Rev. Chris Buice of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church will join UU filmmaker Janet Fitch for discussion following each screening. Help lead the Faith Community as conveners of a new conversation- reframing discussion of gun violence to a public health focus on prevention.

SCREENING & DISCUSSION TIMES Thursday, June 24 – 1 to 2:45p.m. Friday, June 25 -1 to 2:45p.m.

Hilton Minneapolis (connected via skyway to the Minneapolis Convention Center) 1001 Marquette Avenue South Board Room 1 is located on the third floor

**We will also collect signatures to add gun violence prevention to the
Peacemaking SAI – please stop in to sign!**

Learn more at Changing the Conversation: America's Gun Violence Epidemic.

New Moon Productions’ 3-part, award-winning documentary series: Guns, Grief & Grace in America, looks at the topic through local, national and state lenses. The goal is to reframe discussion to a non-polarized, public health model for prevention. The completion film offers diverse state perspectives; audiences acclaim it as the most exciting yet, and a powerful tool for creating a fresh, solution-based dialog.

Changing the Conversation: America’s Gun Violence Epidemic
Part three in the Guns, Grief and Grace in America trilogy
Directed by Janet Fitch, New Moon Productions. TRT: 87 minutes

Changing the Conversation: America’s Gun Violence Epidemic

Gun violence is generally discussed in terms of urban homicides, yet startling statistics tell another story. This film reframes the conversation of America’s gun violence epidemic by shifting the focus from Second Amendment rights to public health prevention. Engage in a radically logical approach to restructuring how we think, speak and act on gun violence through three distinct lenses. Hear from lawmakers, activists, urban musicians united for change and a quiet town, searching for answers after a domestic violence murder-suicide. Wisconsin, serves as a model for every state with urban, suburban, small town and rural populations. Public health experts offer impressive evidence as they present the benefits of reframing this currently polarizing conversation to focus on the broader story. Hope emerges with the awareness that diverse populations experience critical social issues in different ways, and that strategies for prevention will succeed -
when driven by data, instead of ideology.

Total running time: 87 minutes.

The Old Conversation – Part 1
Madison, WI – the state capitol, is the site polarizing legislative sessions and an astounding back room interview with a State Senator, revealing bullying strategies and techniques, tying up countless hours of time on legislation to expand gun rights. The Governor pleads for time to discuss “the more important issues of jobs, health care and education.” Domestic violence and suicide prevention groups from across the state arrange to meet up with urban mothers of homicide victims to combine their influence on the topic.

We Are the Ones -Part 2
Milwaukee, WI – in the state’s largest city, an urban recording studio is headquarters to three spoken word poets and activists, whose performances and personal journeys towards organizing with youth and community groups reveal a vibrant approach as they delve into the physical and emotional infrastructure of urban youth violence. Their activity and performances invite a new discussion of race and class in America with questions arising such as, “What are the roots of urban youth violence – why is the blame placed squarely on our youth – and what are WE going to do about it?”

Forgive Us – Part 3
****Marshfield, WI – a mid-sized town in the center of the state (population 20,000) suffers a domestic violence murder-suicide, convincing a local minister, his church and some town activists to attempt a new public health-based conversation. “The silence is deafening” surrounding gun violence in a town, steeped in generations of hunting tradition. Hunters and family members clearly state their desire to find ways to prevent more of the deaths that tragically affect small town, farm and rural areas. Startling statistics on domestic violence and suicide emerge as the story unfolds.

MCW Youth Violence Prevention Initiative announces a
CALL FOR PARTNERSHIPS

This spring, the MCW Youth Violence Prevention Initiative(VPI) will issue a Call for Partnerships (CFP). Applications are encouraged from partnership teams throughout Wisconsin representing Milwaukee communities and diverse stakeholders.

Interested groups will receive funding to work collaboratively with MCW and the VPI team to:
· implement violence prevention programs for youth ages 0-11 years;
· develop leadership capacity to prevent violence among youth ages 12-17 years;
· build and strengthen community capacity and resources to prevent youth violence.

The VPI partnership model is based on the premise that partnerships will capitalize on the strengths and unique skills of community organizations and faculty and staff of MCW in order to address a community priority.

Who Can Apply?
Eligible community partners are broadly defined to be inclusive of Wisconsin-based organizations. Multi-sector partnerships and multiple partners are encouraged and expected. Individuals may not apply, but are encouraged to participate. Eligible community partners are Wisconsin-based, non-profit, and government organizations. At least one partner must have 501(c)3 status.

Tentative Timeline
CFP Announcement: May 2010
CFP guidelines released: Late Spring 2010
CFP Informational Sessions: Late Spring 2010
Selection Panel conducts review process: Summer 2010
Community Partnership Teams announced: Summer 2010

Successful applicants will:
Demonstrate a capacity for partnership by:
· demonstrating experience with collaboration, partnership, and shared leadership toward common goals
· showing evidence of community commitment, ownership, and broad-based participation from diverse stakeholders and leadership

Demonstrate a knowledge of community needs and assets related to youth violence prevention by:
· proposing a program focused on an area of Milwaukee with high rates of youth violence and other community needs
· having an awareness of community assets that can be leveraged to reduce youth violence

Demonstrate a capacity to carry out effective youth violence prevention programs by:
· demonstrating a clear understanding of factors contributing to youth violence in Milwaukee with specific examples and measures for success
· understanding the role of parents, family, schools, and the broader community in youth violence prevention efforts
· showing potential for the project to be disseminated and replicated in other communities

Get involved:
· Subscribe to our community listserve (vpi@mcw.edu) to receive updates on VPI activities and opportunities
· Sign up to receive our bi-monthly newsletter
· Watch for opportunities to participate in community sessions, conversations, or meetings designed to help reduce youth violence in your area

Individuals, organizations, and businesses looking for more information should contact:
David Seal, PhD
VPI Senior Faculty Coordinator
Medical College of Wisconsin
Phone: (414) 955-7750
Email: dseal@mcw.edu

OR

VPI Staff:
Sarah Di Padova, Suzette Svoboda-Newman, and May yer Thao
MCW Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
1801 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 955-2699
Fax: (414) 955-0114
Email: vpi@mcw.edu
Web: www.mcw.edu/vpi.htm

An MCW Consortium on Public and Community Health initiative funded by the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program.

---

Medical College of Wisconsin Consortium
Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
1801 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 955-2699
Fax: (414) 955-0114
Email: vpi@mcw.edu
Web: www.mcw.edu/vpi.htm

Stand Together Milwaukee

VISION: Restore a sense of healthy community through collaborative action
MISSION: Groups, organizations and individuals standing together to confront gun violence in Milwaukee as a Public Health issue
ACTION GROUPS: Communication, Media, Outreach, and Policy

Stand-Up Initiatives

• Coordinate, highlight and promote existing efforts towards a healthier community
• Initiate an interactive Community Engagement Campaign
• Challenge mainstream and alternative media to reframe gun violence as a Public Health issue, affecting all citizens
• Create, promote and implement effective solutions to reduce violence and restore a sense of healthy community in the four-county area

Greetings,

The MCW Consortium on Public and Community Health Youth Violence Prevention Initiative seeks a VPI Community Director who will work closely with the VPI faculty, staff and community partners to fulfill the VPI’s mission. The VPI Community Director will provide leadership for the MCW Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and work collaboratively with the selected community sites, the Associate Dean for Public and Community Health and the MCW Faculty Coordinators to accomplish the following responsibilities:

• Promote the VPI to key leaders in communities with an emphasis on a strength-based model of community involvement.
• Provide leadership for informing the community of the goals and objectives of the VPI, implementing the program model and evaluation plan, and enhancing community-wide presence of the VPI.
• Lead the staff in the assurance of project performance, effective and appropriate community outreach, partnership facilitation, evaluation of the implementation plans and project effectiveness.
• Work with the selected community partners and MCW faculty to lead the VPI implementation process.
• Facilitate the accomplishment of the VPI’s goals, and supervise all programmatic activities related to accomplishing these goals.
• Manage the process for establishing and implementing six-month and annual VPI milestones.
• Manage networking and communication with community partners, MCW faculty and all entities interacting with the VPI.
• Assist in the ongoing effort to recruit new stakeholders whose talents, commitment and contacts are complimentary to the needs and mission of the VPI and its community partners.
• Coordinate and participate in meetings, providing appropriate programmatic and fiscal reports, and recommend appropriate program policies and procedures. Each applicant for the VPI Community Director position is asked to respond to five questions in addition to submitting their resume and completing the online application.

The prescreening questions include:

1. Describe how you would work most effectively to accomplish the Violence Prevention Initiative priorities with its community partners.
2. What challenges can you foresee in implementing the program priorities over the next five years, and how would you work to address those challenges?
   1. Describe the strengths that you would bring to the position of community director; please document those strengths with examples from your professional experience.
   2. Describe your experience with community-academic partnerships. From your experience, what are key elements of successful partnerships?
3. If you are hired, what will you do in the first year to ensure the program is successful?

The VPI Community Director position is available at the following link:

https://tbe.taleo.net/NA3/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=MCW&cws=1&rid=3689

The VPI Community Director is a position of MCW. MCW is committed to identifying and recruiting a broad and diverse pool of qualified candidates for this position. Additional resources can be found on the VPI website: www.mcw.edu/vpi.htm.

Applications are due by May 15, 2010.

Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested.

Thank you,
VPI Staff

Medical College of Wisconsin Consortium
Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
1801 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 955-2699
Fax: (414) 955-0114
Email: vpi@mcw.edu
Web: www.mcw.edu/vpi.htm

Stand Together Milwaukee

VISION: Restore a sense of healthy community through collaborative action
MISSION: Groups, organizations and individuals standing together to confront gun violence in Milwaukee as a Public Health issue
ACTION GROUPS: Communication, Media, Outreach, and Policy

Stand-Up Initiatives

• Coordinate, highlight and promote existing efforts towards a healthier community
• Initiate an interactive Community Engagement Campaign
• Challenge mainstream and alternative media to reframe gun violence as a Public Health issue, affecting all citizens
• Create, promote and implement effective solutions to reduce violence and restore a sense of healthy community in the four-county area

**Our April 24th outing will coincide with Earth Day Acitivities.
We will initiate “Scooter’s Garden of Hope” across the street from Oliver Wendel Holmes School
10 a.m. 2462 N. Buffum.
Lunch will be supplied by Whole Foods!**

Do you have a shovels, rakes, hoes, or a green thumb, or know someone who does?

We are officially starting Scooter’s Garden of Hope with the dedicated help of students from O.W. Holmes, and coordinated efforts of Sweet Water Organics, Victory Garden Initiative, Whole Foods Market, and the Milwaukee Urban Garden.

We are forming a Garden Club Committee made up of Scooter Foundation volunteers. The committee will manage care of the garden, working with the school kids to sustain it. We will create compost, and grow delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables. We will be using compose and worns donated by Sweetwater Organics.

Please put the word out if you know anyone who enjoys gardening, and do remind them it’s for a great cause, the kids and the neighborhood! We are looking for donations of plants, seeds, lumber, and sheet cardboard for spring ground cover.

As you can imagine, we need help. Please e-mail me here, or call Nalissa at 262-224-9575.

Stand Together Milwaukee

VISION: Restore a sense of healthy community through collaborative action
MISSION: Groups, organizations and individuals standing together to confront gun violence in Milwaukee as a Public Health issue
ACTION GROUPS: Communication, Media, Outreach, and Policy

Stand-Up Initiatives

• Coordinate, highlight and promote existing efforts towards a healthier community
• Initiate an interactive Community Engagement Campaign
• Challenge mainstream and alternative media to reframe gun violence as a Public Health issue, affecting all citizens
• Create, promote and implement effective solutions to reduce violence and restore a sense of healthy community in the four-county area

Women as Agents of Change is the theme of this screening – one of multiple events celebrating the Grand Opening of Alverno’s Research Center for Women and Girls.

The Alverno Student Chapter of Women in Communication (AWC) co-chairs this event with the state Chapter of WIC; the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee and Alverno’s Research Center for Women and Girls. A panel of “Responders” look forward to audience comments and discussion.

PLEASE JOIN US – THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – BRING FRIENDS!
This Saturday: APRIL 10 at 1 P.M.
Alverno Conference Center
3400 South 43rd Street

Click HERE to see the event poster.

Here’s the inside scoop on the new film!

Changing the Conversation: America’s Gun Violence Epidemic View the trailer HERE Gun violence is generally discussed in terms of urban homicides, yet startling statistics tell another story. This film reframes the conversation of America’s gun violence epidemic by shifting the focus from Second Amendment rights to public health prevention. Engage in a radically logical approach to restructuring how we think, speak and act on gun violence through three distinct lenses. Hear from lawmakers, activists, urban musicians united for change and a quiet town, searching for answers after a domestic violence murder-suicide. Wisconsin, serves as a model for every state with urban, suburban, small town and rural populations. Public health experts offer impressive evidence as they present the benefits of reframing this currently polarizing conversation to focus on the broader story. Hope emerges with the awareness that diverse populations experience critical social issues in different ways, and that strategies for prevention will succeed – when driven by data, not ideology.

SPECIAL EVENT THIS SATURDAY: January 9
Co-sponsors: The Women’s Center of Waukesha and The Plowshare Center

11:00 am-1:30 pm, Café Esperanza 410 Arcadian, Waukesha

Directions to Café Esperanza/La Casa de Esperanza that avoid downtown Waukesha

From I94 traveling west:

· Take Waukesha exit at Barker Road & Hwy W18/S164 (Moreland Road)
· Curve to the right to go past the park & ride (Goerke’s Corners) and turn left on Hwy W18/S164 (Moreland Road)
· Turn left on S164 (at the traffic light by Honda dealer)
· Turn right on Arcadian Avenue (at the traffic light before Aldi)
· Continue to 410 Arcadian Avenue (by railroad tracks)
· There is a large parking lot across the street

Changing the Conversation:
America’s Gun Violence Epidemic

The film views gun violence through the diverse lenses of suburban, urban, small town, farm and rural communities as it reframes discussion from a 2nd Amendment/crime issue to a non-polarized, preventable, public health issue – affecting all communities in any given state.

Please join us for a screening of segments from the film and discussion afterward with filmmaker, Janet Fitch – who is excited to also bring together representatives from The Wisconsin Rural Women’s Initiative and Milwaukee’s Sojourner Family Peace Center.

A light lunch will be served. This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP: Sally Michalko of Plowshares:1-262-524-9499 smichalko@wi.rr.com