hey everyone!

so the PIY workshops went really well this week and i think it's the start of some more collaborations with them. The kids had fun and were excited about printing their artwork, and the staff were impressed with what we're doing. There was some talk btwn nicholas and one of the co-principals about actually setting up a printshop at the school, they can get funding for that kind of thing. Nicholas asked me to create a screenprinted Rensizzle 2007 poster, hopefully by next wednesday. he thinks that if the staff see this poster they will be even more supportive of the PIY stuff we're doing. I am trying to picture what these long term collaborations are gonna look like. An ambitious idea I had was to begin forming youth neighborhood exchange programs based in different schools and community centers starting with 123 (Bed Stuy) and Renaissance (Jackson Heights). What i'm imagining for maybe springtime 08 would be 123 "hosting" some dedicated Renaissance students for a week. They would come to participate in workshops and discussions, share food and ideas in potlucks, and get involved in projects at 123 such as the the after school program and hopefully the mural. Since Renaissance is so progressive, they'd probably give the students credit for this too. It would be a way to encourage unity and understanding btwn youth from different communities, and to share resources and knowledge to they can strengthen each other. The part that needs to be established is that this would really need to involve Bed Stuy teens to be a true neighborhood exchange. So far 123 really hasn't connected with a lot of local teens. However, I think we can make this happen through the different programs at the space such as the Hear Me Now series and the printshop. I think that the mural would be a big part of connecting with teens because it's not just FOR them, it will be By them, with the guidance on local artists. So we need to build up a base of local teens who are into connecting with teens from jackson heights. Then maybe in the fall Renaissance can host some Bed Stuy teens. Other place in the future that could be part of an exchange could be City-As-School, City and Country, and The Point in the Bronx.

anyways, what do you all think?
i want to set up a little mtg with nicholas some time next week, maybe a few of us could go over to his house like we did over the summer...

xo
sarah

hey leanne
thanks for the point about including self-education projects in this timeline. Some of the ideas i remember from back in april were writing, film-making, sewing, reading more, poi, photography, learning spanish and other languages... in january we have plans to start up a reading/writing/discussion group, but that's it. Maybe we can choose a few other topics to study and put them in the timeline?

As far as the future of our collaborations with schools, all i have now is the City As interns starting in January cause that's when the next cycle starts (they have 4 cycles a year). I guess it's still not clear what else will be happening in the future w/ schools. Perhaps that will become more clear tomorrow when we talk with nicholas...

with the neighborhood exchange thing, a 123/renaissance exchange is the only one i can imagine in the near future. definately we'd need to connect more w/bed stuy youth to make it happen. of course it would be a huge project but i think it's a good thing to work towards, bringing young ppl together from different places is what misled youth's all about.

--sarah

i forgot to mention this idea at the general meeting and we now have an outreach day scheduled on the 8th, in preparation for the open house next sat. the 15th. But i'm thinking that perhaps a free market could be incorporated into the open house -- people can come, find out about the space, and also get free stuff.
i will send an email to the 123 list about that if you think it's a good idea

sarah