Self Help Graphics Promotion Committee

Ofelia Esparza

2008-08-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is fantastic article on Ofelia Esparza, our spokesperson for today's Neighborhood Walks.

http://www.newangelesmonthly.com/article.php?id=194&IssueNum=15

Strategy 1: Publicity Committee

2008-08-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here is our report on our subcommittees:

Subcommittee 1: At the Cathedral
This subcommittee is creating messaging and imagery for the Protest Committee (Strategy 1) to use at the vigils held every Sunday at the downtown Cathedral. We identified that our goal is to gain allegiance on the issue from the Cathedral parishioners, so that they too could support SHG and call Mahony on our behalf. First week we helped create protest signs and helped with the flyer. Second week we worked with the Protest COmmittee to help them change their tactic from protest to vigil, where they are providing information and being friendly. For this idea we created new banners, flyers and signs featuring a streamlined messaging (Support the Arts, Mahony Call Molina) and imagery (the Cardinal). This week we created a new flyer featuring new messaging (Support Self Help Graphics) and imagery (Ofelia and the Virgin). We will continue to provide responsive signage and distribution materials as these weekly vigils persist and gain response.

Subcommittee 2: Neighborhood Walk
The objective of this action is to provide information to the immediate neighborhood, and hope to gain at least agreement and at most involvement from residents and businesses. Our methods are to mark off a territorial map, and send volunteers out with flyers with four calls to action: call mahony, join us at hte vigils, donate money, volunteer. There will be a dry run effort on Aug 2, led by Subcommittee Chair Jessica Gonzalez. We eventually want to include leave-behind signs, a script, and bilingual flyers.

Subcommittee 3: Campus Recruitment
The objective of this action are to inform students and gain involvement from students. THis subcommittee is led by Freddy. THe plans include goign to campuses to hand out flyers, sign up volunteers, speak at classes, and generate any other new initiatives that come from that. His first task has been to recruit volunteers from as many schools as possible and so far we have 9 schools. Next, he is creating a calendar of when schools open and then we will create a calendar for when to go out. After that, we will create messaging and collateral for the actions.

Good job everyone! More to come!

{lobocita}

Neighborhood Walk - August 2

2008-07-30T16:20:00.001-07:00

>>> THIS JUST IN FROM OUR SUBCOMITTEE:

-----------------------------------

Hello Everyone!

The time has come!

The NEIGHBORHOOD WALK is scheduled for this Saturday, August 2.

There will be Political Poster Printing at Self Help Graphics at 10am, so I hope there will be a good number of people present. Even if you can't make it to the poster printing at 10am, join us for the Neighborhood Walk. We will have an informational/preparation session at 1pm at Self Help Graphics, followed by the actual Neighborhood Walk. We will focus on the immediate neighborhood surrounding SHG. This Neighborhood Walk will be a learning experience to see how we can improve future walks throughout the East L.A. community.. It will be hot, so don't forget to bring water, a hat, sunscreen, glasses, and a positive attitude! Please forward this email to family and friends. See you on Saturday.

What: SHG Neighborhood Walk
Where: Self Help Graphics
When: August 2nd
Time: 1pm

Jessica Gonzalez
323-351-3907
Mujer.Alcatraz@yahoo.com

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest."- Confucius

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Photos from the Cultural Affairs Commission

2008-07-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of our gang (minus Linda Terrazas, she was parking the car) outside City Hall at the Cultural Affairs Commission meeting on 7/23/08.

What a great crew!

Report on Cultural Affairs Commission action

2008-07-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Last night approximately 15 of us were there for the action that Victoria called. She asked us to dress in black for a death march and she wrote a flyer to hand out. People were there from 4:30 on through the evening.

Linda and I both got off work and brought the flyers but got there about 6pm. I hadn't RSVPd, but I was able to get into the event possibly because I was dressed smartly from work. Both lines of security were eager to add me to the list even though I hadn't RSVPd. When the group in the black death march clothes tried to get in, they were turned away.

I was not able to stay, because I had the car keys, so I had to stay just a short time. But Jessica Gelay was at the reception and stayed for the night. Here is her report from the evening:

ABOUT THE RECEPTIONThere is a new commission in the Cultural Affairs Department whose goal is to bring civics education (ie democratic process, political office, etc) into K-12 classrooms. The reception was hosted by ITVS (yeah, I dunno what it stands for .... i have to look it up), the Getty House, and KCET's New Media Department.

A short segment of video showed 3rd graders in China voting for a class monitor it was pretty cool. I 'm going to check it out online -I want to know how it ends!! Check it out...

(If anyone is interested . . . I believe that there are opportunities for local youth to be involved in making additional units for this series (produced by KCET for their website))

While I was there I talked with people about being there to support SGH. People responded favorably for the most part.

I wonder if it might help to visit the people in the city offices on this new commission?

Jessica

Thanks to Jessica for staying, and also to Beth Peterson and her friend who also attend the reception.

Also, thanks to the 15 people who showed up. Great job!

Neighborhood Walk action

2008-07-24T07:09:00.001-07:00

The Publicity & Promotion committee has decided to take on six action, the first of which is the neighborhood walk. Jessica Gonzalez is the chair of this subcommittee and has been working hard on her plan. I have forwarded an email around, and meanwhile here are the notes from her plan:

Hello Everyone!

This is Jessica Gonzalez from the Public Awareness Committee. I am not sure if everyone checks the Committee blog so, I have attached the Neighborhood Walk Plan of Action to this email. It pretty much covers what measures we would like to take with the neighborhood walk. I would like to begin the walk as soon as possible, but there are still a few things we need to cover. There is a list of materials on the attached document we are going to need for the walk so please let me know how you can help out. We don't have flyers and posters. Can the people who are in charge of creating flyers and designs please send me flyer templates so that I may add information to them if they already don't have information? I think it would be a good idea to stick to one main image for the flyers and posters that way people can identify that image with the cause.

I will keep you posted on a meet-up before we do the walk. As soon as all of the above gets done, I would like to start the walk around the immediate area surrounding Self Help Graphics and work our way out. I will need some volunteers to actually do the walk and we can divide ourselves into groups. (Jo Ann, do you have the contact information of other members from other committees?) I would like to extend this email to the other committees. I apologize if you receive this email twice. Thank you.

-Jessica GonzalezMujer.Alcatraz@yahoo.com(323) 351-3907

Jessica, great job on this, let's keep planning and make sure we have all our resources! There are quite a few email addresses, I will share these with you. Thanks so much, let's get this action going!

{lobocita}

Cathedral protest this morning

2008-07-20T18:54:00.001-07:00

I handed out approximately 200 flyers to those entering the public parking lot and heard a lot of feedback from the parishioners.

In general, when I approached them with a smile and the headline "Support the arts", I was well received and they opened their car window. My tagline was "Support artists in East LA". They reached out for the flyer. If they asked a question it was usually "What does this have to do with the church?" and I simply stated "The church supported our program for 35 years. That is now over. Ask Mahony to meet with Molina about the future."

On the way out, I happened to be inside the parking lot structure and ran into a lot of the people with whom I had given the flyers to. They let me know that they supported the issue, but they were very turned off by the picket signs, the yelling, and the marching.

Later, I stood outside the parking exit, waved and smiled to everyone and said "See you again next week!".

In general, I think the messages that worked were:
- Ask Mahony to meet Molina
- Support the Arts
- Mahony supported Self Help for 35 years, but what about the future? and
- We will be here every week until Mahony meets Molina

New flyer idea for Cathedral

2008-07-20T18:38:00.001-07:00

In keeping with the idea that the messaging to the parishioners at the Cathedral should be more approachable and to the point, here is my suggestion for a new half-sheet flyer.

I have these files available in PDF format, ready to print.

Email me for a copy: joann@medior.net

Coloring page for Cathedral children

2008-07-20T18:00:00.002-07:00

Here is an idea of a coloring page that we could print and hand out to the children to color on. Would be great if we could hand out crayons too.

I have these files available in PDF format, ready to print.

Email me for a copy: joann@medior.net

New poster ideas for the Cathedral

2008-07-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few new poster ideas for use at the cathedral.

These are not ideas for flyers, as there is not enough information.

As posters, however, they work because they contain easy to read words and images. The job of a poster is to intrigue the viewer from a distance, so that they come for more information. At that point, give them more information verbally or with an information flyer.

I have these files available in PDF format, ready to print. They are sized at 24"x36" but can be scaled up or down, depending on your large format printer.

Email me for a copy: joann@medior.net

Coverage in the LA Times

2008-07-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

An unflattering article came out in the LA Times that does not paint a pretty picture of the issue.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-culture19-2008jul19,0,2427258.story

PROTEST AT THE CATHEDRAL TOMORROW

2008-07-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The protest committee (strategy 1) has organized a protest Sunday morning at the downtown Cathedral (Temple/Grand) for the 10a.m. mass. We will not enter the church, and there are approximately 30 signs prepared.

The group is meeting at 9am at Temple/Spring. Wear white shirts. Tshirts will be for sold for fundraising, $12-14 each.

Latest word is that Senator Gloria Romero will be there, which should also bring out Supervisor Gloria Molina. The press has been alerted and they might be there as well.

{lobocita}

Spontaneous Meeting

2008-07-19T12:28:00.000-07:00

Spontaneous Meeting to help Protest Committee make signs

2-4pm
SHG Building
We will also have a quick strategy meeting.
I will pass out a Project List and Contact List to all.
Copies will be made available over email as well.

We are seeking a subcommittee chairman for Catholic Church project

{lobocita}

Next Steps

2008-07-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

I think the ideas we have discussed and contributed fall into a few categories that might need their own subcommitees. I see these as the following (and I welcome comments on this):

- Look & Feel. This is setting guidelines for the taglines and graphic look and feel for this campaign. So far, we have the tshirt design and headline "Save Self Help Graphics" (you can see this on the SHG website) but we need messaging guidelines (tagline, keywords, etc).
- Neighborhood Walk. This is the neighborhood walk idea, where we make use of Ofelia's reputation in the neighborhood to get the word out and generate interest in the campaign right in the neighborhood. This idea needs a project plan, including objectives, goals, measurements and the definition of success.
- Student Involvement. This is the idea that we could create a call-to-action to students on campus as soon as school starts. This idea needs a project plan, including objectives, goals, measurements and the definition of success.
- Create the history/chronology of SHG as the skeleton of our promotion ideas. When we have a complete history of SGH, including the music history, as well as that thick book that Armando has showing all the recent events, we will have a powerful story. This can be used to generate publicity and new ideas for publicity. We need to know numbers: how many artists have come through SHG? musicians? How much has been donated all these years? Etc etc. A story will come out of this if we start gathering the facts. When we have the story, then we use that to promote and publicize. This needs people who are good at research and writing and editing.
- New media: Deploy digital videos out to the internet, via YouTube and other viral social software sites. Generate interest in the topic by sending promotional stories and/or media content to various coolhunter sites. We need to scrape the internet for a good list of coolhunter blogs and email addresses. We need to create compelling graphic imagery, content and story that can rise above all the noise currently on the internet. This project needs volunteers to find coolhunter blogs and such. If you love spending time on the internet, this one is for you.
- Banners: It was suggested to create a bilingual banner/mural to tell the story and post it outside the building. Ben Esparza volunteered to create this if he worked with an artist. This project cannot get started until we have clearly finalized "the story", translated it, and then find a graphic artist to work with. We also need to work with the various people who have donated inexpensive banners so that we have materials for our committee and hte other committees can make use of.
- Collateral: We need to generate print and web content about the cause. These can be generated after we have finalized "the story" and then distributed for the other committees to make use of them.

Comments? Please post.

{lobocita}
Jo Ann Villalobos

Big Ideas So Far

2008-07-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

After the main meeting, several of us gathered together to introduce ourselves and get some discussions going. From this gathering and from notes I gathered during the night, here are the ideas that were proposed (in no particular order):

- music history of SHG
- poster on building telling the story in English and Spanish. Ofelia's son Ben volunteered to produce this if he has an artist to work with.
- Armando Duron (president) showed us that thick book with postcards/announcements of all the events that have happened here at SHG. We should scan and post these to create a digital history online. This will serve two purposes: give us a chronological history of accomplishments and give us the start the story of SHG. The idea is, we need to write the story of SHG so we can use it in our promotions.
- Tell the current story: we need to make sure we have the official word of what the current experience is, so that we can use it in our promotions.... to generate media publicity, create digital movies, etc.
- Digitize the video that Jo Ann shot at the meeting, see if it can be used to promote the cause.
- Do a neighborhood door-to-door walk, making sure the immediate neighborhood knows exactly what is going on and generate interest in the cause. I think this was also referred to as a $1 campaign. Bilingual.
- Do more online social software networking: use social software sites such as myspace, twitter, tribe.net, and YouTube to help spread the word. I know there are some others who want to do this.
- Create tshirts, stickers, signs and banners with Armando Cepeda's SAVE SELF HELP logo design.
- Get interviews on media outlets using professional and personal connections
- get students on campuses involved in the cause
- watch the Flip This House tv show so that we are aware of the personality of the new owner of the building. I believe they said the new owner is Rudy Martinez but I am not sure.
- Warn all your talented friends that you are on this committee and may call on them this summer to help with their talent, such as writing, design, singing, dancing, juggling, or just being another warm body at an event. ;)

Comments? New Ideas? Please post.

{lobocita}
Jo Ann Villalobos
joann@medior.net
310-428-1099 cell

Roll Call

2008-07-17T23:06:00.001-07:00

If you are reading this blog, you signed up to join the Save Self Help Graphics & Art Promotion Committee. I would like to do an online roll call to see how many people are using their email as a main source of communications. Post a comment to show you have been here, so I can see if we have everyone. I will make phone calls to those who are not using email as main source of communications.

The Promotion Committee members are interested in the following (and more!):

1. Jo Ann Villalobos - spearhead committee
2. Xavi Moreno -
3. Rebecca Olvera - bilingual proofreader
4. Dora Orozco -
5. Lesette Anderson
6. Manuel A. Huerta - video, YouTube
7. Jessica Gonzalez - neighborhood walks idea
8. Maximiliano Duron
9. Angelica Duron
10. Michelle Kim - student involvement at Cal State Northridge
11. Armando Cepeda - designed Save Self Help Graphics tshirt
12. Nisha Joshi
13. Michele Martinez - researcher, journalist/writer
14. Diana Itzel Vieyra
15. Lisa Rocha
16. Sylvia Carillo-Valdura
17. Freddy - on campus promotions
18. Leticia Casteneda - can get us on major media
19. Ofelia Esparza - SHG artist, neighborhood figurehead for when we walk the neighborhood
20. John Martinez
21. Ruben Onevara - music historian from when SHG was a music place too
22. Janet

Please give a shout out (post a comment) that you were here and expand upon what your interests and contributions might be. Thanks so much!

{lobocita}
Jo Ann Villalobos

Let's Get It Started

2008-07-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Save Self Help Graphics & Art Promotion Committee blog by Jo Ann Villalobos.

Tonight we all attending a very inspiring meeting and are ready to help Save Self Help Graphics. Thank you for signing up to the Publicity and Promotion Committee, I think we have an important responsibility and every other team will be greatly strengthened by the work we do in this committee.

I signed up to spearhead this committee because I am a marketing executive with a B.A. in Mass Communications from UC Berkeley. My career has been in San Francisco in publishing, multimedia, graphics software specialist and executive producer of international websites. I currently serve as Assistant Vice President/Marketing for a local credit union in Montebello.

I moved back to Los Angeles to care for my elderly mother and am excited to meet so many fellow arts activitists. I am the one who spoke at the meeting suggesting that we could use new media as well as traditional media to promote the history of Self Help Graphics, the current situation, and record and promote the upcoming activities as they happen. My experiences in San Francisco have taught me how well new media can spread the word and supplement grass roots efforts and traditional media.

My goal for this committee is to blend all of our experiences from traditional print to door-to-door grassroots efforts to YouTube and MySpace and spread a consistent message for this Save Self Help Graphics campaign.

Sincerely,

Jo Ann Villalobos
joann@medior.net
www.medior.net
310-428-1099 cell