Job Discussion Forums

[kennyloo]

Is anyone interested in receiving some disposable cameras to distribute to some of your students, allowing them to take pictures, and then sending me back the cameras (I can pay for postage)???

I have just received $10,000 from the Donald A Strauss Scholarship Foundation, to implement my own public-service project. Basically, I want to distribute cameras around the world to local youth, and have them capture the essence of their experiences through the lens of a camera. Have those cameras sent back to me, and use those images to create an international photo gallery that will travel to local schools around Orange County, California. My project seeks to humanize the vast global experience while empowering American youth to think critically about today�s international issues.

If you are at all interested in playing a crucial role in this project, please e-mail me at [email protected], and I can send you more details about my project! Thank you so much!

[guangho]

[saint57]

Donald A Strauss would be rolling in his grave if he knew his money would be used for this.

[gheid]

I just checked the Donald Strauss website for this foundation --- I can't find one project that is even remotely related to this proposed idea.

[khmerhit]

so?

[gheid]

[khmerhit]

yes, you're probably right to be sceptical of a chap called loo.....!

[Super Frank]

I found this on his website, quite similar don't you think?

I think its a great idea. Similar projects have been run in the favelas of South America and have produced some amazing images.

I might be interested in helping, if I can pull my finger out.


DONALD A. STRAUSS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

SAMPLE PROPOSAL #20

Lives through Invisible Eyes:
Portrayals of Southern California *beep* Youth

Description
A mixed media exhibit�photography and written word�depicting positive imagery of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in Southern California.

Need
In 1992 Massachusetts lead the country in advocacy for LGBT youth by establishing a Governor�s Commission to investigate the problems gay youth face and ways to alleviate those problems. What this and other research around the country have found is startling.

LGBT youth:
* Are at a greatly increased risk for verbal and physical assaults;
* Comprise up to 30% of all youth suicide;
* Are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide;
* Are more likely to suffer from depression;
* Represent up to 42% of the street youth in large cities (such as Los Angeles);
* Use marijuana three times more, use cocaine and crack eight times more, and abuse alcohol at far greater rates then their straight youth counter parts;
* Have a higher incidence of teenage pregnancy.

The lack of LGBT role models and positive images of LGBT youth, along with the isolation that comes from keeping there lives a secret (being �in the closet,�) help produce many of the psychological problems these youth are facing. Furthermore, myths about LGBT persons contribute to the homophobia that allows LGBT youth to be dehumanized and therefore easily targeted for verbal and physical violence. Research and anecdotal evidence, including such infamous anti-gay attacks as the Mathew Shepard slaying, have consistently shown that the perpetrators of these attacks do not believe gays and lesbians are �like them.� This exhibit could change some of these attitudes.
The Governors commission set forth recommendations for the schools in Massachusetts that would increase awareness, safety, and a sense of self worth in LGBT youth. Two of these recommendations were to provide information in school libraries for LGBT adolescents�including periodic �highly visible� displays about gay and lesbians�and to disseminate resource information for gay and lesbian youth services. The goals of Invisible Lives reflect these ideas.


Goals
1. Help create visibility, both in the general community and in the gay community, for one of the most at-risk, yet often over looked, youth populations in this country.

2. Allow LGBT youth to feel a sense that they are making change, becoming empowered, and gaining self worth.

3. Open up dialogue in communities and dispel myths about LGBT youth and help distribute resource materials beneficial to LGBT youth and those wishing to help this at-risk population.

4. Create a tribute to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth that have lost their lives due to the intolerance and hatred that stems from homophobia.


Design
Participants:
In order to fulfil the two main goals of Invisible Lives, namely visibility and empowerment of LGBT youth, the exhibit would be restricted to LGBT youth under the age of twenty-one, both as photographers and primary subjects. Since the exhibit would be public, all participants would also have to be comfortable (�out of the closet�) with the possibility of their first name and image being used for public relations. Any participant under the age of 18 (subject or photographer) would need to obtain signed permission from a legal guardian to participate in the exhibit.


Photos:
Each photographer would submit one or more 8 x 10, or 11 x 14, black and white prints incorporating the general theme of the exhibit�positive LGBT youth identity�and one or more of the other subsequent themes outlined below. They would also need to submit the photo�s negative for further reproduction and creating promotional materials as needed.


Other themes:
1. 2. Friendship
3. Family
4. Romance
5. School
6. Politics
7. Misc.


Text:
Up to two paragraphs of text will accompany each picture, explaining the photo and how it relates to the theme of the exhibit. Either the photographer or the subject may write the text.


Dedication:
Memorial tributes to Mathew Shepard, Bobby Griffith, Teena Brandon, Jamie Nabozny and other youth that have not survived the struggle against homophobia will be included to emphasis why visibility is so important.


Exhibition:
Invisible Lives will be displayed in libraries, galleries, town and city halls, schools, music and art festivals and anywhere else that it is welcome. Marketing material in the form of brochures and posters describing the purpose of the exhibit and containing photos from the exhibit would be used to help in securing venues for the exhibit. The exhibit would be accompanied by: a testimonial book, to allow people to write comments about the exhibit; resources about gay youth events, groups, and services; and a questionnaire to gauge the benefit of the exhibit in each area. In addition, attempts would be made to create a very racially and geographically diverse exhibit so each showing could be tailored to allow the best possible representation for the youth to identify with in that area. The target number of photos (50) would allow more then one exhibition to occur simultaneously.


Evidence
Invisible Lives is modeled after a similar exhibit the Mariposa Coalition, a gay youth advocacy group, created in 1998. The 17 photos that comprise this small exhibit, entitled I Got All My Friends With Me, travels to various community locations in the Contra Costa County in Northern California. The purpose of Friends is similar to Invisible Lives; it is designed to help gay youth in the area become more visible, thereby eliminating the stereotypes generally associated with homosexuality. Because of its warm reception by the community, The Mariposa Coalition felt that this unique presentation of gay youth identity needed to continue in the county. Instead of ending the exhibit in June of 1998, as had been previously decided, the group wished to continue displaying Friends at as many venues as possible, and to meet the further areas of outlying locations.

Friends has thrived and continues to attain its goals. Cities in the area have hosted the exhibit and brought visibility to the gay youth in their own areas, both through the exhibit itself and media coverage of the exhibit. Many youth have found resources they previously didn't know existed by visiting the exhibit and picking up information about youth services that are directed at them.
In addition, Friends has allowed youth and adults to interact with various groups, such as P-FLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network) whose contributions to Invisible Lives would also be sought out. As I intend Invisible Lives to become a permanent fixture in Southern California, as Friends has in Northern California, one of these groups may be able to take the exhibit over in the event I move away from Southern California after finishing at UCLA.
After seeing the benefit of Friends in Contra Costa County, I believe I can use my knowledge of the formation and operation of that exhibit as a catalyst to bring this new and distinct exhibit to Southern California.

Approximate Timeline
July: Contact local LGBT organizations, the call for submissions begins. Ideally all submissions will be accepted.

September: A second call for submission is placed with school clubs and organizations that do not meet during the summer.

October: Promotional materials are created.

November: Initial contacts are made with schools, galleries, libraries, city art commissions and other venue sites.

January: Of available photos, those that fit the scope of the exhibit will be framed and promotional materials will be sent out to possible venues. Bookings will begin for the end of May onward.

April: Gala opening for the youth and their work. Notables including politicians, civil leaders, and local LGBT artist will be invited to make the evening as memorable as possible for the youth involved with the project.

Approx. Budget

[Khrystene]

So is it a scam or not? Coz if it's real, I'd love to do it. I know that this has been done in Africa, but I'd love to do it here in PL.

K

[Bayden]

Can't see how it could be a scam. He sends you the disposable camera, you give it to your kids for a day and send it back. If you're out anything it would only be the return postage. You don't develop the film, just send it back inside the camera. Don't see how the OP could benifit financially unless some of your students turn out to be brilliant photographers.

[ls650]

Personally I think it sounds like an interesting idea.