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————- For Immediate Release —————————-

Frontier Fellowship: Now Accepting Applications for 2013-15

The Frontier Fellowship is offered through the Epicenter, a community resource center instigating positive change through design based projects and programs. The Epicenter is located in a historic building in Green River, Utah (pop. 953) and houses an office space, a small basement workshop, outdoor workspace, and five full-time employees. Epicenter is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 

The Frontier Fellowship gives creative professionals the opportunity to live and work in the town of Green River for four to six weeks. In the context of the frontier, Fellows respond to the rural location with their independent work. However, collaborative work is highly encouraged. While in residence, Fellows ideally spend 50% of their time working on personal projects and 50% of their time contributing to a project initiated by the Epicenter. While in residence, Fellows are given printing privileges, wifi access, use of a bicycle, Family Meal Plan membership, use of tools, and workspace. The Fellowship is currently unpaid. However, there are scholarships available for workshop supplies, travel, and/or living stipend. Fellows’ work is promoted for four-weeks (at minimum) during their Fellowship and added to an online exhibit upon completion. The experience extends long past one’s stay through inclusion in the ever-expanding group of past participants that continue to exchange ideas, information, and opportunities. 

The Epicenter facilitates Fellowship opportunities on a continual basis throughout the year, and is currently seeking Fellows in the fields of visual art, community-based art, collaborative art, public art, architecture, design, film, culinary arts, new media, and writing. Applications will be accepted regardless of applicant’s background, focus, or specialty.

January 4, 2013 - All applications due (in hand)

January 4 - February 1, 2013 - Applications reviewed & applicants interviewed

February 1, 2013 - Final notification

Apply for the Frontier Fellowship at designonthedottedline.org

To see examples of past Frontier Fellow’s work visit designonthedottedline.org/fellows

Via MoreThanThisBlog. 

The Epicenter is seeking immediate fulfillment of a new AmeriCorps VISTA position. Contact us very soon if you are interested. We intend to fill the position by February 16th.

A few months back I started a letterpress project. It required participation from friends all over the country, so the process was long and unpredictable. It was challenging and fun, and I hope to do more projects like it in the future.

In asking us to shed outdated notions of Africa as a place wracked by poverty and war, during his PopTech 2011 talk Erik Hersman (PopTech 2008 Social Innovation Fellow) lays out numerous examples of entrepreneurship and innovation streaming out of that continent, and specifically, out of Kenya. As you watch his talk, use this guide with accompanying links, to cross-reference some of the examples he’s provided:

iHub: Open space for technologists, investors, tech companies and hackers in Nairobi.

Akira Chicks: All-girl coding group in Nairobi responsible for M-Farm.

M-Farm: A transparency tool for Kenyan farmers to get information about the retail price of their products, buy their farm inputs directly from manufacturers, and find buyers for their produce.

Frances Kere: An architect from Burkina Faso who builds schools using sustainable materials.

Maker Faire Africa: A community of makers and handcrafters in Africa focused on origin, ingenuity, and innovation.

Pivot 25: Mobile apps and developers conference and competition focused in East Africa.

AfriLabs: Established African tech incubators and open collaboration spaces banding together to further promote the growth and development of the African technology sector.

M-PESA: A peer-to-peer mobile transfer solution that enables customers to transfer money.

Ushahidi: A non-profit tech company that develops free and open source software for information collection, visualization, and interactive mapping.

Among the foreclosed properties, abandoned infrastructure and empty plots that flavor the city, the designers search for signs of progress, activity and human ingenuity by identifying and documenting an object almost too ubiquitous to draw notice; the open sign.

Three Women Jointly Receive the Nobel Peace Prize

(CNN) — Women’s rights took center stage Saturday at the Nobel ceremonies as three women recognized for their struggles against the backdrops of the Arab Spring and democratic progress in Africa accepted this year’s peace prize.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Leymah Gbowee, a social worker and peace campaigner from the same country, shared the prize with Tawakkul Karman, an activist and journalist who this year played a key opposition role in Yemen.

The three were chosen for their non-violent struggle against injustice, sexual violence and repression.

“Ever since the Norwegian Nobel Committee made this year’s decision known, the people of Norway have looked forward to seeing you on this stage,” said Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

“You give concrete meaning to the Chinese proverb which says that ‘women hold up half the sky,’” he said. “We thank you for the hope you awaken in us all.”

SHELTER took place last Sunday in San Francisco. The event brought together artists, designers, and makers to showcase work exploring the idea of home. All proceeds go directly towards completing the first Habitat for Humanity in Green River, Utah!!! Thanks to Incline Gallery for letting our friends use their space! It looks like the exhibit was beautiful.

We can report from homebase that we’ve raised a minimum of $2,065 thanks to the efforts of Zoe and Emma (SHELTER organizers and the minds behing givegetmake.org)!!! Thank you to all the donors, participants, attendees, volunteers, and organizers who all made the event possible.

Here is an update on my first week in Green River. Fair warning, it is lengthy. —Nicole

From Scratch Branding (by kgiambro)

Project for CLC’s School Lunch Program!