Storyology 2012: Life Dream

Budding immigrant filmmakers debuted their 3-minute masterpieces to a standing room only crowd at International House Charlotte on Friday, March 16, 2012.

Storyology 2012; My American Dream

Budding immigrant filmmakers debuted their 3-minute masterpieces to a standing room only crowd at International House Charlotte on Friday, March 16, 2012. A story of treacherous journeys across the sea and prison escapes mingled with personal stories of a marriage broken by abuse, a student’s journey from a refugee camp to a Charlotte school, and an account of how a family got its start in the United States. Each story was different, but each painted a picture of the external and internal struggles faced by immigrants in North Carolina today.

The second Storyology: Digital Storytelling by Immigrants and Refugees class brought together six immigrants and refugees from Eritrea, Mexico, Bhutan, Colombia and Ecuador for three weekends of participatory workshops on storytelling, audio and video editing and community building. A seventh student, unfortunately, had to drop out of the class after being hospitalized with pneumonia. The class utilized interactive storytelling techniques, laptop computers, photographs, oral histories, digital cameras and music, sharing skills with the new documentarians that last a lifetime.

Storyology is unique in that it empowers immigrants to tell their own stories in their own words. As one student expressed, “I got an opportunity to share my own story and my own feelings. I got more experience by sharing my story, how I live in my country, how I deal with my hindrances. And I like to collaborate with my friends, and [get to] know their story too, my international friends, Mexican friends, African friends. I learned their stories , their own feelings, their experiences…I really appreciate this class; I am really joyful… I love this class!” Another student reported that “I did learn how to make a video, but most important, I learned about other cultures and people. My expectations were exceeded!”

Volunteer Martin Doherty expressed that the class gave him “a profound opportunity to recognize my values as an American and move forward the quality of every human life… I’m honored to be helping other people tell their stories so more respect and more care is given to human beings around the world.”

The class was sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and International House Charlotte, with funding provided by the Charlotte Arts & Science Council. You can view videos produced in the class atwww.youtube.com/afscnc.

Storyology 2012: Using My Heart

Budding immigrant filmmakers debuted their 3-minute masterpieces to a standing room only crowd at International House Charlotte on Friday, March 16, 2012. A story of treacherous journeys across the sea and prison escapes mingled with personal stories of a marriage broken by abuse, a student’s journey from a refugee camp to a Charlotte school, and an account of how a family got its start in the United States. Each story was different, but each painted a picture of the external and internal struggles faced by immigrants in North Carolina today.

The second Storyology: Digital Storytelling by Immigrants and Refugees class brought together six immigrants and refugees from Eritrea, Mexico, Bhutan, Colombia and Ecuador for three weekends of participatory workshops on storytelling, audio and video editing and community building. A seventh student, unfortunately, had to drop out of the class after being hospitalized with pneumonia. The class utilized interactive storytelling techniques, laptop computers, photographs, oral histories, digital cameras and music, sharing skills with the new documentarians that last a lifetime.

Storyology is unique in that it empowers immigrants to tell their own stories in their own words. As one student expressed, “I got an opportunity to share my own story and my own feelings. I got more experience by sharing my story, how I live in my country, how I deal with my hindrances. And I like to collaborate with my friends, and [get to] know their story too, my international friends, Mexican friends, African friends. I learned their stories , their own feelings, their experiences…I really appreciate this class; I am really joyful… I love this class!” Another student reported that “I did learn how to make a video, but most important, I learned about other cultures and people. My expectations were exceeded!”

Volunteer Martin Doherty expressed that the class gave him “a profound opportunity to recognize my values as an American and move forward the quality of every human life… I’m honored to be helping other people tell their stories so more respect and more care is given to human beings around the world.”

The class was sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and International House Charlotte, with funding provided by the Charlotte Arts & Science Council. You can view videos produced in the class atwww.youtube.com/afscnc.

Storyology 2012: Let there by Luz "Light"

Budding immigrant filmmakers debuted their 3-minute masterpieces to a standing room only crowd at International House Charlotte on Friday, March 16, 2012. A story of treacherous journeys across the sea and prison escapes mingled with personal stories of a marriage broken by abuse, a student’s journey from a refugee camp to a Charlotte school, and an account of how a family got its start in the United States. Each story was different, but each painted a picture of the external and internal struggles faced by immigrants in North Carolina today.

The second Storyology: Digital Storytelling by Immigrants and Refugees class brought together six immigrants and refugees from Eritrea, Mexico, Bhutan, Colombia and Ecuador for three weekends of participatory workshops on storytelling, audio and video editing and community building. A seventh student, unfortunately, had to drop out of the class after being hospitalized with pneumonia. The class utilized interactive storytelling techniques, laptop computers, photographs, oral histories, digital cameras and music, sharing skills with the new documentarians that last a lifetime.

Storyology is unique in that it empowers immigrants to tell their own stories in their own words. As one student expressed, “I got an opportunity to share my own story and my own feelings. I got more experience by sharing my story, how I live in my country, how I deal with my hindrances. And I like to collaborate with my friends, and [get to] know their story too, my international friends, Mexican friends, African friends. I learned their stories , their own feelings, their experiences…I really appreciate this class; I am really joyful… I love this class!” Another student reported that “I did learn how to make a video, but most important, I learned about other cultures and people. My expectations were exceeded!”

Volunteer Martin Doherty expressed that the class gave him “a profound opportunity to recognize my values as an American and move forward the quality of every human life… I’m honored to be helping other people tell their stories so more respect and more care is given to human beings around the world.”

The class was sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and International House Charlotte, with funding provided by the Charlotte Arts & Science Council. You can view videos produced in the class atwww.youtube.com/afscnc.

Storyology 2012: From the Ocean of Sand to the Desert of Sea

Budding immigrant filmmakers debuted their 3-minute masterpieces to a standing room only crowd at International House Charlotte on Friday, March 16, 2012.  A story of treacherous journeys across the sea and prison escapes mingled with personal stories of a marriage broken by abuse, a student’s journey from a refugee camp to a Charlotte school, and an account of how a family got its start in the United States. 

From NC Peace Action: Tax Day Report

From NC Peace Action: 

Tax Day 2012: Report

NC Peace Action helped organize a very active presence in Chapel Hill with John Heuer and an SDS student speaking, entertainment by the Raging Grannies and Sacrificial Poets, and smaller groups at two sites in Raleigh.  We got a total of about 100 signatures on a Costs of War petition, great picture and description in the Raleigh paper about the the display brought by Vicki Ryder with beads on a dowel.  “They represented the projected 2012 US tax dollars that would go for military needs as opposed to other government programs.”  Another small local paper, Carrboro, will publish a picture in its weekly edition.

In Raleigh, the large 40′ banner on the ground is the AFSC representation of their “One Minute for Peace” strip that lines up discretionary spending for the various departments. We also had a penny poll which engaged several passersby.  In Chapel Hill, the balloons also represented the size of the military vs other departments.

The bottom photos are of the 2nd part of the event in Chapel Hill that merged with a protest of the Bank of America organized by a coalition planning a big action in Charlotte in May.  We marched down to the BOA to deliver a letter to the CEO.  They got the branch manager to fax the letter.

      

    

Keep Orfilia with Her Family

Keep Orfilia with Her Family: Sign the Petition

President Obama continues to deport the parents of U.S. citizens, contrary to the prosecutorial discretion memos issued last year. 

Call ICE - John Morton @ 202.732.3000            

Sample Script: "Hi, I was calling to ask that the deportation of Orfilia Sagastume-Reyes (A #073-189-266) be stopped. Orfilia has been living in the United States for the past 22 years and is the mother of a U.S. citizen. She is eligible for adjustment of status if ICE lifts her deportation order. According to the Morton Memo, Orfilia is not a priority for deportation and should be allowed to stay. Don't deport Orfilia - lift her deportation order and allow her to stay in the U.S."

PLEASE SHARE THIS PETITION AND ACTION ALERT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

Orfilia Sagastume-Reyes fled from Guatemala to the United States with her family in October 1990. She has never left. Orfilia’s family in Guatemala was targeted because of her father’s involvement with the Guatemalan government. Her brother was assassinated and Orfilia personally received death threats. In 1993, Orfilia applied for asylum in the United States. The asylum office referred her case to the Atlanta Immigration Court.

Unfortunately, based on the erroneous advice by previous counsel, Orfilia and her family withdrew their asylum application. The attorney told Orfilia that her asylum application would likely be denied and that there was a chance that the judge would send her and her children to jail if she did not withdraw the application. Out of fear of her children going to jail, Orfilia withdrew her asylum application and accepted an order of Voluntary Departure in February 2000.

In the last few months, Orfilia's current lawyers have asked Atlanta OCC twice to join a motion to reopen. Both requests were refused. If Orfilia’s case is not reopened very soon, ICE will deport her to Guatemala. Orfilia 15-year-old son, Fredi Reyes, who is a United States citizen, will very likely have to go to Guatemala with Orfilia. 

How Would You Spend Your Tax Dollars Day Seven: Jobs: Cooperatives might be the answer

Job Cooperatives Might be the Answer ... 

  

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “what are you doing for others?” --Martin Luther King

Cities across the nation have seen jobs go overseas, while some of these same companies have received tax breaks from the government.

Some communities are seeing that local cooperatives are a way to provide jobs and sustainable economic development, while keeping the profits local.

The main benefit is that the members of a cooperative society are working together for a common goal.  This could be to produce and sell a commodity or to raise funds to build a community facility like kindergarten en or health clinic.  The members have a vested interest not only financially but morally.  The Solidarity usually keeps the project moving to a quick conclusion and establish a sense of community.

Putting democracy to work through cooperatives provides a way for people not only to make a living, but to be invested in their work like never before.

Facts: Military spending robs our economy of jobs created by military spending, education spending creates 240% more jobs, health care spending creates 153% more jobs and clean energy spending creates 150% more jobs.

(source: US Employment Effects of Military and Domestic Spending Priorities ,2011 Update .By Robert Pollin &Heidi Garrett-Peltier , political Economy Research Institute ,University of Massachusetts ,Amherst ,December ,2011.)

Rather than continue to invest in military spending, let’s Move the Money and invest in cooperatives, true job creators!

TAKE ACTION!

Join AFSC and others around the country in our call to Move the Money!

Support local cooperatives, like Morganton, NC’s Opportunity Threads!

 

What Would You Do With Your Tax Dollars Day Six: Supporting Veterans, Fighting Homelessness

Supporting Veterans, Fighting Homelessness

One quarter of America's homeless population are veterans; of these, 9% served in the post-9/11 era. Already, 20% of return Iraqi and 11% of returning Afghan veterans have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress disorder. The degree of trauma that they have experienced is difficult to comprehend. We can only expect that over the next 50 years, we will continue to see more and more veterans from the past decade of war living on the streets, as the psychological suffering they have experienced will continue to burden their lives. 

Officials involved in assisting veterans know what is coming for veterans and they too are worried about the sheer enormity of trauma among veterans. Said Daniel Tooth, the Lancaster County, PA Director of Veteran Affairs: "We're going to be having a tsunami of them eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous."

Our current political system has not prepared themselves for the financial costs of sending so many young persons into war. The $1.3 trillion already spent on these wars does not fully account for the future medical needs of recent veterans and the homelessness services ($41,000 per year per veteran) that will be necessary to care for all these men and women. Imagine the quality of life difference that our citizens could experience if instead of spending so much money on reactive services, we were able to spend that money on our school systems or clean energy.

Nobody deserves to be homeless. Let our elected officials know that we should not be perpetuating the damaging of lives (both the young people serving overseas and the civilians in other countries who find their lives in turmoil due to military presence).

TAKE ACTION! 

Ask your Member of Congress to stop supporting psychological damage and perpetuating homelessness. Call 202-222-2222       today. To learn more about Homelessness in Guilford County, please visit http://www.partnersendinghomelessness.org/about/index.php 

Save our Homes: Preventing Foreclosures Day Five

Save our Homes: Preventing Foreclosures Day Five

 

Our economy has been devastated since the 2008 Financial Crash and hundreds of thousands of families have lost their homes in the ensuing recession. Americans have lost between $650 billion to $1 trillion dollars in home value due to being foreclosed on or having a surrounding property be foreclosed on. According to the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, each individual foreclosure can cost the local government up to $34,000 in fees associated with removing the family from the home and maintaining the property while it is uninhabited. 

With 318 homes foreclosed on in Guilford County in February, 2012, the financial and emotional distraction of the housing crisis is eating into our county's ability to operate. Our local Register of Deeds, Jeff Thigpen, has stood up in defense of the ordinary person and has sued MERS, the document-processing corporation linked to infamous mortgage fraud known as "Robosigning," as well as other banking and lending corporations. Said Jeff in 2011, "The basic question here is whether we as Recorders are going to sit on our hands, in the face of what appears to be clear fraud or are we going to stand up for 400 years of integrity and fair dealing in commerce?" 

As taxpayers, we should be directing our taxes towards helping families, not spending money on kicking people out of their homes and supporting the greed of large corporations. 

Take Action: 

Call Jeff Thigpen's office and thank him for standing up to large corporation and to urge him to continue to defend the right of people to stay in their homes at (336) 641-7556. Find out how you can get involved in foreclosure resistance/fraud detection.

Watch Rachel Maddow's report on the fight against foreclosure in Guilford County.