For #GivingTuesdayNow, Your Donation Can Support Two Causes

#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 – in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19 the promising family foundation grants, totaling $15,000, have been relocated to organizations in need of emergency supplies. Although I understand the necessity for realistically reallocating the grant funds I also understand the importance of coming together as a community and supporting small businesses.

That said, today is the official public launch of my iFundWomen crowdfunding campaign. Your donation can support two causes:

1. The final cut of my film, exhibition, and screening presentations.
2. Making it accessible for people with visual and hearing disabilities. I’ve made it mandatory that the venues requesting my art for exhibition, include accessibility as a part of the program.

Here’s a how you can offer your support: 

1. Support my campaign on iFundWomen – Your monetary contribution allows me the opportunity to complete the final cut of my film, and make it accessible for audiences with visual and hearing disabilities, with closed captioning and audio description. Here’s the link – https://ifundwomen.com/projects/i-am-more-my-hair-short-film

2. Prefer a tax-deduction? Donate via my fiscal sponsor, Docs In Progress.

3. Not able to make a monetary contribution? Not a problem! Please share my campaign with YOUR community. Need words of inspiration? Feel free to use the wording below when you share.

Director, Alyscia Cunningham, is raising funds for the final cut of her documentary film “I Am More Than My Hair” and making it accessible for viewers with visual and hearing disabilities. Please consider supporting this independent filmmaker on IFundWomen, a startup funding platform for women business owners – https://ifundwomen.com/projects/i-am-more-my-hair-short-film  #GivingTuesdayNow #SupportWomen #SupportWomenInFilm #SupportWomenArtists #WomenFilmmakers #Accessibility #FemaleDirector #SupportIndieFilm #IndieFilmmaker #IndieFemaleFilmmaker #Support #donate #Crowdfunding #iFundWomen #IAmMoreThanMyHair #AlysciaCunningham

4. Interested in hosting a private screening… social distancing style? Let’s make it happen — ONLINE! I only ask that your guests commit to making a monetary contribution via iFundWomen or Docs In Progress. Contact me for more info on how to set up a online screening.

Thank you for your continued support!

Grants for artist of color, about the black experience? I AM the black experience.

It’s no doubt that the grant process is frustrating, especially when most recipients look nothing like me… a woman of color. On the other hand, grants focused on supporting artist of color make it very clear that the “artist” work should encompass the “black experience”.

But I am the black experience.

I am the black experience when I step out into the world and I am judged FIRST based on the color of my skin and not my talents. I am the black experience when I’m constantly in the position of having to fight for my children to be treated equally in a public school institution. I am the black experience when I am in fear and question if my husband will safely return home after a “routine traffic stop”. I am the black experience when I live in a system created against people who look like me.

And my list goes on…

Although I wish the grant process… well life in general, wasn’t biased, it is my unfortunate reality. When I apply, though I do my best and hope for a great outcome, I know that most likely the “look” of the grantees won’t change.

Then on the other end of the spectrum, some of the organizations that fund projects by artist of color has a specific criteria. The topic of focus should include slavery, racial injustice, police brutality, immigration, etc. Is that all the black experience encompasses?

In this case, my work is too black for one… not black enough for the other… and a box I simply can’t fit in.

Does this mean I change the direction of my work? Absolutely not. Although this isn’t the case for all organizations, it is evident that I have to continue working 3 times as hard. But not to worry. I get what I set my mind to. Nonetheless, I do look forward to the day when more opportunities live outside the box. Who knows? I may just start something new… in due time.

You can help me finish my documentary film, I Am More Than My Hair.

 

Join me as I present my research behind my project, meet the women who participated and take part in a Q&A. Book signing to follow.

Sunday, September 9, 2018
5-7PM

Busboys and Poets
5311 Baltimore Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20781

There will be an open menu for food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Tickets are $10. Proceeds from tickets sales will go towards the finishing funds for my film.

To learn more and get get tickets, visit Busboys and Poets or Eventbrite.

 

There’s less than 2 weeks before the Fashion Show

I am forever grateful for the support of an entire planning committee coming together to organize the Bald, Beautiful, & Bold Fashion Show as a benefit for my film.

For the past several weeks, I’ve helped with setting up the event and have learned a lot in the process. Who knew there was so much involved in organizing a fashion show?!?

Although I still have a long stretch to go with raising all funding, to cover the cost of editing my film, the Bald, Beautiful, & Bold Fashion Show is a great start, and I’ve met some really cool along the way. I truly appreciate the efforts of everyone involved.

Are you in the Baltimore area or plan on traveling this way to attend? Purchase tickets here

Keep Smiling: Bald Edition

Ken Rochon, Founder of The Umbrella Syndicate and 5K Sponsor of the Bald, Beautiful, & Bold Fashion, has proposed a new project, based on the show.

Ken included me in one of his Keep Smiling book series titled, Black Women Influencers Who Impact & Inspire the World and has proposed a Bald and Beautiful edition, in collaboration with the fashion show. There is a small fee of $197 to be in the book (see flyer for details). This helps to alleviate costs of production.

If you’re interested, please email Ken@BigEventsUSA.com and let him know I referred you. He will take photos, of those interested, at the fashion show or will set up a studio session at a later date.

 

 

Upcoming event

I’m one of the guest speakers for Women Of the World Festival 2018 (WOW Baltimore). I’m going to present a WOW Bite, a feminist corner and 15-minute TED-style talk. If you’re in the Baltimore area, please join me along with thousands of other women, all coming together for a positive cause. Register here

Bald, Beautiful, & Bold Fashion Show

You’re invited!

Thanks to the generous support of Carolyn Phillips, a model and participant in my project, we have secured a venue, the Designers and Models as well as a host and a few celebrity guests, for the 2018 Bald Beautiful & Bold Benefit Fashion Show. Carolyn offered to host this event as a fundraiser for “I Am More Than My Hair” film as well as a bald awareness campaign – #BaldBeautifulBold

The Fashion Show takes place on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Montgomery Park (1800 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD), from 5pm-7pm. Doors open at 3pm for vendors as well as a meet-and-greet.

Everyone involved has graciously offered to volunteer their time, including all models, make-up artists, designers, photographers, the host, a blogger… the list goes on an on. What a blessing is has been to be a part of a committee dedicated to bringing the fashion show to life, all in support of my film. I am truly grateful.

All we need now is your presence. Tickets are only $25, VIP is $35, and children under 16 are FREE. Purchase your tickets at – http://www.baldbeautifulbold.eventbrite.com/

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By now you should know that I enjoy creating projects. This time around, it’s a project based off I Am More Than My Hair, a two-part project (film and book).

For consideration in an exhibition with the National Portrait Gallery, I’m looking for bald girls and women who would allow me to photograph them for my application submission. Even better, if I’ve taken your photo for I Am More Than My Hair coffee table book, I already have your story and I wouldn’t’ need you to submit another one for this project.

If you or someone you know interested in participating, please contact me and we’ll set a date.