Author: Ingrid Hu Dahl

The T Tauri Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for the 3rd annual 2007 festival, set for July 16-28 in Batesville, Arkansas. The competition is limited to junior and senior high school students. Entries are accepted in seven categories: Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Music Video, Public Service Announcement, Animation, Experimental. Entries must have been produced since April 2005.
The T Tauri Film Festival is judged by peer youth juries from the Lyon College APPLE Upward Bound project. Winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony and Screening on Saturday, July 28. Winners in each category receive the T Tauri trophy, an original ceramic piece designed by David and Becki Dahlstedt of Mountain View Pottery. All entrants receive jury comments.
There is no entry fee. Entries may be submitted in DVD, VHS, or other common format. All entries must be received by April 1, 2007. Tapes and DVDs will be returned only if a self-addressed, return envelope with return postage is included with your submission. Tapes and DVDs of movies that are shown at the festival will be kept by the T Tauri Film Festival for archival purposes and for possible inclusion in a “Best of T Tauri” touring program or DVD.
Mail entries to T Tauri Film Festival, 195 Peel Road, Locust Grove, AR 72550. For more information call 870-251-1189, visit www.ttauri.org, or email ttauri@hughes.net.
The T Tauri Film Festival is a division of Ozark Foothills FilmFest, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation. The term “t tauri” is used in astronomy to refer to a new star.

If you know of a Turkish young person vested in video making around the ages of 12-20 who might be interested in bein part of theoneminutesjr workshop in Istanbul from April 5-9, please have them contact us. We are looking for young people who are interested in video making and would like to join us in the beautiful city of Istanbul, to meet new people, learn more about filming and editing, and would like to make a one minute video on the topic ‘Identity’.
This video could focus on questions such as: What does it mean to be Turkish? What are the traditions and values? Do you feel at home in the country you live in? Do people have stereotypes of Turkish people? What is it like to live in a country which has other cultural values? Would you like to return to Turkey?
In our program, youth will work with professional video artists and TRT (Turkish Television), which will broadcast the video on national television.
The deadline for applications is March 10th. Travel and accomodation costs will paid by the European Cultural Foundation.
Please fill in the application form at:
http://www.theoneminutesjr.org/mmmcms/images/uploaded/files/workshop_application_istanbul.doc
Then mail it to raya@theoneminutesjr.org

The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook:
Due to overwhelming demand for effective Hip-Hop education resources for the twenty-first century school, the Hip-Hop Association, a national organization dedicated to facilitating, fostering, and preserving Hip-Hop culture, announces the release of the much-anticipated book, the Hip-Hop Education Guidebook: Volume One (Lulu.com; February 20, 2007; $20.00).
Michael Cirelli, author of Hip-Hop Poetry & the Classics, Executive Director of Urban Word NYC, says “The Hip-Hop Association represents a crucial movement in the evolution of hip-hop culture–one that values media and education. This guidebook is a testament to their dedication to providing high-quality, relevant and dynamic educational resources for the next generation of hip-hop leaders”
With public schools in the United States in a state of crises, there is a growing need for innovation in the classroom. The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook: Volume One is a groundbreaking book conceived as part of the Hip-Hop Association’s Education Initiative (H2Ed). This smartly arranged guidebook is sure to engage teachers and students alike!
Educators from all over the United States and Canada contributed creative, rigorous, user-friendly lessons that cover a range of subject areas including math, science, geography, civics and language arts and have been used successfully in both formal and informal academic settings. Scholars such as New York University Professor, David Kirkland, author of the forward for the Hip-Hop Education Guidebook explains, “you can learn just as much about language and literature from reading Tupac as you can from Shakespeare. The themes and conflicts present in Shakespeare are all present in hip hop.”
The National Assessment of Educational Progress reveals that Black and Latina/o students continue to lag behind their White counterparts in reading and math standardized test scores (Education Commission of the States, 2005). As this achievement gap persists, the Hip-Hop Education Guidebook provides the context for gathering answers. The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook addresses the tenants of a critical Hip-Hop pedagogy, framing the issues of concern and strength within Hip-Hop culture by providing in-depth analysis from parents, teachers and scholars. And, most importantly, the Hip-Hop Education Guidebook offers an array of innovative, interdisciplinary standards-referenced lessons written by teachers for teachers.
“Finally, a book that deftly (and def-ly) chronicles the history, development and practice of Hip-Hop-In-Education, and more importantly- Hip-Hop AS education. If education is not one of the first ten elements of Hip-Hop, then nobody in Hip-Hop is keepin’ it real except teachers.” Danny Hoch, Writer, Actor, Founder of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival.
“Teachers have no other choice but to learn how to use Hip Hop in the classroom. It’s the language of the children. They have to respect the culture of Hip-Hop.” Talib Kweli, Hip-Hop artist
Available exclusively on-line now at www.lulu.com/hiphop_education
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR ARTWORK PLEASE CONTACT:
Marcella Runell, Director of Education | Hip-Hop Association
marcella@hiphopassociation.org | www.h2ed.net

Continue reading Hip-Hop resource (new launch)

Art For Change invites students from immigrant backgrounds to participate in a storytelling workshop offered as part of the “Sed: A Trail of Thirst” Exhibit at Carlitos Cafe and Galeria.
Workshop Description: “Dangerous Storytelling”
Erasmo Guerra, winner of the Lambda Literary Award for his first novel, “Between Dances,” will lead this storytelling workshop for high-school to college age students interested in developing stories about growing up in the legal borderlands of U.S. immigration policy. These stories
will be developed as works of creative nonfiction or fiction. The workshop will be conducted in English for a diverse group of students while emphasizing Chicano/Latino narrative techniques. Students will have the opportunity to incorporate video and photography into their storytelling performances.
Workshop Schedule:
The workshop begins on March 3rd and meets for five Saturday
afternoons through March 31st for a final performance at Carlito¹s
Café on April 4th at 7pm and at the first-ever NYU Latino Studies
“Flor Y Canto” on April 13th. Outside writing time is expected.
Workshop Location:
41 East 11th Street (btw University Place and Broadway) on the 7th
Floor, Rm. 709.
Latino Studies Program, Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, NYU
Carlitos Cafe is located at 1701 Lexington Avenue (between 106th
and 107th Streets).

Continue reading Storytelling: Art for Change

Videotivoli in Finland will showcase 500 films made by under 16-year-old children from all over the world this month.
In addition, Videotivoli will arrange a two-day seminar for anyone interested in social issues and media education (including teachers and people working with children and young people) entitled, “Listen to Me: The young people got something to say.”
The seminar will examine social issues and the influence of the media from the point of view of children and young people. Through making films, young people can handle sensitive issues in their lives, and have their voice heard. The seminar will tie in key aspects on the co-existence between Finns and immigrants, as well as life in developing countries.
MORE INFO: http://www.videotivoli.fi

Voices for Education, a local education fund, is a coalition of parents, educators and community members working together to improve parent engagement in schools, increase funding for schools statewide and reduce class size.
This new report examines the alarming dropout situation in Arizona schools, the harm to the student, Arizona, and the economy, and outlines solution strategies for parents, schools and state policymakers.
Arizona is at a crossroads. Either the state dedicates substantial attention to addressing this mounting problem or it will face even higher dropout rates, greater costs for social services, more demand for remedial education and job training, and further reductions in state revenues.
While there are many specific reasons why youth might drop out of high school, one overarching factor has become abundantly clear: Most students drop out because they become disengaged from school. The process of disengagement may start years before the actual dropout takes place.
Research helps us to understand just how important it is to engage students — especially in the early grades — and help them stay connected to school, learning, and educational achievement. The report recommends various policies and programs that will begin to help reduce the dropout rate in Arizona. But, mostly, this report serves as a wake-up call to the people of Arizona: The state is in the middle of a crisis — and action is needed now.
Youth media professionals might consider creating youth media programs in Arizona to bring attention to the urgent drop out rates and partner with Voices for Education.
http://www.voicesforeducation.org/dropoutx.pdf

Continue reading Making Connections: Facing the Dropout Crisis in Arizona

The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO), a racial-justice organization based in Oakland, CA is a grassroots organizing training institute, dedicated to creating a generation of organizers of color. For well over 20 years, CTWO has trained young people, who have moved on to play crucial roles in community and labor organizing and the greater social justice movement. Recognizing that the social ills today must be discussed within the contexts of race, CTWO are dedicated to incorporating the racial justice lens and helping communities help themselves in the face of racism and institutionalized oppression.
CTWO has just announced the dates for its upcoming programs. The announcement below includes our two major programs: Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP) 2007 and Community Action Trainings (CAT). This year MAAP, our premier internship/organizer training program for people of color, will run from June 18-August 10, 2007.
This is a great opportunity for young people of color who are committed to social justice. I strongly encourage you to tell your students about this summer opportunity as it is a life changing experience for many. For those interested, information about the application process is posted in the “programs” section of CTWO under “MAAP.” Feel free to circulate and spread the word about CTWO trainings.
www.ctwo.org

Continue reading Opportunities at the Center for Third World Organizing

Mikva Challenge’s Youth Media Team recently created a YouTube tape on the issues that they would most like to see addressed by public officials. Students from different Chicago high schools spoke on pressing issues including school funding, sexual harassment, and school violence. The video is called “Wake Up Candidates!” and can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp05fDooTeU
Chicago Public Radio profiled the Youth Media Team’s effort to make their voices heard. To listen, go to:
http://audio.wbez.org/848/2007/02/848_20070220f.m3u
Sun -Times reporter Mark Brown spent a day with 13 young people participating in voter education and early voting as a part of Mikva’s New Voter Initiative. To read his story, go to:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/264499,CST-NWS-brown20.article

Continue reading Mikva Challenge’s Youth Media Team

In celebration of Black History Month, February 2007, PBS will broadcast a lineup of new and encore presentations honoring and exploring African-American history. These programs document and examine the rich heritage and cultural contributions of African Americans.
Some examples are: NOVA “Forgotten Genius,” INDEPENDENT LENS, “Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life,” “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” SISTERS OF SELMA: BEARING WITNESS FOR CHANGE, THE STORY OF OSCAR BROWN JR., DEFORD BAILEY: A LEGEND LOST, AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “Eyes on the Prize.”
Teacher guides are available to coincide with the films. Go to www.pbs.org for more information for guides and an updated listing of films.
About PBS
PBS is a media enterprise that serves 354 public noncommercial television stations and reaches almost 90 million people each week through on-air and online content. PBS is a leading provider of educational materials for K-12 teachers, and offers a broad array of other educational services. PBS’ premier kids’ TV programming and Web site, PBS KIDS Online.
Social Activism is not a hobby: it’s a Lifestyle lasting a Lifetime
http://blackeducator.blogspot.com

The American Anthropological Association has debuted a web site and a
traveling exhibit for college and university museums entitled, “Race: Are We So Different?”
The project, which has been in development for more than five years, offers a history of race relations in the United States, examines human differences, and gives insights into race relations in this country.
The three main themes of the exhibit and web site are:
* The concept of race has changed over time and is shaped by the most
powerful force in society;
* Race is a cultural phenomenon rather than a biological one; and
* Race and racism remain embedded in our culture.
To access the new American Anthropological Association’s Web site on race go to: www.understandingrace.org/home.html