatmeal, coffee, creamer, sugar, peanut butter, juice, breakfast bars, napkins

 

Toiletries: Deodorant, travel size toothpaste & brushes

 

Laundry & cleaning:  detergent, sponges, bath towels, bleach, dish soap, dishwasher soap

 

First aid: pain relievers, alcohol-free cold and cough medicine, band-aids, ice packs

 

Office supplies: copy paper, file folders, pens, and pencils

600 West Fullerton Parkway ¨ Chicago, Il 60614

www.lpcsonline.org  ¨ (773) 549-6111

  

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So, think it over and let me know what kind of volunteer work at LPCS you might be interested in!  Thanks!  -Lisa

Catching Up on Recent Events

• A lot has been going on since we last met!  We've got a new Governor of Illinois, peaceful elections have taken place in Iraq, war has broken out in the Gaza Strip, the American military continues deadly drone attacks in Pakistan, Iran's launched a satellite in space, the economy continues to take a nose dive, the RNC has appointed its first African-American chariman, and what else... oh, we also have a new administration in Washington with new agendas for the environment, the arts, the military, and much more!   Obama has already signed initiatives to make Presidential Records public property,  close Gitmo end torture-interrogations, overturning Bush's tactics in the war on terrorism (althogh he has decided Not to End Extraordinary Rendition Program), set high standards on fuel efficiency, provided $21m in relief aid to Gaza,  repealed the Mexico City Policy Gag Rule, signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, set a policy of an open and transparent government and more.  While everyone in the administration seems to be looking ahead with enthusiasm, they are also making sure that crimes of the past adminstration do not go unpunished.  (for more on the pursuit of Bush administration crimes, check out this editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle.)

Take a look at the "agenda" section on the new White House Website.  It gives a pretty frank, straight-forward overview of where Obama plans to focus his efforts in the coming weeks and months.  There is a whole variety of topics addressed including civil rights, iraq, the environment, education, as well as the new Office of Public Liason (fostering "participation" and "changing the way Americans engage with their government" ) as well as the general  "contact us" section on the webiste, where you can tell the White House what you think about their policies.

Here are a few excerptsfrom Obama's agenda that you might find interesting:

• Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama and Biden will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Recipients of the credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of community service.
• Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid: Obama and Biden will streamline the financial aid process by eliminating the current federal financial aid application and enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used, and eliminating the need for a separate application.

• Arts

  Our nation's creativity has filled the world's libraries, museums, recital halls, movie houses, and marketplaces with works of genius. The arts embody the American spirit of self-definition. As the author of two best-selling books —Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope — President Obama uniquely appreciates the role and value of creative expression.

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

  For more info and commentary about Obama's new initiatives for Arts Policies, there is some great informatoin in the most recent edition of F News Magazine (click here)

There have been a lot of great F News articles, including "Crisis of Democracy in America" and "Prop 8 Protests."

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Also,  DemocracyNow.org continues its excellent coverage concerning Obama's Continuation of Bush's Policy of Deadly Air Strikes in Pakistan, the failure of international diplomacy to combat the gruesome violence in the Gaza Strip, and much more.  Check it out!

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There's lot to keep track of, and a lot to consider.  What do you think?  

First Meeting of the Semester!

Hi Activitsts! 

 Welcome back!

This is a reminder that the Student Activists’ FIRST WEEKLY LUNCH MEETING OF THE SEMESTER will be TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY FEB 4^th  12:15-12:45.  We’ll meet in Michigan rm 1302 (right by the Student Assoc. office and the radio station.) and we’ll continue these weekly meetings all semester, provided it works with most peoples’ schedules.  It’ll be a quick meeting just to touch base and discuss plans for the semester, and it would be awesome if you could make it!  

 

See you there!

-Lisa Nonken

 

Student Leader, Student Activists Group

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