Student Project Spotlight
CU[dis]connect event urges students to 'disconnect your phone: reconnect your life'
Students increasingly rely on impersonal modes of connecting with each other; the burning urge to check cellphone or social media every couple of minutes strikes in class, when studying, even at parties. But humans need deep interpersonal relationships to be happy, and this requires face-to-face communication. So despite 21st century technologies, people still feel disconnected and alone.
CU [dis]connect is a student-run project designed to help people reevaluate their relationship with technology. For three days from April 10-12, students will pledge to leave their phones at home, ignore social media, and engage in face-to-face interaction. Ithaca community residents are invited to join the students at a screening of "Connected, the Film" on April 10 from 6:30-8:00 in Cornell's Olin Library, Room 165.
"Other attempts at addressing this issue use information in books, articles, and studies," says Rudy Gerson, one of the organizers of CU [dis]connect, "but we're tackling the problem head on with direct action." By actually disconnecting from technology, students will experience a life without constant mobile connectivity and will become more aware and capable to make technology work for them, not against them.
But technology is powerful, and here to stay: CU [dis]connect is designed as a three-day social experiment, not a movement to go back to the days before the Internet.
"We are all in this together," says Gerson. "So let's begin to create ethical norms for proper technology use. Sign up to disconnect."
Highlights of the three day CU [dis]connect event include an "Ask Big Questions" group dialogue, a screening of "Connected, the Film" and a barbeque for participants.
Learn more at www.cudisconnect.com |
Support Youth Change Makers
by Celebrating Social Entrepreneurs
By Anke Wessels
CU[dis]connect, featured above, was developed by a group of Cornell students in my undergraduate course on social entrepreneurship--one of many innovative social change projects generated by the class. The students I work with aspire to be on the cutting edge of efforts to resolve pressing social problems such as climate change, systemic prejudice, food crises, failing health care and educational systems, environmental decline, endemic disease, routinized violence, and persistent poverty. They tend to be optimistic and solutions oriented, idealistic as well as realistic, and cooperative team players.
According to a recent book about their generation, "Millennials Rising," these young people have the potential to be the next "great" generation. Authors, Neil Howe and William Strauss, suggest that Millennials "will correct what they perceive to be the mistakes . . . of boomers, by placing positivism over negativism, trust over cynicism, science over spiritualism, team over self, duties over rights, honor over feeling, action over words.''
It is a privilege and a joy to be leading CTA at a time when this generation is coming of age. Our hands-on educational programs in transformative action and social entrepreneurship are a natural fit for them. Yet, these students are hungry for more. To better meet their needs, we are launching a campaign that honors pioneering social entrepreneurs and raises funds to provide students, like sophomore Rudy Gerson of CU[dis]Connect, with additional resources and practice-based learning opportunities.
Social entrepreneurs, such as Brigid Hubberman of the Family Reading Partnership, Kirby Edmonds of the Dorothy Cotton Institute, and Bill Myers of Ithaca's Alternatives Federal Credit Union, not only envision a society that is more just, sustainable, and equitable, but also assume the risk of bringing their vision to life through financially viable nonprofit or for-profit social ventures. By honoring them, we recognize their invaluable work, and provide youth with powerful role models of what a successful life in contribution to others can look like.
CTA's campaign calls on "champions" to raise a minimum of $3,000 to honor their favorite social entrepreneur. Honorees will be invited to speak at a TEDx event associated with the CTA's Finger Lakes Social Entrepreneurship Institute in September. Their profiles will appear on our website, be printed in a beautifully designed booklet, and featured in our social media. 15% of all funds raised will go to the honoree's favorite nonprofit. The remainder will support this celebration and the Center for Transformative Action's expanding educational programs in social entrepreneurship and transformative action.
Will you join us? Do you know someone who has made a tremendous difference in the lives of many by creating a system changing for-profit or nonprofit organization? The money you raise to honor this individual will:
- Provide youth change makers with inspiring role models and mentors.
- Increase awareness of social entrepreneurship as a meaningful and viable life path.
- Support the honoree's favorite nonprofit.
- Support the Center for Transformative Action's curricular and extracurricular educational programs in social entrepreneurship at Cornell, and in the Ithaca and Tompkins County communities.
- Enhance the visibility of individuals who exemplify CTA's and Cornell University's commitment to social engagement.
This campaign will launch via Peaks, a local crowd funding platform, on April 17th. Until then, please contact us with your recommendations for honorees and check our website for updates.
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News and Events
CTA is co-sponsoring Annie Leonard's upcoming visit
Annie Leonard, creator of the "The Story of Stuff", will visit Cornell for a film screening, lecture, discussion, and reception. The event, organized by Cornell's Graduate School, is scheduled for Monday, April 15th at 5:00 p.m. in Call Auditorium is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 4:45 PM. Free tickets are available at Willard Straight Hall and at the Graduate School Deans Office, 350 Caldwell Hall starting Monday, April 1st.
More information here.
Veterans' Sanctuary holds a series of events in April Maxie's Chicken- Fried & Tofu Fundraiser for VS Community Gardens
Tuesday, April 9th from 5-10pm
Maxie's Supper Club and Oyster Bar
635 West State St, Ithaca.
*Eat Fried Chicken, Feel Good, Listen to Richie Stearns*
For every Southern Fried Chicken Dinner and BBQ Organic Tofu Plate sold, Maxie's will donate $5 to the Veterans' Sanctuary Community Garden!
All you need to do is come to Maxie's, enjoy the world-class Americana sounds of the Chicken Fried String band featuring Richie Stearns, and feed your belly with Maxie's brined, dried, coated and fried Southern-Fried Chicken for $11.95 or house-smoked organic BBQ Tofu dinner for $13.95, (each served with mashed red bliss potatoes and maple-braised
collard greens).
From 4-6pm, enjoy half-priced raw oysters and raw clams! They also serve gumbo and chowder too.
From 6-10pm FREE folksy bluegrass by the Chicken Fried String Band with Richie Stearns, Steve Selin, and Pat Burke!
Thank you to Richie Stearns and Maxie's for their support!
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/550203718353022/
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Screening of "The Invisible War" with Talkback Panel
Wednesday April 10th from 7-9pm
Cinemopolis 120 East Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850
The Invisible War is an investigative documentary that takes a startling look at the epidemic of rape in the US military. It has won a number of awards including Sundance audience selection last year.
Sponsored by The Advocacy Center and Veterans' Sanctuary
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Warrior Writers
Veteran Writing Group
Meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday
from 6:30-8pm
TC Workers' Center
Above Autumn Leaves Books
115 The Commons, Ithaca, NY 14850
Next meetings: 4/10, 4/24
Veterans can heal together through the process of expressing themselves with spoken or written word. Each week there are different writing prompts on veterans' issues and everyday struggles such as interpersonal relationships, addiction, loss, grief and suicide. Veterans can share their experiences from the military or what they do on any particular day of their life coping with the transition from military to civilian life. No writing experience needed. Veterans have the option to share their work with the group. Editing and collaborating is encouraged to complete the work for publication, poetry readings, or to keep for themselves.
Facilitated by Jenny Pacanowski 570.269.7528
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Community Garden
Veterans' Sanctuary
Work/ Fun Day for Veterans and Supporters
Every Monday
From 9am- 5pm
46 King Street Trumansburg, NY 14886
Next Work/ Fun Days: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29
Veterans' Sanctuary Community Garden is a space for veterans and supporters to grow food and medicine together. It's about creating a supportive community, recreating "The Commons" and practicing permaculture with a special interest in perennials, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and trees. On the three acres of land you will find two greenhouses, garden beds, and a pond with ducks. We built a water catchment system attached to a horse shelter and the start of a straw bale cabin shed. Join us for a Monday work/fun day at the garden, help plant and mulch, and take veggies and herbs home.
Facilitated by Nate Lewis 716.531.5362
*********************************************************************************The Veterans' Sanctuary will host Open Studio Hours every Thursday from 2-10pm through the month of April. Starting in May we will shift into offering programs at other locations. We hope to offer papermaking with our portable beater and writing workshops at the VA,schools, colleges, and organizations.
For more information or to request a Combat Paper Workshop, call Nathan Lewis, Combat Paper Coordinator 716.531.5362.
Combat Paper Open Studio Hours
Every Thursday in April from 2pm-10pm
1607 Trumansburg Rd, Ithaca
Behind Ithaca Antique Mall
Through papermaking workshops veterans use uniforms worn in combat to create works of art. The uniforms are cut up, beaten into a pulp and formed into sheets of paper. Veterans use the transformative process of papermaking to reclaim their uniform as art and begin to embrace their experiences in the military. The Durland Alternatives Library holds an Art Opening
Art Opening Friday, April 5th - Ink Shop Printmaking Center
People's History: This show, curated by Ryan Clover-Owens of the Durland Alternatives Library, will feature artwork from the Just Seeds Artists' Collective, a group of contemporary artists who have addressed a myriad of topics in the "Celebrate People's History" series, from Emma Goldman and Malcom X to the Occupation of Alcatraz and the Zapatista uprising in Mexico.
Ink Shop Printmaking Center(2nd floor)at Community School of Music and Arts
Legacy Foundation Gallery Hallway Ithaca, NY 14850
Hours: Ink Shop Tuesday to Friday 12 -6 pm, Sat 12-4 pm
Hours: CSMA Monday-Thursday 10am - 6pm and Friday 9am - 5pm
Contact: The Ink Shop 607 277-3884
Ithaca City of Asylum (ICOA) is proud to announce that Silenced Voices: Tales of Sri Lankan Journalists in Exile, a presentation of Ithaca College's Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, will feature Sonali Samarasinghe and her experiences with the Sri Lankan government's repression of the media. Samarasinghe is ICOA's writer-in-residence and is Visiting Scholar in Residence for the Ithaca College Honors Program in the School of Humanities and Sciences.
Silenced Voices: Tales of Sri Lankan Journalists in Exile
The documentary by Beate Arnestad is about freedom of speech and messengers of truth and how much individuals are willing to risk to bring information to light. Samarasinghe is highlighted in the film as one of four exiled journalists from Sri Lanka who have been "silenced" and targeted for assassination because they exposed corruption, massacres of civilians, and other war crimes committed by the state.
"We shall have to repent in this generation," says Arnestad, "not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked, but for the appalling silence of the good people."
Silenced Voices will be shown Friday, April 5, 7:00 p.m. at Cinemapolis, 120 East Green Street, Ithaca, N.Y. The evening will feature post-screening commentary by Samarasinghe with a discussion moderated by Ithaca College writing professor Barbara Adams.
| Dorothy Cotton Book Signing
Dorothy Cotton will be signing her new book, "If Your Back's Not Bent," at Barnes & Noble in Ithaca
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2013
Location: Barnes & Noble 614 S Meadow St Ithaca, NY
Time: 3:00pm
"If Your Back's Not Bent" has won an award from the National Library Association.
"Nobody can ride your back if your back's not bent," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said at the end of a Citizenship Education Program (CEP), an adult grassroots training program directed by Dorothy Cotton. This program, called the best-kept secret of the twentieth century's civil rights movement, was critical in preparing legions of disenfranchised people across the South to work with existing systems of local government to gain access to services and resources they were entitled to as citizens. They learned to demonstrate peacefully against injustice, even when they were met with violence and hatred. The CEP was born out of the work of the Tennessee Highlander Folk School and was fully developed and expanded by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by Dr. King until that fateful day in Memphis in April 1968. Cotton was checked into the Lorraine Motel at that time as well, but she'd left to do the work of the CEP before the assassin's bullet was fired.
If Your Back's Not Bent recounts the accomplishments and the drama of this training that was largely ignored by the media, which had focused its attention on marches and demonstrations. This book describes who participated and how they were transformed-men and women alike-from victims to active citizens, and how they transformed their communities and ultimately the country into a place of greater freedom and justice for all. Cotton, the only woman in Dr. King's inner circle of leadership, for the first time offers her account of the movement, correcting the historical impression that "we only marched and sang." She shows how the CEP was key to the movement's success, and how the lessons of the program can serve our democracy now. People, and therefore systems, can indeed change "if your back's not bent."
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 The Center for Transformative Action (CTA) helps to create communities that work for everyone. We do this by providing fiscal sponsorship to innovative social change agents in New York State, as well as financial, human resources, and grants management services. CTA is an educational non-profit organization affiliated with Cornell University.
Our Vision
We envision change makers everywhere engaging and strengthening the power of the heart to remake the world.
Our Mission
We are an alliance of individuals and organizations inspired by principles of nonviolence and committed to bold action for justice, sustainability, and peace. CTA supports change makers with the tools to build thriving, inclusive communities that work for everyone. We serve our projects, the public, and Cornell University by offering educational programs and strategic organizational resources.
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