Final Week

This week outreach and promotion really needs to spread the word of our event around the area near the 2640 space. We need to make sure not only the community members of Baybrook are aware but also the individuals living near the event, so we can increase our attendance. I would like to create some large signs to hang around both the Baybrook and 2640 areas. They can be placed on telephone poles or other places as long as we are not breaking the law. 

In addition, once we get the printed flyers we can place them on cars or pass them out to mass amounts of people. Our committee is still awaiting responses from the media outlets (television broadcasters, radio broadcasters, and print sources). Hopefully we will hear back from them before the end of the week!! 

I like to to admit that before this class i had no idea what a Indiegogo or the different types of outreach were; however, i have learned so much from Dr. King and my fellow classmates. I should have been more active in the beginning of the Garden Gala by spreading the word of the event earlier and planning more effective strategies. Yet, i believe our event will be a success. Throughout the semester, i was best at accomplishing the things that were assigned to me. I would help out with other things, but if i was told to finish something i would be it with no questions asked. 

The Clock is Ticking...

So our outreach and promotions committee has perfected our media pitch that we are sending out to print, radio, and television outlets as well as local Baltimorean politicians. The pitch is as simple as it gets with enough information that describes our cause and the necessary dates and times for the event. We plan on sending these pitches out to our media contacts with the addition of some images from the Filbert Street Garden workdays. Also, we will be attaching the press release to the e-mails because it is necessary for further detail and significance. The media contact list that we have generated includes the majority of Baltimore's best local radio and television channels or stations. We hope to hear back from the television networks especially because it would be a plus to have our event broad casted live and grasp the public's attention. I also feel as though showing attention to the Baybrook Area will help make the community members feel a lot better. 

We will increase the amount of canvassing we accomplish within the next few weeks to make sure the community members and even the individuals living near the 2640 space are clearly aware of our garden gala. Once we have the finished flyers we can pass those around and blast them all over Baltimore in order to catch their attention. 

The Point of No Return

Starting this week (mostly likely Wednesday) i would like to begin canvassing around the Baybrook communities. I want to begin hitting the community centers and local organizations in this area to notify the members about the Garden Gala and also begin selling tickets to those who cannot access the missiontix. I understand Dr. King and a couple other students began communicating with some businesses in this area and were successful and i would like to continue this pattern. Once i have established myself in the Baybrook communities i want to move toward the city or near the 2640 space. My primary focus in this area is to communicate with the local businesses with hopes of obtaining food donations or other items for our auction. 

On a lighter note, the Filbert Street Garden Workday was a success and we ended up having a great turnout. I felt that everyone there was productive and we all enjoyed our time learning and putting our hands in the soil. We planted apple trees, built bird posts, cut weeds, and contributed to sustaining the garden overall. 

Throwing Some Pitches

So this week outreach and promotions is focused on creating attention grabbing pitches that will be sent out to local Baltimore city newspapers, magazines, and news reporters. These pitches need to be both informative and catchy. We must show these media outlets why it would be beneficial for the greater Baltimore area to both cover and advertise our Garden Gala. It is important to inform them that we are college students working with non-profits to raise profits to support a community garden (Filbert Street Garden) in the Baltimore City area with limited access to fresh produce; as well as, providing funds to help sustain the educational program at the Filbert Street Garden. In addition, it would be wise to incorporate pictures of these garden workshops and some of the vegetables produced by the garden into the pitch releases. 

While working on the pitches, we will also set up Ads under event sections on craigslist, UMBC popular blogs, and local paper calendars. These ads will help notify individuals about our upcoming event!!

The following link identifies the key components of media pitches and compares them to media press releases. 

http://technori.com/2013/03/3327-want-press-coverage-for-your-startup-master-your-media-pitch/

E-Mails Are Out

After sending out the ASK forms today, i feel as though this is only the start. I'm excited to see the finalized Save The Date cards for the Garden Gala and looking forward to jumping out into the community and passing those around. I plan on expanding on the current ASK list by adding more restaurants around the Baltimore area and canvassing the Baybrook area in person. The Facebook page is completed with the event being posted and the next step is to complete the press release ASAP. Also, our Wordpress webpage is in need of pictures and other multimedia so we can have that up in running. 

In addition, next week is our promotional week at UMBC and a great way for us to make some money, sell t-shirts, and inform our staff and students about the May 18 Garden Gala. 

The Importance Of Time

So there's just about 7 weeks left before our fundraiser is underway and things are about to get hectic. I'm excited about starting our canvassing of both the Baybrook community as well as the greater Baltimore because we now have our ASK letters completed and are finalizing our "save the date" cards (WHICH LOOK AMAZING!!!). Now we (especially me and the outreach committee) need to begin contacting these local businesses and informing them of our cause and asking them how they can contribute. I plan on doing the majority of my canvassing during the week due to other obligations I have on the weekends; however, I know Curtis is more likely available on the weekends. Yet I believe everything will turn out wonderful because our class is full of knowledgeable students who have taken pride in our fundraiser and will not allow it to fail.

My second cultural documentation project will cover Brooklyn Park but i have yet to start research on that due to my revision of my first Guano project.

Crossing Boundaries with Marc Steiner

After listening to the Marc Steiner presentation online, I regret not being able to attend the event in person. Steiner is such an inspirational and motivational speaker that he makes you want to just jump out of your seat and start breaking ground. I was really intrigued by the way Steiner incorporated the history of America and all the myths that have cultivated our society into his theme of crossing racial, gender, and other boundaries. Growing up in America, you are predisposed to stereotypes and discrimination that do affect the way we as "the people" view the world. We learn the white race is superior or women are supposed to be subservient to men; however, all of these are social constructions created by the "common American man". Once we the people realize that these false statements should not dictate our lives, we can challenge them. In addition, Steiner states it isn't a leader who creates a movement but a group of individuals willing to challenge such inequalities and elect a leader to represented what they have started. He references MLK Jr. and the women's movement, which were two critical movements sparked by average individuals fighting for social change. Once a group of individuals unite to fight for a cause, change can take place. 

I love the fact that Steiner is challenging the prison system because in one of my previous american studies courses (gender & inequality) i had learned just how corrupt the prison system had been and still is. The prison system is an institution that reinforces the inequalities that we are still fighting to break. Groups of Anti-prison activists have formed to deal with the unfair treatment of own Americans. This is the 21st Century where we all should be equal and have an equal opportunity at living the American dream; however, much of America has not changed. 

I feel that our work within the Baybrook community will help elicit or contribute to a movement that will bring together the marginalized and challenge America's system. The students after our class will follow our imprint and use their abilities or talents to further develop the movement until change is made.