Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Save our Community Choir!

I have a favour to ask our whole group about supporting Arts for Social Change work in Vancouver. Vanessa Richards (if you don't know her, check her out...incredible woman) has led a community choir for the past year, called Woodwards Communiy Singers, to make space for the DTES community and new residents to Woodwards to sing together in order to get to know each other and lessen the tensions in the neighborhood.

I attended her choir all last year, and it was one of the most memorable and empowering arts based community group I have been a part of. I promised myself that if the choir was ever in danger of being shut down, I would do what I could to see that it survived.

This summer, Vanessa lost her funding from SFU. Rather than charging the singers for attending (something that would be against the values of this inclusive choir) or searching for grant funding, we have decided to run a fundrasing campaign. (This is really interesting considering my comment in class about finding alternative funding models to grant writing!) Here is where we are at:

Our ideal goal of $12,334.80 for:

- Choir Director,
- Visiting Choir Directors,
- PHS Mental Health Support Worker,
- Coffee/snacks,
- Photo copies
- Promotional flyers.

$2750 - raised by Woodward's Community Singers - CONFIRMED
$5000 - from SFU - CONFIRMED
$7750 - Total Raised - CONFIRMED
PHS makes the rehearsal space available to us at no cost. - CONFIRMED

$4584.80 - NEEDED.

To donate, or to send the online donation site to a potential funder, here is the link:

http://www.givemeaning.com/project/woodwardssingers

I am writing you because you are all well connected in different areas of the Lower Mainland. Can you suggest some organizations that might be willing to donate some money to this kind of choir? I will write them with the request, I just need to know who to ask.

Thanks for your support from Vanessa, the choir, and I.

Happy Holidays,

Josh

Monday, December 5, 2011

Of note: WRTN/SPKN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMFrNjH1SSQ

Anna Camilleri recently shared this video and post - I though it might be of note since several people in our class mentioned working with high school students - it also raises issues about bullying and brings focus to work with LGBTQ youth...

She writes: "I recently completed a residency with the Triangle Program, and I'm writing to ask for your support with spreading the word about the project and video. WRTN/SPKN is a short video (5 min 13 sec) that features creative work that emerged from a story writing and story telling project that took place at the Triangle Program—Canada's only high school for LGBTQ youth. For several weeks, we experimented with voice and form, and the relationship between the written and spoken, and visually explored word. Throughout our creative process, students were encouraged to claim their place as storytellers and experts in their own experience. Our work together culminated in the production and presentation of individual zines.

Students gave me permission to photograph their work, and develop WRTN/SPKN, a video that anthologizes their zines. There was consensus amongst the students that the video should be distributed and available online as an educational tool. Triangle students particularly want to reach out to other youth who have been or are being bullied at school—and those who can make a big difference: school boards and trustees, school administrators, educators, and guidance counselors.

Many students said that if it weren’t for the Triangle Program, they wouldn’t be in school. Triangle students recognize education as a right for all students, and that lack of safety reduces access to education for LGBTQ students, and many other students for a variety of systemic reasons. Triangle students would like their stories and creative work to contribute to change for all youth who are struggling with safety and acceptance."
—Anna Camilleri, artist educator

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Thank you for all your wonderful presence, and words, I am sorry that I could not speak.....

here perhaps, is a response:

http://www.ted.com/talks/john_bohannon_dance_vs_powerpoint_a_modest_proposal.html#.TtaMaR78Om0.facebook

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

http://reddressproductions.blogspot.com/

Red+dress+productions is the work of community artists Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston from Toronto. I thought that you might find their blog of note: it's structure, narrative, photographs, community consultation process and legacy work - including engaging apprentices... all excellent examples of the many elements of our course work this term. There work is esteemed and I hope an inspiring offering - as we move forward from this course - and build our respective tool boxes to advance community art practices. In Solidarity, Joanne

A Great 2-day Facilitation Workshop

Rachel (and I'll come clean - she's my daughter - has worked with Semester in Dialogue students and was a great hit with our course last year - before she went off to New York. There may be a few spaces left. Highly recommended!

"Turbo" Facilitation Training with Rachel Marcuse, Nikta Fay, Sarena Talbot, Randy Galawan and Tasha Nijjar

What: An intensive weekend of facilitation training geared to a range of folks -- those completely new to facilitation work and others who have experience, but want to deepen specific skills.

When: January 7 and 8, 10am-5pm

Where
: Broadway Youth Resource Center (new location at 2780 East Broadway at Slocan)

Who: Coordinated by Rachel Marcuse (bio below) and co-facilitated by a variety of super-awesome facilitators including Nikta Fay and Sarena Talbot, this training is geared to those working in group environments (or who explicitly facilitate with youth or adults) and who want to develop skills around group dynamics, running effective meetings and more. We think these skills come in handy regardless of your particular work sitch! Together, we'll develop a tool kit for inclusive group process.

Schedj:

Day 1:
effective communication, community agreements, safety, a facilitator's tool box, group dynamics, programming workshops/discussions/meetings, etc.

Day 2:
intro to anti-oppression work and practice/troubleshooting (tailored to participant needs)

Plus, I provide lotsa handouts and templates!

How much: Sliding scale: $95-200. If this is difficult, talk to me -- It's my livelihood, but I want to make this work for low-income folks!

For more info, email rachelmarcuse@gmail.com

Rachel Marcuse is currently a Master’s candidate in Organizational Change Management at The New School in New York City. She has over ten years of facilitation experience working with a wide range of clients including Columbia University, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition, and the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. Rachel has trained hundreds of facilitators through the Dialogue Program at Simon Fraser University, McGill University's orientation program, Check Your Head, PeerNet BC, Youth Net and freelance. Previously, Rachel was the Executive Director of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE), a municipal political party in Vancouver, where she was the youngest campaign manager in Vancouver history. She has also managed and consulted for the BC New Democratic Party, The Vancouver Fringe Festival, and for several Members of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. Her work focuses on organizational development, facilitation, communications, inclusive engagement, and decision-making.

Testimonials:

"For anyone considering this training - I'd highly recommend it. I was thoroughly impressed by Rachel and her co-facilitators and I'm grateful for their insights. The skills that they teach will come in handy in just about every situation, whether you're working with others, or even just planning your own process for working on a project."
"I took a refresher course last year with Rachel and it was some of the best money I've spent on professional development."

"If you're looking for facilitation skills on everything from running a meeting to thinking strategically about how you run your business or organization, you have to take this workshop. Plus, you'll meet a lot of interesting folks and have a bit of fun while you're at it."

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Facebook Group

I made a facebook group for our class. If the link doesn't work you can search for 'Art for Social Change 2011'.
-Jacquie