SHAPING DREAMS AT MCNY

On April 7th and 8th, The Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) held their 2nd Annual Short Film Festival and the Get Down PSA crew, along with our sister org FACES NY, were in the house to support.

The two-day event was part showcase, part industry networking event and, surprisingly, part class project. The festival grew out of MCNY’s Media Management MBA program as a way for students to gain hands-on, real-time project management training. So this festival was not only about the films shown but about the students’ experience executing the event itself.

"TELLING STORIES - SHAPING DREAMS”, the theme of this years’ festival, was produced by MCNY Media Management grads George Kevin Jordan and Cherice Monique Bedford. The first day consisted of a stellar film industry insiders panel and filmmakers roundtable. Many industry vets, from producers and lawyers to filmmakers and accountants were on hand. With almost 100 attendees many MCNY and community film buffs were able to learn and connect with industry movers and shakers.

The second night was strictly about the films and their creators. Several MCNY media management students, grads and community members screened their films for a packed audience. Subject mattered varied from broken friendships to personal redemption. Among the films shown was the Get Down PSA. Produced by our very own Kim J. Ford, the PSA was well received by the crowd.

Festival co-producer George Kevin Jordan stated that the purpose of the festival was “to showcase people who don’t necessarily get the chance to actually show their films, so underrepresented people: minorities, blacks, gays, the whole thing. So this is an opportunity for them to do their films and also showcase the management skills of our class." The Festival was a huge success on many levels. Students were able to gain valuable experience managing an actual media event, filmmakers were able to screen their work for industry leaders and colleagues and everyone was able to learn from and network with various members of the film industry and MCNY Media Management MBA program.

For more info on MCNY’s Media Management program visit www.metropolitan.edu or call 800.33.THINK ext. 5001. And be sure to read more about George and his work in film and literature at www.georgekevinjordan.com.


Signed,

Alysia C.
Blogger-In-Chief
GET DOWN PSA Campaign & Movement
alysiagetdown@gmail.com

Stepping In The Name Of Love

When I was first asked to contribute to this blog, I had no idea what I would say. I just knew I had to say something. I was asked to write about why I decided to (finally) participate in AIDS Walk NY. The first thought that entered my mind, strangely enough, was R. Kelly's "Step In The Name of Love". That's exactly what I'm doing... Stepping (walking) in the name of love.

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 50% of new HIV cases are African Americans. 1 in 30 Black women will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. These statistics are frightening, but this is the truth that we are facing. HIV/AIDS is a pandemic amongst my people. I'm 'stepping' in love for my Black brothers and sisters who live with this dreadful virus.

It's been over 10 years since I've spoken to a very dear friend of mine. She was infected with HIV by her boyfriend and became pregnant. When she found out she had the virus, she was devastated. When I asked her was she going to leave him, she told me she might as well stay with him, since they were both infected. She didn't understand that she had options, that she could live a normal, healthy life, and even fall in love again. I'm stepping in love for the friendship that I lost that still torments my heart and mind.

Children...I think about the children. Some are born with HIV, come into this world as warriors, and spend their lives fighting for a healthy existence. The children of men and women who are living with HIV/AIDS, and have to watch their parents deal with this horrible, incurable disease. If for no other reason, we need to find a cure so the children, our future, don't have to suffer. I know the toll that having a parent infected with HIV/AIDS takes on children. My brother and sister were those children. I was that child. I'm stepping in love in the memory of my mother.

I'm walking because there's still ignorance as to how HIV is contracted. I'm walking because more people need to be educated about HIV/AIDS. I'm walking for those who have lost their lives. I'm walking for the mothers, fathers, siblings, family members, and friends of those who live with, or lost their lives to, HIV/AIDS. I'm walking because there is a cure to be found, and I pray it's found in my lifetime. I'm walking because no matter what race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status we fall under, we are ALL children of The Most High, and HIV/AIDS effects us all.

I'm "Stepping In The Name Of Love".

Sincerely,
Chante'l S. Mikell

TO DONATE TO CHANTE'L'S FIRST AIDS WALK ON MAY 15TH
WITH TEAM FACES (#0638), COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK INTO YOUR BROWSER:
http://aidswalknewyork2011.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=447459&supid=255823241

We're Walking and Need Your Support

We, at GET DOWN, are so happy to be walking in AIDS Walk NY this year again with FACES NY. We'll be joining CBS and companies and community based organizations in the fight against HIV & AIDS. We're helping raise money for services at the local level.

Please click on the AIDS WALK NY poster, on the right, and donate. Thanks!

Sincerely,

Team GET DOWN

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

Hey Ladies, Gents and Kiddies of all ages!

Since December 2010, we’ve been getting busy. On World Aids Day 2010, in conjunction with Safe Horizon’s “Safe Harbor” program at ACORN High School in Brooklyn, NY we visited four classes. It was the first time GET DOWN and FACES NY did a joint, interactive presentation. It was always GET DOWN’s goal to have education be a key component of what we do. So now, our feet are officially “on the ground”, along with our charity partner, FACES NY.

FACES NY Education Team Member educate the ACORN High School Youth.




FACES NY Education Team Member dispels the myths.


Viewing the GET DOWN PSA.

The kids at ACORN were so inquisitive. There are so many myths and misconceptions out there about HIV, what it is, what is AIDS, and how is HIV contracted. Still, 30 years later, the same questions. Not much as changed from when I was in school, except that now there is more information out there and way more research has been done. So why is it that there is still so much misinformation, especially among the youth? HIV/AIDS Education, or lack thereof, is a key barrier to prevention. With limited resources, qualified personnel and training, the education system can only go but so far. Another is school attendance. The Center For Disease Control (CDC) lists “poverty and out-of-school-youth” as a factor. Simply put, if you are not there, you can’t receive the information.

We consider ourselves “gap-fillers” because that’s where local organizations like FACES NY come in and bridge the gap between educators and lack of training, resources and tools. The GET DOWN PSA was cited by educators at ACORN High School as being a “modern teaching tool”. For this reason, we hope you will continue to support GET DOWN and FACES NY in the coming years.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT GET DOWN? Just by reading and following our Blog, commenting, sharing our links, following us on Twitter and friending us on Facebook. You can also blog for us every once in a while. It’s by and about people like you, people who care about what’s going on in the community and understand how HIV/AIDS affects everyone. It’s a global pandemic. The blog is our voice and offers a way to have conversation and dialogue.

We also need your financial support for FACES NY. Budgets and monies for HIV/AIDS education, counseling, treatment were adversely affected by the deep and long recession. That’s why the GET DOWN team is walking with FACES NY (TEAM #0638) at AIDS WALK 2011.

Walking with TEAM FACES NY at AIDS Walk 2010.


I personally hope to best my last year’s goal. To support my walk, which benefits FACES NY, a 501c3 HIV/AIDS organization, please make a donation by GOING TO THIS URL: http://aidswalknewyork2011.kintera.org/kimjford

Let’s GET DOWN TO BUSINESS! Thanks so much!

In peace and progress,

Kim J. Ford
Creator and Chief Bottle Washer
GET DOWN PSA Campaign & Movement