Volunteering and Public Relations

In many ways volunteering is more respectful than buying advertising and sponsoring an event. Volunteering involves being so passionate about a cause that you are willing to exchange your finite time for no payment. One volunteers because she/he believes her/his presence in assisting a cause far outweighs the material rewards you can purchase.

The key to volunteering and public relations is to make sure you are willing to provide a significant amount of time to build credibility with an organization so that if a newsworthy activity occurs you and your product or service will be worth mentioning. A minimum of four to six months should be sufficient to build such a relationship.

Once a relationship has been fostered ask permission to contact the media about writing a story on the work you are doing with the organization. Be sure to explain the piece will focus on you and your product or service, with the organization receiving promotion via this relationship.

Below is an example of a volunteer opportunity for filmmakers in the New York City metropolitan area. Opportunities for other entertainment producers will be posted in the near future.

SOURCE: MySpace Bulletin

Education Video Center: Youth Speakers Bureau

Are you an activist and a filmmaker?

o Are you ready to inspire action and change in your community?
o Can we count on you to follow through?
o Do you want to sharpen your facilitation and public speaking skills?

Then this is the place for you to share, collaborate, inspire and grow!

What is the Youth Speakers Bureau?

The Youth Speakers Bureau (YSB) is a part of EVC’s Community Engagement Program. The mission of Community Engagement is to promote civic engagement and social change through the distribution of EVC’s youth-produced documentaries in collaboration with strategic partners. YSB is a group of EVC alumni who will receive training in public speaking and facilitation skills and who will use this training to lead screenings in local schools and community organizations.

Goals for YSB Participants: (What we aim to offer you through this program)

• Keep in touch with you! And maintain the EVC community
• Encourage the development of your voice as an artistic activist
• Inspire you to reflect on why you made the films, what drew you to the issue and why you’re still involved today
• Inspire you to stay involved in local, national, and global issues
• Remind you to keep questioning and to encourage inquiry in others
• Receive your input on our screenings and how we can continue improving
• Support you in taking on a leadership role where you can guide discussions around realities people sometimes have a hard time facing
• Help you appreciate the impact your stories, knowledge and actions have on everyone around you (especially student audiences who look up to you)
• Support you in your transition from EVC to college, work or your next training experience by providing you with valuable skills including public speaking and facilitation methods
• Link your videos to existing political action campaigns

So, what does it take to be a part of YSB?

Participant Goals and Expectations: (What will you contribute?)

• Willingness to present 2 of the following 3 documentaries to local high school and adult audiences: It's Not About Sex, Losing Ground, Still Standing
• Facilitate at least one EVC screening per month
• Attend four trainings: facilitation, 1 for each of the 3 videos
• MUST be able to make ALL the following trainings, from 6-8pm:
o Jan. 30, Feb. 4, Feb. 6, Feb. 11, Feb. 13
• Attend our monthly meetings
• Participate in the evaluation of Community Engagement screenings
• Commitment and follow-through – being on time and present

For more information visit the Educational Video Center