We're talking about food systems here...
What does food justice really look like? During the last six months we spent time with a handful of residents who work the land of the diverse urban neighborhoods of San Diego. We've been chatting about access or the lack thereof to fresh food in their communities and how they are going about subverting the system to reform urban agriculture policies, grow healthy food, create new jobs, and make positive change in their neighborhoods. Land & Freedom explores these models of empowerment that need to be shared with other communities. Because food is a universal issue, and one that is of interest across social-economic intersections, food justice issues are essential to the conversation of social justice in the U.S.
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The team behind this project is Media Arts Center San Diego. We are a community arts organization, active in San Diego for over 20 years. It's always been our goal to portray accurate images of underrepresented communities in the media. During our collaborative community journalism project Speak City Heights, we came across stories of residents that are actively struggling for food justice, powerful stories, empowering stories, stories that need to be shared.
We ask for your support...
At the heart of the project are the short documentary videos, but that's just the beginning. This is a "storymap" project. What's that, you ask? We're using interactive multimedia to share the stories in unique ways. The videos are being compiled together on a digital map, so they can be viewed in relation to their geography. We're also installing QR coded plaques at the locations the stories take place in -- allowing passersby to tap into the stories with their smart phones and encourage neighborhood walking tours. With the support of CalHumanities we were able to start production of the project. And with the support of Kaiser Permanente, we are able to equip youth to continue community engagement. Now we need your support, to match their contributions and complete post-production and our outreach campaign!
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- We're seeking $10,000 in matching community support to finish the post-production of the project. We've got a lot of editing and reviewing to complete. We want to make sure the stories are accurate representations of the community.
- "Matching"? Yes, matching. We're honored to have received a grant from Cal Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The project was made possible with their support. We hope that you feel this project is as important as they do.
- We have a few perks available you might be interested in! Poster and production prints, DVD copies, private screenings at the Digital Gym Cinema in San Diego, and bringing the filmmaker to your community -- whatever level you can commit to, we have something special for you!
- Funds directly support the completion and outreach of the project. If we reach beyond our goal, it will go toward supporting the national screening tour.
And if the goal is not met...
Our team is serious about promoting social change through visual storytelling.
- We've supported a diverse community of social change organizations in the past and will continue that legacy.
- If there's a will -- there's a way, but if we come up short, it will hinder our deadline and limit the reach of our audience.
- Please consider supporting today!
So you want to support beyond your cash monies...
Money helps, but cooperation makes the world go round.
- Share this project with your friends and community!
- Indiegogo has quick and easy share tools, let your Facebook-Twitter friends know, and show it to the stranger sitting next to you on the trolley.
- We'll be organizing a series of public screenings around San Diego, keep in touch and catch a screening -- contribute to the dialogue!
- Take the walking tours and explore your city by foot!
- Contact us to bring the filmmaker to your community for a screening and Q&A!
- Organize a public screening for your community!
Your support makes production of independent media possible. Thank you!