I’m gonna share a story with you that I feel very passionate about and it’s the
feel very passionate about and it’s the
feel very passionate about and it’s the story of a quest for freedom so many of
story of a quest for freedom so many of
story of a quest for freedom so many of us today feel a lack of freedom in our
us today feel a lack of freedom in our
us today feel a lack of freedom in our lives an overriding sense of anxiety of
lives an overriding sense of anxiety of
lives an overriding sense of anxiety of hopelessness how can we affect change in
hopelessness how can we affect change in
hopelessness how can we affect change in our own families in our neighborhoods in
our own families in our neighborhoods in
our own families in our neighborhoods in our communities how can we strive for an
our communities how can we strive for an
our communities how can we strive for an for justice and for our the
for justice and for our the
for justice and for our the sustainability of our world the
sustainability of our world the
sustainability of our world the sanctuary for independent media is an
sanctuary for independent media is an
sanctuary for independent media is an experiment in north Troy New York where
experiment in north Troy New York where
experiment in north Troy New York where we are asking that question and over the
we are asking that question and over the
we are asking that question and over the past 10 years hundreds and thousands of
past 10 years hundreds and thousands of
past 10 years hundreds and thousands of people actually have come together
people actually have come together
people actually have come together collectively to try to practice the
collectively to try to practice the
collectively to try to practice the quest of freedom on an individual level
quest of freedom on an individual level
quest of freedom on an individual level and on a collective level to make change
and on a collective level to make change
and on a collective level to make change in their community it’s all about
in their community it’s all about
in their community it’s all about framing your story and sharing it with
framing your story and sharing it with
framing your story and sharing it with the world it’s all about figuring out
the world it’s all about figuring out
the world it’s all about figuring out what is our own point of view in this
what is our own point of view in this
what is our own point of view in this increasingly homogenized world of mass
increasingly homogenized world of mass
increasingly homogenized world of mass media and information barrage what is
media and information barrage what is
media and information barrage what is the story we want to tell I really said
the story we want to tell I really said
the story we want to tell I really said if I were to wear suit every day and be
if I were to wear suit every day and be
if I were to wear suit every day and be in office for 30 years of my life I
in office for 30 years of my life I
in office for 30 years of my life I would regret it the sanctuary helps me
would regret it the sanctuary helps me
would regret it the sanctuary helps me become the person I always wanted to be
become the person I always wanted to be
become the person I always wanted to be that’s Nick I couldn’t share all the
that’s Nick I couldn’t share all the
that’s Nick I couldn’t share all the stories of all the people who come to
stories of all the people who come to
stories of all the people who come to the sanctuary each one is a TED talk but
the sanctuary each one is a TED talk but
the sanctuary each one is a TED talk but Nick it was is a SUNY Albany football
Nick it was is a SUNY Albany football
Nick it was is a SUNY Albany football player who was a media major with no
player who was a media major with no
player who was a media major with no media experience because all he did was
media experience because all he did was
media experience because all he did was play football and he came and did an
play football and he came and did an
play football and he came and did an internship at the sanctuary where he
internship at the sanctuary where he
internship at the sanctuary where he wanted to develop a portfolio that would
wanted to develop a portfolio that would
wanted to develop a portfolio that would let him move out
let him move out
let him move out to the world and he worked with us in
to the world and he worked with us in
to the world and he worked with us in the spring and then we hired him in the
the spring and then we hired him in the
the spring and then we hired him in the summer to work with our youth in our
summer to work with our youth in our
summer to work with our youth in our Uptown summer program and last week he
Uptown summer program and last week he
Uptown summer program and last week he just left and got a job back in his
just left and got a job back in his
just left and got a job back in his hometown in Boston and he is making
hometown in Boston and he is making
hometown in Boston and he is making movies for museums this is Milan who is
movies for museums this is Milan who is
movies for museums this is Milan who is searching through the streets of north
searching through the streets of north
searching through the streets of north Troy to investigate the history of our
Troy to investigate the history of our
Troy to investigate the history of our neighborhood this is a project we were
neighborhood this is a project we were
neighborhood this is a project we were doing this summer called echoes from
doing this summer called echoes from
doing this summer called echoes from lock one that looks at the history of
lock one that looks at the history of
lock one that looks at the history of the Erie Canal and weaves the legacy
the Erie Canal and weaves the legacy
the Erie Canal and weaves the legacy today of people growing up along its
today of people growing up along its
today of people growing up along its shores these are all the youth who
shores these are all the youth who
shores these are all the youth who worked this summer as part of the
worked this summer as part of the
worked this summer as part of the Rentschler County Summer Youth
Rentschler County Summer Youth
Rentschler County Summer Youth Employment Program so it’s an economic
Employment Program so it’s an economic
Employment Program so it’s an economic development program where youth learned
development program where youth learned
development program where youth learned media production skills how to create
media production skills how to create
media production skills how to create stories how to have their own voice and
stories how to have their own voice and
stories how to have their own voice and also environmental sustainability skills
also environmental sustainability skills
also environmental sustainability skills how to be urban gardeners how to help
how to be urban gardeners how to help
how to be urban gardeners how to help improve their community and this is a
improve their community and this is a
improve their community and this is a group of artists scientists educators
group of artists scientists educators
group of artists scientists educators and teens coming together to try to make
and teens coming together to try to make
and teens coming together to try to make positive change in north Troy and in
positive change in north Troy and in
positive change in north Troy and in their community they made this map this
their community they made this map this
their community they made this map this is census tract 404 which is one of the
is census tract 404 which is one of the
is census tract 404 which is one of the poorest census tracts in the Capital
poorest census tracts in the Capital
poorest census tracts in the Capital Region and we’ve taken our inspiration
Region and we’ve taken our inspiration
Region and we’ve taken our inspiration from Detroit in a way places like
from Detroit in a way places like
from Detroit in a way places like Schenectady that are left when
Schenectady that are left when
Schenectady that are left when capitalism leaves and there are the
capitalism leaves and there are the
capitalism leaves and there are the ruins what can the people in our
ruins what can the people in our
ruins what can the people in our communities do to work from the
communities do to work from the
communities do to work from the grassroots up to make change they made
grassroots up to make change they made
grassroots up to make change they made this map and you can see the star to the
this map and you can see the star to the
this map and you can see the star to the right that’s the sanctuary and we’re
right that’s the sanctuary and we’re
right that’s the sanctuary and we’re just really only a hundred a couple
just really only a hundred a couple
just really only a hundred a couple hundred feet away from block one on the
hundred feet away from block one on the
hundred feet away from block one on the Erie Canal it’s hidden behind barbed
Erie Canal it’s hidden behind barbed
Erie Canal it’s hidden behind barbed wire and fences so most people don’t
wire and fences so most people don’t
wire and fences so most people don’t even know the history is there but this
even know the history is there but this
even know the history is there but this once incredibly vibrant rich resource
once incredibly vibrant rich resource
once incredibly vibrant rich resource that really made the Industrial
that really made the Industrial
that really made the Industrial Revolution now is a place with
Revolution now is a place with
Revolution now is a place with really very little hope we discovered
really very little hope we discovered
really very little hope we discovered and researched this place and you can
and researched this place and you can
and researched this place and you can see to the right
see to the right
see to the right uma watts castle that was one of our
uma watts castle that was one of our
uma watts castle that was one of our most exciting discoveries just a couple
most exciting discoveries just a couple
most exciting discoveries just a couple hundred feet from the sanctuary was a
hundred feet from the sanctuary was a
hundred feet from the sanctuary was a Native American burial ground where
Native American burial ground where
Native American burial ground where actually their sacred site had been
actually their sacred site had been
actually their sacred site had been violated and artifacts stolen which now
violated and artifacts stolen which now
violated and artifacts stolen which now are trying to be repatriated to the
are trying to be repatriated to the
are trying to be repatriated to the community but we in each place we went
community but we in each place we went
community but we in each place we went the youth told a story this is just a
the youth told a story this is just a
the youth told a story this is just a few hundred feet from the Native
few hundred feet from the Native
few hundred feet from the Native American burial ground and from the
American burial ground and from the
American burial ground and from the sanctuary it’s an abandoned lot once was
sanctuary it’s an abandoned lot once was
sanctuary it’s an abandoned lot once was a great Church there were three churches
a great Church there were three churches
a great Church there were three churches on that corner and now there was just
on that corner and now there was just
on that corner and now there was just rubble and garbage and so we pulled out
rubble and garbage and so we pulled out
rubble and garbage and so we pulled out an impromptu stage and started Freedom
an impromptu stage and started Freedom
an impromptu stage and started Freedom Square this is the Devo band Ethiopian
Square this is the Devo band Ethiopian
Square this is the Devo band Ethiopian music then we went and I’m really
music then we went and I’m really
music then we went and I’m really imagined the impossible we applied to
imagined the impossible we applied to
imagined the impossible we applied to the National Endowment of Arc’s art for
the National Endowment of Arc’s art for
the National Endowment of Arc’s art for a creative placemaking grant instead
a creative placemaking grant instead
a creative placemaking grant instead we’re gonna bring music and culture out
we’re gonna bring music and culture out
we’re gonna bring music and culture out into the community take it out of the
into the community take it out of the
into the community take it out of the walls of the sanctuary and into the
walls of the sanctuary and into the
walls of the sanctuary and into the streets we invited Isaiah Zagar who was
streets we invited Isaiah Zagar who was
streets we invited Isaiah Zagar who was a 78 year old artist from Philadelphia
a 78 year old artist from Philadelphia
a 78 year old artist from Philadelphia he’s called an outsider artist because
he’s called an outsider artist because
he’s called an outsider artist because rather than making work for the museum
rather than making work for the museum
rather than making work for the museum he makes work to live in the streets and
he makes work to live in the streets and
he makes work to live in the streets and his magic Gardens which is a non profit
his magic Gardens which is a non profit
his magic Gardens which is a non profit spot in Philadelphia actually is has
spot in Philadelphia actually is has
spot in Philadelphia actually is has transformed that area into mosaics and
transformed that area into mosaics and
transformed that area into mosaics and color and beauty and really was an
color and beauty and really was an
color and beauty and really was an economic revitalization item or a tool
economic revitalization item or a tool
economic revitalization item or a tool for Philadelphia so really an example of
for Philadelphia so really an example of
for Philadelphia so really an example of the art of cultural animation we created
the art of cultural animation we created
the art of cultural animation we created a workshop we do a lot around arts and
a workshop we do a lot around arts and
a workshop we do a lot around arts and education and workshops our key passing
education and workshops our key passing
education and workshops our key passing the information to other people so that
the information to other people so that
the information to other people so that they become active producers of their
they become active producers of their
they become active producers of their own knowledge of their own stories of
own knowledge of their own stories of
own knowledge of their own stories of their own creative vision
their own creative vision
their own creative vision so in this case hundreds of people
so in this case hundreds of people
so in this case hundreds of people worked for several months before Zagar
worked for several months before Zagar
worked for several months before Zagar came and created their messages through
came and created their messages through
came and created their messages through art in small tiles the most primitive of
art in small tiles the most primitive of
art in small tiles the most primitive of media mud to express their ideas and
media mud to express their ideas and
media mud to express their ideas and then they came hundreds of people and
then they came hundreds of people and
then they came hundreds of people and within two days we built Freedom Square
within two days we built Freedom Square
within two days we built Freedom Square and here is then we leverage that to get
and here is then we leverage that to get
and here is then we leverage that to get another project called from food desert
another project called from food desert
another project called from food desert from food desert to food forest and we
from food desert to food forest and we
from food desert to food forest and we are now planting within this picture
are now planting within this picture
are now planting within this picture planting trees fruit trees which now
planting trees fruit trees which now
planting trees fruit trees which now three years later are blooming and
three years later are blooming and
three years later are blooming and there’s food all over the block and then
there’s food all over the block and then
there’s food all over the block and then came the music this is the festival of
came the music this is the festival of
came the music this is the festival of the desert from Mali playing in North
the desert from Mali playing in North
the desert from Mali playing in North Troy and this is the people in north
Troy and this is the people in north
Troy and this is the people in north Troy exchanging their our creative
Troy exchanging their our creative
Troy exchanging their our creative practice with our Malian fellow artists
practice with our Malian fellow artists
practice with our Malian fellow artists this is faith dancing from United
this is faith dancing from United
this is faith dancing from United ordained Church in Troy
when we’re at Freedom Square I’m always
when we’re at Freedom Square I’m always struck by the extraordinary diversity
struck by the extraordinary diversity
struck by the extraordinary diversity they’re people of all economic
they’re people of all economic
they’re people of all economic socioeconomic status of all races of all
socioeconomic status of all races of all
socioeconomic status of all races of all ages coming together with a common joy
ages coming together with a common joy
ages coming together with a common joy of making their community better this is
of making their community better this is
of making their community better this is a peace pole that was given by the Ark
a peace pole that was given by the Ark
a peace pole that was given by the Ark charter school to Freedom Square there
charter school to Freedom Square there
charter school to Freedom Square there they buried some of the ashes of miss
they buried some of the ashes of miss
they buried some of the ashes of miss Terra who was a beloved teacher of the
Terra who was a beloved teacher of the
Terra who was a beloved teacher of the school right now this summer we worked
school right now this summer we worked
school right now this summer we worked with two students of Miss Terrace who
with two students of Miss Terrace who
with two students of Miss Terrace who told her story and recorded it and put
told her story and recorded it and put
told her story and recorded it and put it into scrapbooks as well and put it on
it into scrapbooks as well and put it on
it into scrapbooks as well and put it on our low-power FM radio station WOC
our low-power FM radio station WOC
our low-power FM radio station WOC sharing the story and I want to share a
sharing the story and I want to share a
sharing the story and I want to share a little smaller story with you about miss
little smaller story with you about miss
little smaller story with you about miss Terra as I was helping them bury her
Terra as I was helping them bury her
Terra as I was helping them bury her ashes I realized that she was actually a
ashes I realized that she was actually a
ashes I realized that she was actually a student of mine at RPI a student who had
student of mine at RPI a student who had
student of mine at RPI a student who had come in as an engineer had taken my art
come in as an engineer had taken my art
come in as an engineer had taken my art community technology class which stands
community technology class which stands
community technology class which stands for act and went into this school and
for act and went into this school and
for act and went into this school and fell in love with the kids in this
fell in love with the kids in this
fell in love with the kids in this neighborhood and made a change and
neighborhood and made a change and
neighborhood and made a change and committed to working in this school and
committed to working in this school and
committed to working in this school and followed her own vision and voice so I
followed her own vision and voice so I
followed her own vision and voice so I mean this is a place where we’re
mean this is a place where we’re
mean this is a place where we’re actually looking together to seek that
actually looking together to seek that
actually looking together to seek that inner voice within us to connect with
inner voice within us to connect with
inner voice within us to connect with our ethical and our our ethical desires
our ethical and our our ethical desires
our ethical and our our ethical desires and our passion to help make the world a
and our passion to help make the world a
and our passion to help make the world a better place so I’ll dedicate this
better place so I’ll dedicate this
better place so I’ll dedicate this speech to miss Tara and her influence on
speech to miss Tara and her influence on
speech to miss Tara and her influence on us all this is another example and I’m
us all this is another example and I’m
us all this is another example and I’m giving you examples of places that were
giving you examples of places that were
giving you examples of places that were in ruins in which we tried to transform
in ruins in which we tried to transform
in ruins in which we tried to transform into active spaces and we’re very very
into active spaces and we’re very very
into active spaces and we’re very very interested in the power of
interested in the power of
interested in the power of infrastructure that it’s not only
infrastructure that it’s not only
infrastructure that it’s not only bringing people together and which is
bringing people together and which is
bringing people together and which is incredibly important each event each
incredibly important each event each
incredibly important each event each workshop each performance but creating
workshop each performance but creating
workshop each performance but creating place
place
place place where people can continue to have
place where people can continue to have
place where people can continue to have freedom to come together in the quest of
freedom to come together in the quest of
freedom to come together in the quest of freedom so this is in the middle of the
freedom so this is in the middle of the
freedom so this is in the middle of the block I mean basically at this point we
block I mean basically at this point we
block I mean basically at this point we have eight Lots on one block and these
have eight Lots on one block and these
have eight Lots on one block and these were all abandoned eight Lots or
were all abandoned eight Lots or
were all abandoned eight Lots or buildings these were all abandoned
buildings these were all abandoned
buildings these were all abandoned spaces on one block in North Troy which
spaces on one block in North Troy which
spaces on one block in North Troy which of course I know is much like
of course I know is much like
of course I know is much like Schenectady where you’re plagued by so
Schenectady where you’re plagued by so
Schenectady where you’re plagued by so many abandoned buildings this was done
many abandoned buildings this was done
many abandoned buildings this was done by artist Brenda and connealy with the
by artist Brenda and connealy with the
by artist Brenda and connealy with the spongebob character she’s followed young
spongebob character she’s followed young
spongebob character she’s followed young people from birth through their lives
people from birth through their lives
people from birth through their lives and you’re gonna see that soon people
and you’re gonna see that soon people
and you’re gonna see that soon people immediately started to do projects like
immediately started to do projects like
immediately started to do projects like composting DIY snack shops with
composting DIY snack shops with
composting DIY snack shops with nutritious foods biochar workshops doing
nutritious foods biochar workshops doing
nutritious foods biochar workshops doing science bringing science into the
science bringing science into the
science bringing science into the community people from all over different
community people from all over different
community people from all over different youth groups college groups community
youth groups college groups community
youth groups college groups community volunteers came together to help create
volunteers came together to help create
volunteers came together to help create a hoop house this is now an aquaponic
a hoop house this is now an aquaponic
a hoop house this is now an aquaponic project and with all kinds of science
project and with all kinds of science
project and with all kinds of science demonstrations in it that’s the behind
demonstrations in it that’s the behind
demonstrations in it that’s the behind there is a carriage house which is our
there is a carriage house which is our
there is a carriage house which is our environmental education Research Center
environmental education Research Center
environmental education Research Center and again celebrating the riches within
and again celebrating the riches within
and again celebrating the riches within our community and using our place and
our community and using our place and
our community and using our place and our infrastructure to feature the riches
our infrastructure to feature the riches
our infrastructure to feature the riches in our community this is Sheila who
in our community this is Sheila who
in our community this is Sheila who learned how to make collard greens from
learned how to make collard greens from
learned how to make collard greens from her grandmother and these are collards
her grandmother and these are collards
her grandmother and these are collards that came out of that garden that she’s
that came out of that garden that she’s
that came out of that garden that she’s cooking for an event like the Freedom
cooking for an event like the Freedom
cooking for an event like the Freedom Square event that I shared with you
Square event that I shared with you
Square event that I shared with you chickens connecting with nature a lot of
chickens connecting with nature a lot of
chickens connecting with nature a lot of the young people who come around our
the young people who come around our
the young people who come around our neighborhood are afraid of a fly or a
neighborhood are afraid of a fly or a
neighborhood are afraid of a fly or a spider these guys became fearless
spider these guys became fearless
spider these guys became fearless beekeepers with their arms deep into the
beekeepers with their arms deep into the
beekeepers with their arms deep into the hives and then they spun the honey and
hives and then they spun the honey and
hives and then they spun the honey and made their own designs for the for the
made their own designs for the for the
made their own designs for the for the jars and shared it with the community
jars and shared it with the community
jars and shared it with the community and again of course telling the story
and again of course telling the story
and again of course telling the story here they’re recording
here they’re recording
here they’re recording radio story and the sweetness of a peach
radio story and the sweetness of a peach
radio story and the sweetness of a peach and how it will go into a pie that will
and how it will go into a pie that will
and how it will go into a pie that will bring the community together the joy of
bring the community together the joy of
bring the community together the joy of working from seed to table and bringing
working from seed to table and bringing
working from seed to table and bringing community together and then they played
community together and then they played
community together and then they played this on WOC our radio station a third
this on WOC our radio station a third
this on WOC our radio station a third example still on one block this is an
example still on one block this is an
example still on one block this is an abandoned building really beautiful this
abandoned building really beautiful this
abandoned building really beautiful this is the gorilla growler a project where
is the gorilla growler a project where
is the gorilla growler a project where our young people tried to put positive
our young people tried to put positive
our young people tried to put positive representations of people living in the
representations of people living in the
representations of people living in the community on to the boarded up windows
community on to the boarded up windows
community on to the boarded up windows of all the abandoned buildings in the
of all the abandoned buildings in the
of all the abandoned buildings in the area this is Jesse who we lived in this
area this is Jesse who we lived in this
area this is Jesse who we lived in this grew up in this house was forced out by
grew up in this house was forced out by
grew up in this house was forced out by absentee landlords this is the living
absentee landlords this is the living
absentee landlords this is the living room after it was abandoned and here it
room after it was abandoned and here it
room after it was abandoned and here it is now so it is now a gallery an artist
is now so it is now a gallery an artist
is now so it is now a gallery an artist residency spot for nature lab our
residency spot for nature lab our
residency spot for nature lab our program it stands for north Troy art
program it stands for north Troy art
program it stands for north Troy art technology and urban research in ecology
technology and urban research in ecology
technology and urban research in ecology this is our artist resident Brenda and
this is our artist resident Brenda and
this is our artist resident Brenda and connealy and this is called the North
connealy and this is called the North
connealy and this is called the North Troy people’s history project so these
Troy people’s history project so these
Troy people’s history project so these young people are in the project actually
young people are in the project actually
young people are in the project actually the one on the right Tony is in his
the one on the right Tony is in his
the one on the right Tony is in his birth is one of the photos we’ve watched
birth is one of the photos we’ve watched
birth is one of the photos we’ve watched him grow up in here and celebrating the
him grow up in here and celebrating the
him grow up in here and celebrating the people living in North Troy and looking
people living in North Troy and looking
people living in North Troy and looking all the way back with a timeline to the
all the way back with a timeline to the
all the way back with a timeline to the dinosaurs
dinosaurs
dinosaurs and again weaving their legacy into our
and again weaving their legacy into our
and again weaving their legacy into our history this was an amazing show as far
history this was an amazing show as far
history this was an amazing show as far as a magnet for bringing people together
as a magnet for bringing people together
as a magnet for bringing people together to create dialog and understanding this
to create dialog and understanding this
to create dialog and understanding this is a policeman who could not get out he
is a policeman who could not get out he
is a policeman who could not get out he was there all day long reading their
was there all day long reading their
was there all day long reading their scrapbooks listening to their videos
scrapbooks listening to their videos
scrapbooks listening to their videos talking with them connecting with social
talking with them connecting with social
talking with them connecting with social workers with community organizers with
workers with community organizers with
workers with community organizers with medical experts and talking to the youth
medical experts and talking to the youth
medical experts and talking to the youth to try to understand what plagues youth
to try to understand what plagues youth
to try to understand what plagues youth growing up in such an economically
growing up in such an economically
growing up in such an economically disadvantaged neighborhood as North Troy
disadvantaged neighborhood as North Troy
disadvantaged neighborhood as North Troy this is the story candles project also
this is the story candles project also
this is the story candles project also by Brenda and connealy our artist
by Brenda and connealy our artist
by Brenda and connealy our artist resident that was outside of the
resident that was outside of the
resident that was outside of the building in which she is telling the
building in which she is telling the
building in which she is telling the much much the very important story that
much much the very important story that
much much the very important story that that usually remains untold of young
that usually remains untold of young
that usually remains untold of young people’s lives who ended too soon our
people’s lives who ended too soon our
people’s lives who ended too soon our youth are taking their quest for
youth are taking their quest for
youth are taking their quest for knowledge and truth in science and
knowledge and truth in science and
knowledge and truth in science and environmental justice out into the
environmental justice out into the
environmental justice out into the community we’re going to the Hudson
community we’re going to the Hudson
community we’re going to the Hudson River which is of course their
River which is of course their
River which is of course their neighborhood Shores is so toxic and
neighborhood Shores is so toxic and
neighborhood Shores is so toxic and examining the fate and the toxic water
examining the fate and the toxic water
examining the fate and the toxic water of the fish we’re out there also testing
of the fish we’re out there also testing
of the fish we’re out there also testing this summer we tested for antibiotic
this summer we tested for antibiotic
this summer we tested for antibiotic resistant organisms microplastics in the
resistant organisms microplastics in the
resistant organisms microplastics in the water becoming citizen scientists in
water becoming citizen scientists in
water becoming citizen scientists in their own community in conclusion it’s
their own community in conclusion it’s
their own community in conclusion it’s all about planting seeds planting seeds
all about planting seeds planting seeds
all about planting seeds planting seeds of collaboration I’m an editor before I
of collaboration I’m an editor before I
of collaboration I’m an editor before I was a professor I was an editor I just
was a professor I was an editor I just
was a professor I was an editor I just have to say it’s very strange that I’m
have to say it’s very strange that I’m
have to say it’s very strange that I’m doing a TED talk because in 1984 when
doing a TED talk because in 1984 when
doing a TED talk because in 1984 when Ted started I was their editor in
Ted started I was their editor in
Ted started I was their editor in Hollywood it’s not strange but really
Hollywood it’s not strange but really
Hollywood it’s not strange but really editing is about being conscious of
editing is about being conscious of
editing is about being conscious of creating and constructing messages and
creating and constructing messages and
creating and constructing messages and then designing them to move people to
then designing them to move people to
then designing them to move people to action right and so it’s been my great
action right and so it’s been my great
action right and so it’s been my great honor to work with the youth in the
honor to work with the youth in the
honor to work with the youth in the community and pass on my skills all the
community and pass on my skills all the
community and pass on my skills all the decision-making at that table is theirs
decision-making at that table is theirs
decision-making at that table is theirs planting seeds to cross lines of
planting seeds to cross lines of
planting seeds to cross lines of difference this is myelin again he’s
difference this is myelin again he’s
difference this is myelin again he’s interviewing the mayor of Troy planting
interviewing the mayor of Troy planting
interviewing the mayor of Troy planting seeds to honor immigrants this is and
seeds to honor immigrants this is and
seeds to honor immigrants this is and people who come from different walks of
people who come from different walks of
people who come from different walks of life these are young people who just
life these are young people who just
life these are young people who just moved to Albany from Iraq telling their
moved to Albany from Iraq telling their
moved to Albany from Iraq telling their story with painting
planting seeds to UM understand the
planting seeds to UM understand the magic of all of our abilities this is
magic of all of our abilities this is
magic of all of our abilities this is the seeing with photography collective
the seeing with photography collective
the seeing with photography collective and they are blind and sight impaired
and they are blind and sight impaired
and they are blind and sight impaired and use light to create photographs
planting seats to stand up for our
planting seats to stand up for our freedom of expression planting seeds to
freedom of expression planting seeds to
freedom of expression planting seeds to network diverse organizations with
network diverse organizations with
network diverse organizations with diverse needs to network communities to
diverse needs to network communities to
diverse needs to network communities to make our world a better place in this
make our world a better place in this
make our world a better place in this case this is the Bread and Puppet a
case this is the Bread and Puppet a
case this is the Bread and Puppet a parade throughout North Troy where we’re
parade throughout North Troy where we’re
parade throughout North Troy where we’re collaborating with alternative
collaborating with alternative
collaborating with alternative transportation organizations health and
transportation organizations health and
transportation organizations health and nutrition groups and other urban
nutrition groups and other urban
nutrition groups and other urban development organizers what is art but
development organizers what is art but
development organizers what is art but the ability to connect to our soul what
the ability to connect to our soul what
the ability to connect to our soul what is the power of voice the voice can
is the power of voice the voice can
is the power of voice the voice can change our world we can shift negative
change our world we can shift negative
change our world we can shift negative representations to positive ones this is
representations to positive ones this is
representations to positive ones this is also Brenda and connealy in a residence
also Brenda and connealy in a residence
also Brenda and connealy in a residence with the Upstate girls and that is Tony
with the Upstate girls and that is Tony
with the Upstate girls and that is Tony on the right much younger at the time
on the right much younger at the time
on the right much younger at the time and eat each of them are in front of
and eat each of them are in front of
and eat each of them are in front of their photo older if you could change
their photo older if you could change
their photo older if you could change that that could be changed the
that that could be changed the
that that could be changed the perspective of people’s perspective the
perspective of people’s perspective the
perspective of people’s perspective the way they see life and the way these
way they see life and the way these
way they see life and the way these children see life I think things are
children see life I think things are
children see life I think things are really really changed that was Jerry
really really changed that was Jerry
really really changed that was Jerry he’s our neighbourhood ambassador we
he’s our neighbourhood ambassador we
he’s our neighbourhood ambassador we have several neighbourhood ambassadors
have several neighbourhood ambassadors
have several neighbourhood ambassadors we actually developed that as a model
we actually developed that as a model
we actually developed that as a model project bringing it’s almost a
project bringing it’s almost a
project bringing it’s almost a performative way to connect with our art
performative way to connect with our art
performative way to connect with our art with our the people who really live in
with our the people who really live in
with our the people who really live in our neighborhood and the neighborhood
our neighborhood and the neighborhood
our neighborhood and the neighborhood ambassadors was used actually in
ambassadors was used actually in
ambassadors was used actually in breathing lights last year so it
breathing lights last year so it
breathing lights last year so it happened they were there were
happened they were there were
happened they were there were neighborhood ambassadors in Schenectady
neighborhood ambassadors in Schenectady
neighborhood ambassadors in Schenectady – but what it’s really about is coming
– but what it’s really about is coming
– but what it’s really about is coming together in a sea of hope these are
together in a sea of hope these are
together in a sea of hope these are sturgeons and actually I’m wearing a
sturgeons and actually I’m wearing a
sturgeons and actually I’m wearing a sturgeon my t-shirt it’s kind of our our
sturgeon my t-shirt it’s kind of our our
sturgeon my t-shirt it’s kind of our our emblem of resistance of strength the
emblem of resistance of strength the
emblem of resistance of strength the sturgeon who swim in the northern tip up
sturgeon who swim in the northern tip up
sturgeon who swim in the northern tip up to the they spawn in the northern tip of
to the they spawn in the northern tip of
to the they spawn in the northern tip of the estuary right of the Hudson River
the estuary right of the Hudson River
the estuary right of the Hudson River estuary right by the sanctuary they were
estuary right by the sanctuary they were
estuary right by the sanctuary they were almost extinct and they are coming back
almost extinct and they are coming back
almost extinct and they are coming back strong powerful beautiful this is Uncle
strong powerful beautiful this is Uncle
strong powerful beautiful this is Uncle Mac another neighborhood ambassador we
Mac another neighborhood ambassador we
Mac another neighborhood ambassador we have a holiday celebration every
have a holiday celebration every
have a holiday celebration every December I invite all of you there’s
December I invite all of you there’s
December I invite all of you there’s free portraits for everyone in the
free portraits for everyone in the
free portraits for everyone in the community but uncle Mac his wisdom and
community but uncle Mac his wisdom and
community but uncle Mac his wisdom and what he says to us is it’s not about the
what he says to us is it’s not about the
what he says to us is it’s not about the me it’s about the we and as I said every
me it’s about the we and as I said every
me it’s about the we and as I said every one of these could be a story that’s
one of these could be a story that’s
one of these could be a story that’s incredible everyone comes from a totally
incredible everyone comes from a totally
incredible everyone comes from a totally different and diverse walk of life
different and diverse walk of life
different and diverse walk of life coming together to affect change in one
coming together to affect change in one
coming together to affect change in one hyperlocal spot and with that I pass the
hyperlocal spot and with that I pass the
hyperlocal spot and with that I pass the torch to you open up to your creativity
torch to you open up to your creativity
torch to you open up to your creativity many of you are many of you maybe aren’t
many of you are many of you maybe aren’t
many of you are many of you maybe aren’t but with your own vision with your
but with your own vision with your
but with your own vision with your stories with your creativity you can
stories with your creativity you can
stories with your creativity you can make a difference in this world and
make a difference in this world and
make a difference in this world and hopefully make a change
”
Be First to Comment