5 Legacy Letters about Water
| 2 Comments
Summary:
Legacy Letters are a unique multi-media project and unusual communications tool to reach people across the state. My organization, Envision Minnesota, uses them to share our broad message of building a sense of community. The importance of water is a great theme on which to base 5 new Legacy Letters. We involve the public by inviting their short essays (150 words). We select the best, and invite them in for a taping. We add dozens of images and a soundtrack to create a mini-documentary that brings their story and message to life. The Legacy Letters then air across the state on Twin Cities Public Television's Minnesota Channel. They are only one-minute long, and are welcomed by viewers because they are not advertising. They are eloquent statements by citizens who want to share their passion with others. Legacy Letters bring people together and remind us what we all have in common. What could be better than water as a common theme that connects us all?
About You
About You
First Name
Jill
Last Name
Mazullo
Country
United States, MN
City
St. Paul
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Envision Minnesota
Organization Website
http://www.envisionmn.org
Your Idea
Name your idea
5 Legacy Letters about Water
Describe how you would use $15,000 to help your community become aware of and address water issues in Minnesota.
My organization creates "Legacy Letters," which are 1-minute films about what people treasure in Minnesota. They run on public television across Minnesota. We just finished 20 new films, and they are powerful pieces on why people care about Minnesota's history. Based on our track record of encouraging people to submit their essays and turning them into powerful short films, I know we could make 5 powerful short films featuring Minnesotans talking about the importance of water.
How do you define your "community"?. How are water issues affecting your community?
I think of our community as the entire state, as well as the adjacent states that share our waters. People in the metro area value their rivers and lakes for recreation, scenic value, and even drinking water. People across the state cherish their lakes for fishing, boating, recreation and tourism. They recognize the power of the rivers that can flood their towns. My organization works on shoreland standards, encouraging people to be mindful of how they manage their property along lakeshores. The more we pave our land, the lower the water quality of all bodies of water. And the more we impact water within our borders, the worse the water quality of the watersheds and rivers that extend into other states, and all the way to the Gulf. It's more than just Minnesota that depends on our treating our land and waters well.
Innovation
Describe how your idea is creative.
Legacy Letters are a unique multi-media project and unusual communications tool to reach people across the state. My organization, Envision Minnesota, uses them to share our broad message of building a sense of community. The importance of water is a great theme on which to base 5 new Legacy Letters. We involve the public by inviting their short essays (150 words). We select the best, and invite them in for a taping. We add dozens of images and a soundtrack to create a mini-documentary that brings their story and message to life. The Legacy Letters then air across the state on Twin Cities Public Television's Minnesota Channel. They are only one-minute long, and are welcomed by viewers because they are not advertising. They are eloquent statements by citizens who want to share their passion with others. Legacy Letters bring people together and remind us what we all have in common. What could be better than water as a common theme that connects us all?
Impact
Describe how how you expect your idea to make a difference in your community.
In late June 2011 we launched the most recent Legacy Letters. These 20 pieces sparked great excitement, and one of the most striking reactions from the audience was how useful these short films can be for teachers to use in their classrooms.
Based on our surveys, we heard that Legacy Letters are "Extremely valuable, very inspiring, and piques my interest. I'd like to use them in my classroom." Another person wrote, "I would describe the value of Legacy Letters in terms of sharing content on a written, oral, and visual level designed to entertain and inform viewers' senses on several levels. I imagine that the letters will find a match with viewers and/or educators." One woman wrote "I love thinking that many people will learn more about Minnesota history and perhaps have their interest piqued by watching any one of the Legacy Letters."
These comments suggest that 5 Legacy Letters on the theme of the importance of water would be a valuable tool for educators. We are already exploring how the existing Legacy Letters can be put in the hands of teachers across the state. Knowing there are more Legacy Letters in the works on a new theme will doubtless be a plus for them as they consider how they might use them in their classrooms.
Sustainability and Growth
Describe how your idea will "stick" in your community and how you think it could be repeated in other communities.
Legacy Letters air many times on the TPT Minnesota Channel. They are rotated so people are always seeing fresh Legacy Letters, but they are repeated and shown at random times throughout the day. Once completed, they air for several years across the state. This gives people a chance to see them, watch them again, think about them, and start a conversation with their friends, colleagues or neighbors about what they saw, or what they treasure. Legacy Letters are meant to be conversation starters. They give you a glimpse of someone else's passion for a subject and invite you to share your own. They build a sense of community, which is greatly needed in our state right now.
Given how easy it is to make a short movie using household equipment like a decent camera or even a smart phone, young people can create their own Legacy Letters for school projects or to fulfill an assignment. Short videos can be put on YouTube and shared with ease. Today's social media tools and a media-savvy culture make a great combination when young people are introduced to a concept like Legacy Letters.
 | Jill Mazullo said: Thanks, Camille! I think there's a lot of potential here as well. about this Competition Entry. - 1777 days ago read more > |
| Camille Cauchois said: Wow, these Legacy Letters sound fantastic! I love your idea of incorporating water issues! about this Competition Entry. - 1778 days ago read more > |
 | Jill Mazullo updated this Competition Entry. - 1779 days ago |
 | Jill Mazullo submitted this idea. - 1780 days ago |
Take action: |
||
|
discuss |
share this entry |
|
|
Like this (2 likes) | ||