[Imc-chicago] Creative America Project urges artists and creatives to run for local office

[Thomas Tresser]

Friends at Chicago Independent Meda -

Imagine artists, educators, media activists, creative professionals and 
people passionate about creativity getting elected to local school boards, 
library boards and city councils all over America.

Imagine creativity elevated to a national value and priority.

Imagination precedes implementation (old community organizer maxim).

The Creative America Project is dedicated to preparing artists and creative 
professionals to run for local office in 2006 and beyond. CAP is a national 
nonprofit and nonpartisan organization located in Chicago.

Can you pass this message on to your creative and activist networks? WE ARE 
LOOKING FOR A TEAM TO VIDEO THE MAY 14 TRAINING SESSION. WE CAN PAY A STIPEND.

Tom Tresser
Lead Organizer
tom at creativeamerica.us
312-804-3230

Emacs!


CREATIVE AMERICA TO OFFER CANDIDATE/ORGANIZER TRAINING FOR ARTISTS
  AND CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS ON MAY 14

"Stand up for Creativity!" is the theme of the Creative America Project's 
second candidate and organizer training session in Chicago on May 14, 2005, 
at Columbia College's Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Avenue.

The training session will take place from 9 am to 5 pm and is designed to 
show creative professionals how to run for local office using grassroots, 
progressive strategies. The training will also show people how to be 
grassroots organizers or managers for social change campaigns.

The session is sponsored by Columbia College's Civic Responsibility and 
Engagement Committee.

Subjects covered will include:

- The place of creativity in the historic and economic life of America
- Why artists and creative professionals are needed in the civic arena
- Who is pursuing an "anti-creativity" agenda and why
- How to translate your creative credentials into political assets
- How to put together a grassroots campaign
- How to get your message out
- Recruiting and managing volunteers
- Raising funds for your campaign
- Running and winning as a creativity champion

The cost for the training is $20.06. To register, please visit 
<http://www.creativeamerica.us/>www.creativeamerica.us or you can send a 
check for $20.06, made out to the Creative America Project, and mail to 
1643 N. Larrabee Street, Suite I, Chicago, IL 60614. Please include your 
phone number and email address.

The trainers are Kitty Kurth and Kevin Lampe, of Kurth-Lampe, Inc., a 
public relations and political consulting firm based in Chicago. 
Information about the firm is online at www.kurthlampe.com.

We held our first candidate/organizer training session in Chicago at the 
Bailiwick Theater on Jan 22. Despite a blizzard that dumped 11 inches of 
snow on Chicago, we had 40 people turn out for a day of training, ideas and 
fellowship. Over 50% of the attendees were women. The youngest attendee was 
20, the oldest early 60's. White, black, latino, straight, gay and 
representatives of the performing arts, writing, educational, organizing 
and marketing professions were present.

There were performances, reports from local and national experts in the 
arts, politics and grassroots campaigning and great networking. Most 
important, attendees explored a galaxy of new possibilities for creative 
professionals in public life.

Attendee feedback...
One attendee's report of the day posted on his blog - 
http://andymatic.com/2005/01/22/creative-america-and-tom-tresser/
Another sent in this essay, "The Artist as Politician" - 
http://www.tresser.com/Chatman.htm
An email received the day after: Subject: "THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US . 
. .
    * Images and attendee comments at http://www.tresser.com/Jan22.htm.
    * Recent Chicago press on the project posted at 
http://www.creativeamerica.us/12press.html.
    * Coverage of presentation given to Young Professionals of Racine on 
2/21: http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2005/02/22/local/iq_3395231.txt
    * UTNE Magazine covers us in the Spring issue: 
http://www.utne.com/pub/2005_128/promo/11560-1.html
    * Click here to see CAP's National Board and Advisory Council: 
http://www.creativeamerica.us/03who.html
Bottom line: Members of the arts, culture and creative communities are 
THIRSTY for hands-on knowledge on how to enter public service and bring 
their passions, principles and creative talents with them!

For more information, please contact Tom Tresser Lead Organizer, 
tom at creativeamerica.us, 312-804-3230.

Tom Tresser
Lead Organizer
tom at creativeamerica.us

Our agenda:  Create. Act. Vote. Run.

Things You Can Do Now...

(1) Join our email list maintained by Yahoo Groups. That way you'll be the 
first to learn of news and special events. The list that is open to the 
public and is accessed at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/creativeamerica.

(2) Contribute $50 to help us plan and deliver our 2005 training sessions 
by using the PayPal feature on our home page at www.creativeamerica.us.
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The Creative America Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization 
seeking to inspire and equip creative leaders to take active roles in civic 
life.  We do not support, endorse or oppose candidates or proposed 
legislation. The Creative America Project does not discriminate with 
respect to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital 
status, or partisan affiliation. The Creative America Project has an open 
admission policy and all programs are open to the public.
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