Outreach

Statewide Conference

A statewide conference took place in October, 2005 at the internationally known Marshfield Clinic, located in central, rural Wisconsin. The conference's goal was to re-frame discussions
of community gun violence, from a frame of singularly 2nd Amendment to one inclusive of Public Health. Participants, including medical professionals, activists, members of the faith community and law enforcement, returned to their home communities with the tools, including
fresh perspectives, to do just that. This meaningful event serves as a model for partnerships. 
A number of them have been drawn into this exciting process.

Milwaukee gun violence prevention discussion at City Hall

Working closely with Chris Barrett and Mayor Tom Barrett, our goal was to initiate a process
of bringing diverse community stakeholders together to seek solutions to Milwaukee's
increasing gun homicides and to link to statewide communities experiencing other expressions
of gun violence - notably, domestic violence and suicide. From this group, we were able to attract participants eager to travel together to Marshfield for the state conference.
One tangible accomplishment of this initial meeting of minds is the formulation (for the first time)
of a list of all agencies, groups and individuals involved with this issue.
The Mayor has offered to post the completed list on the City's website.

Sample Local, State and National Outreach Activities:

Medical College of WI student groups Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Emergency Medicine Interest Group hosted Partners in Prevention to initiate the Gun Violence Awareness Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. An energetic, multi-disciplinary group representing health care, education, law enforcement and the arts gathered to screen clips and discuss ways to generate positive change in our communities. Partners from this endeavor expressed interest in traveling with us to diverse areas of Wisconsin, to expand the frame
on gun violence from a purely 2nd Amendment issue to one of Public Health,
affecting all communities in the state.

Memorial Church Service for Mass Shooting Victims - Brookfield, WI - New Moon Productions was requested to be behind the only video cameras allowed into a stirring,
emotionally-charged interdenominational memorial church service held in honor of the victims
of a 2005 mass shooting. The service, organized and conducted by a group of suburban
Brookfield-area clergy, brought to light the solemn reality of a culture that is all too tolerant
of violence. The interdenominational group made an appeal to wake up to the reality before us:
gun violence now affects everyone.



The Central Library inaugurated a Library campaign with a screening of The Promise of America in January, on the weekend set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The spirit of this
film and its rich archival footage from the 60s' Civil Rights Movement commemorates
his inspiration as well as the "ordinary people" who participated in that historic time of resistance and change. The Milwaukee Federated Library System has been in relationship with the series since the premiere of Dear Rita and remains a strong partner.

Coffee House Screenings - Much learning takes place in these casual settings. For example, screening/talkbacks of Dear Rita and Promise of America at the Compass Café in Fish Creek, WI, a mostly rural area, focused heavily on youth suicide. Participants were eager to dissect the issues of gun violence that directly affect their area--and wanted to sit down and discuss potential solutions to the dilemma.. Post-film discussions revealed an outpouring of emotions and concerns on subjects that rarely rise to consciousness…namely, the prevalence of suicide in rural and small town areas. Attendees revealed stories of their own personal encounters with suicide-lost friends, uncles, cousins-that were haunting in their number. All of us left with a distinct feeling of personal responsibility to help make the necessary changes to turn this epidemic around.

The Future Milwaukee Class of 2004 screened Dear Rita for their members
and then proceeded to create a TOOL KIT for other groups to conduct screenings/discussions
of Guns, Grief and Grace in America in their own communities.

Teens Who Care, an impressive group of Milwaukee Public School middle schoolers
screened Dear Rita for their teachers and, together, the students and teachers hosted
extremely creative screening/discussion events for parents and school communities.

Gettysburg College (Pennsylvania) screened The Promise of America in conjunction
with their "Women and War" lecture series. The lecture was part of the Global Studies Department's Annual Symposium: Nature, War and Peace. The Women's Studies Program
co-sponsored the event to "stress cross-cultural perspective and analysis."

Global Women's Studies Conference - University College Dublin, IR presented The Promise of America as part of the 17th Annual UK and Ireland Women Studies Conference.
400 energetic participants represented 28 countries. We were invited to screen this film because "At this time, it is imperative that people from around the world are able to put a face on Americans working for change within their own country!"

Screenings at schools, universities, churches, community organizations and correctional facilities continue to expand and propel the series.

For example, the Restorative Justice program at the State Reformatory in Green Bay frequently requests the presence of filmmakers and community members to screen and discuss the films
with their adult, maximum security population. The inmates unfailingly engage in serious, thoughtful discussion of the films and topic. Hearing their perspectives on gun violence firsthand
(as well as those of many juvenile offenders), we are now making arrangements to interview several of these men for the final documentary of the series.

Free Neighborhood Film Showings
14 Days to End Gun Violence

Join in on the free screenings that lead up to the FREEDOM FROM GUN VIOLENCE RALLY. The NRA is hosting its National Conference at the Midwest Express Center this same weekend. Come see these films and learn of the real threat that guns pose in our society. Internationally acclaimed Bowling for Columbine (bowlingforcolumbine.com) and two locally produced, award-winning documentary films: Dear Rita and The Promise of America (newmoononline.com). Discussions and talk-back held after each show. Refreshments provided at the library shows.
Sponsored by: Peace Action, Vital Source, WI Anti Violence Effort, Critical Mass Movies that Matter & other local activists.