Our Latest Youth Class Produces Organizational Shorts
Youth from Tierra Y Liberdad Organization, UNIDOS and the Pima County Public Library participated in Pan Left’s five week media literacy and production class held at the Sam Lena library. The youth worked on three short films about their organizations. Here is the film by TYLO youth. The other two films are coming soon!
Tierra Y Liberdad Video
The class was made possible by a grant from the Tucson Pima Arts Council/Kresge Arts in Tucson, and was sponsored by the Pima County Public Library. We would also like to thank volunteers Rachel Winch and Tiffany Goforth for helping out.
Pan Left Films Selected for AZ 100 Film Project
Nine Pan Left members’ films were selected to be in AZ 100 Indie Film Project. The collection celebrates Arizona’s 100 birthday with the best 100 independent films made by Arizona filmmakers. The collection is being put together by the Arizona Media Arts Center and will screen throughout Arizona in 2012. Here is a list of the Pan Left films that were selected:
Vicenta, Directed by Angela Soto
Immokalee, Directed by Jeff Imig
Border Crossings, Directed by Heather Lares
Under Arpaio, Directed by Jason Aragón
Quince Aňos, Directed by Mary Charlotte Thurtle
Poisoned: The Workers of Brush Wellman, Directed by Heather Lares
Boundary Conditions, Directed by Steev Hise
Oasis Under Siege, Directed by Sonya Angelica Diehn
Voices of GLBT Youth, Directed by Gordon Simmons
Many of these films can be found on Pan Left’s YouTube channel. Or you can watch Vicenta now.
Vicenta Soto
Reminder–Redirect Arizona State Taxes to Pan Left!
Use the Arizona State Tax Credit Program to Support Our City High School Class
Do you expect to pay $200 or more in state taxes this year? How would you like to spend that money in your local community instead of sending your tax dollars to be spent by the Republican Arizona State Legislature that brought you SB 1070, severe cuts in education and bans on gay marriage? Well, you can. You have the power to redirect your state taxes to support your community by taking advantage of the Arizona State School Tax Credit Program for our City High class As We See It. As a tax credit, not just a deduction, it means every dollar you donate up to $200 for an individual and $400 for joint filers can be directly taken off your taxes. Yes, it is a dollar-for-dollar reduction on your state taxes while supporting Pan Left! You can donate online using PayPal via the City High School website. After you enter the amount you would like to donate, indicate that your donation is for the “Pan Left Class” by clicking on the link that says “Please specify details in the box below.” Donate now.
To talk to someone directly about this opportunity, please call City High School Executive Director Carrie Brennan, (520) 623-7223 ext. 203. For more information on how the tax program works, contact Mary Charlotte at (520) 792-9171 ext. 1.
AZ 100 Film Project
On December 12, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona after a ceremonial blessing from community faith leaders at St. Monica Parish, 50 undocumented people, their families and supporters marched more than three miles to personally petition the Tucson Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office to immediately close their immigration cases.
Tucson March to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Tucson Grassroots Campaigns: El Rio filmmakers documented this historic event. You can comment on the video here. Click here if you would like more information on the Tucson Grassroots project.
Tucson Grassroots Campaigns: El Rio is a Piper Weinberg and Brenda Limón project that is currently collecting interviews from people involved in a successful 1970 campaign to build a park and neighborhood center. Frank De la Cruz, Nancy Gallen, Isabel Garcia, Rev. John Fife, Fr. Ricardo Elford and Guadalupe Castillo were all present, December 12 at the Tucson ICE office and all participated in the El Rio struggle.
Nationwide, nearly 300,000 cases are currently awaiting review by the immigration courts; given this immense backlog, the Department of Homeland Security has instructed its agents to identify individuals whose deportations are not in the Administration’s interest to pursue. (www.nomoredeaths.org)
Under Arpaio Screens In Alabama and Georgia
Thanks to your support, Under Arpaio screened to enthusiastic crowds in Birmingham and Atlanta last week. Look for highlights of the tour coming soon to the Under Arpaio website.
Last week was not a good one for the sheriff as news of more than 400 uninvestigated sexual assault cases made the headlines, leading Arizona’s members of Congress to call for Arpaio’s resignation. And to top it off, the Department of Justice released a report blasting Arpaio for systemic patterns of civil rights abuses. Now more than ever people need to see the real stories of the lives of people living under Arpaio.
If you haven’t seen it yet, watch the trailer.
Under Arpaio trailer http://underarpaio.com/
As 2011 comes to a close, all of us at Pan Left are prepared to dive into the challenges and celebrations 2012 has in store for us. And we do so knowing we have an incredible community of support. Thank You.
Have a great holiday season,
Mary Charlotte Thurtle
Executive Director, Pan Left Productions
