November 14, 2023
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
WEEKLY DISPATCH
By Leslie Fields-Cruz
For many Americans, Thanksgiving is a season of family, food and joy. For our indigenous cousins, however, it is also a season of remembrance, cultural affirmation and mourning. I view this season as one to be thankful, be informed and stay connected. During this Native American Heritage Month, I invite you to try spending some of your Thanksgiving holiday watching stories by and about people whose ancestors were here long before Columbus.
Vision Maker Media, BPM’s peer organization, is a trusted source for documentaries about Native American history, culture, and contemporary life. Their website features programs you can stream online and watch on public television, as well as other multimedia resources worth exploring. Best of all, these informative resources are available year-round. So, add Vision Maker to the list of sites you connect with throughout the year to find compelling stories that enlighten and entertain.
BPMplus Soars in DC!
Last weekend, a handful of BPMplus fellows and staff participated in Cultural DC’s TORRENTS: New Links to Black Futures event in Washington, D.C. Fellows Johannes Barfield, Dominick Rabrun, Georgiana Wright, and Leonardo Souza presented in-person at the Art & Tech Showcase. Fellows Damien McDuffie, LaJuné McMillian, and Eboni Zamani presented virtually. Souza’s Rabiola Open Skies game closed the standing-room-only event with a virtual kite-flying session. A celebratory mixer at Michele’s restaurant in the Eaton Hotel followed. Many thanks to all who attended, and to our Cultural DC friends: Kristi Maiselman, Jamal Gray, Christopher Peguese, and their colleagues. Let’s stay connected and do it again next year!
Opportunities
As the year winds up, don’t miss out on the following opportunities:
- Women Make Movies is hosting a four-part webinar series titled: The Long and Short(er) Road to Funding, Thurs., Nov. 16-Dec. 14. Tickets are $75. Register here.
- The Redford Center and Helen Gurley Brown Foundation seek four to five short films (5-30 minutes each) with potential for worldwide inspiration and impact on the topic of climate solutions led by BIPOC women. Films should be in late production or post-production stages, and should expand beyond mainstream climate narratives. Applications accepted on a rolling basis through Dec. 31. Go here for details.
- Join NYWIFT by Mon., Nov. 20 and save! Click here to enjoy:
- Half off the initiation fee for new members, $135 reduced to $67.50.
- No reactivation fee for returning members – all you will owe are the dues.
- Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative is hosting an information session on Mon., Nov. 27, for those interested in their upcoming Request for Proposals. The RFP invites community-based organizations to partner with the Harvard community to advance reparative actions that confront the lasting impact of slavery. Register here.
- Beyond Resilience: Navigating the Tension of AI’s Ethical and Business Landscape, Wed., Nov. 15, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. ET. Firelight Media and DOC NYC co-host this DOC NYC Pro discussion moderated by Beyond Resilience Producer Sian Pierre-Regis. Find details here.
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BPM is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with further funding from the MacArthur Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts. BPM is the only nonprofit that offers training, funding and distribution for projects solely about the Black experience. We welcome foundations, corporations and individuals to help with our work. For more information about underwriting and contributions, contact Alisa Norris (alisa@blackpublicmedia.org).