Participants in The LAMP's podcasting workshop with MOUSE. Photo by mousesquad

MOUSE and LAMP Podcasting Workshop November 2011 by MOUSE Squad

You can read more about the event and other upcoming UnPlugged events on MOUSE’s blog, TheWire, and see pictures of students in action on Flickr.

Follow The LAMP on Twitter: @thelampnyc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE LAMP ANNOUNCES D.C. VITO AS FIRST FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Significant Step for Education Nonprofit Shows Promise Despite Economic Challenges

NEW YORK, NY (August 16, 2011): In a move heralding a new chapter of growth for The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project), D.C. Vito has become the non-profit’s first full-time salaried employee as Executive Director. Since 2007, The LAMP has been establishing a reputation as a critical pillar of 21st Century Learning development in New York City public schools and communities. Prior to his appointment as a salaried staff member, Mr. Vito carried out his Executive Director duties while also working full-time in the corporate sector building the Geographic Information System for Con Edison telecommunications (now known as Sidera Networks).

“The LAMP has been steadily growing, and it became increasingly clear that without an Executive Director solely focused on that growth, the organization would remain static,” said Mr. Vito. “My time spent in the telecom industry has been immensely beneficial to my work in helping The LAMP develop into a strong business, but transitioning to the role on a full-time salaried basis was definitely the next step.”

LAMP Executive Director D.C. Vito

Co-founded by Mr. Vito and Education Director Dr. Katherine Fry in September 2007, The LAMP began operations in the tumultuous weeks leading to a national recession. Yet even with declining giving from foundations and private donors across the non-profit sector, The LAMP increased its hours of programming by 75% from 2008-2010 under the part-time guidance of Mr. Vito. Working with The LAMP’s Board and with assistance as a member of the Incubator Program at the Fund for the City of New York, The LAMP and its volunteer senior staff continued to develop through a period of municipal and federal budget cuts. To date, The LAMP has provided media literacy programming to over 700 youth, parents and teachers throughout New York City, including several communities struggling with increased rates of poverty.

“Through our partnership with The LAMP, MOUSE has given our students exciting opportunities to enhance their media literacy skills that are critical in today’s media-rich, digital world,” stated Carole Wacey, Executive Director, MOUSE. “We are thrilled that D.C. Vito has become the full-time Executive Director for the LAMP. With his leadership, The LAMP has enormous potential to have a significant impact on media literacy education.”

In addition, The LAMP recently restructured its board. The new Board of Directors consists of Felipe J. Alvarez (FJ Alvarez Consulting LLC), Gillian Cassell-Stiga (Brooklyn Law Incubator and Policy Clinic), Anderson Duff (NBCUniversal Media LLC), Christopher Hickman (formerly of Vanity Fair), Mark Nyon (Grand Kru Technologies), Joshua Teeple (Crowe Horwath LLP) and Jared Yeater (The Mill). Former Board members remaining on the Advisory Board include Jennifer Proulx (Storycorps), Jorge L. Ramos (Telemundo New York) and Larry Smith (SMITH Magazine).

“Ultimately, this means that all of us at The LAMP will be better-equipped to carry out our mission of teaching people to think critically about the media they engage with every day,” said Dr. Fry. “We have been on the ground for almost four years, going directly to schools and communities where our services are needed, and it’s been amazing. But we still have a lot of work to do.”

With the new Board and the full-time appointment of Mr. Vito, The LAMP plans to continue its momentum of growth by offering a media literacy certification program, expanding its online offerings and increasing the number of public schools it serves throughout the city.

About The LAMP: The LAMP’s vision is that one day, media literacy will be seen as the critical requirement to understanding the world and our place in it. Educated consumers demanding more accountable media will create a ground swell to which media companies will have to respond. As part of this movement, The LAMP works in communities to build healthy relationships with all forms of media. Co-founded in 2007 by Executive Director D.C. Vito and Education Director Katherine Fry, Ph.D., The LAMP has taught over 700 students throughout the city.

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Recap: Cyberwellness PSA-making Workshop

On December 17th, 2010 Krizia Says

On December 8th and 9th, 2010, MOUSE Squad partnered with The LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project) to learn “What is a PSA? (Public Service Announcement)” in a two-part workshop.

On Day 1, students discussed the purpose of PSA’s to get across an important message, students learned about ALL the different types of PSA’s, like radio, TV and online advertisements, and ALL the different topics that PSA’s talk about like staying in school, recycling or being aware of other people’s safety.

On Day 2, students got their heads together to talk about important messages they could share about Internet safety. The best part is that after doing lots of planning, students got to use video cameras, laptops and software to create, film and edit their own PSA’s!

Check out the process students went through to make their PSA’s:

Students first learned “What is a PSA (Public Service Announcement)?”

Then students brainstormed their ideas, put them on a storyboard, and filmed their PSA’s.

Finally, students collaborated on editing their PSA’s. They’re quick learners!

Watch their awesome final products here:

• Sumo Cyberbullying by I.S. X318 Math, Science & Technology Through Arts
• Don’t Do Drugs by I.S. X318 Math, Science & Technology Through Arts
• Cyberbullying Over Text by MOUSE Squad students of ACCESS School M356
• Know Your Friends Online by MOUSE Squad students of ACCESS School M356

Thanks to our partners at The LAMP for an exciting and useful learning experience all about PSA’s and CyberWellness!

Meredith Summs

This month we interviewed Meredith Summs, the inspiring and vivacious program manager at MOUSE, a technology and education non-profit The LAMP has collaborated with on several occasions. Read on for wit and wonderment:

How did you get interested in media and technology?

Television was my babysitter – I think I first said “dada” to Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit. But I made the move from media-spectator to media-manipulator in college as the digital editing lab tech for the Anthropology Department. Now, I’m somewhat proudly that annoying friend who complains about exoticism in Avatar.

You know how parents will trick their picky kids by hiding shredded vegetables in the spaghetti sauce?

Just last week I provided very-amateur background vocals for a group of MOUSE students who were reverse-prototyping Super Mario Bros using only construction paper, thumbtacks, a Flip video camera and a post-it note mustache (click here to watch).

While it may feel like a fun digression, they are secretly learning how to develop their own video game for their MOUSE Corps Legacy Project – a student-led design project addressing local and global needs through technology.

What surprises you the most about MOUSE students?

I thought I knew what a computer geek looks like, but I’ve yet to see a single pocket-protector in my 5 years here.  MOUSE students defy stereotypes.

Look for us at the ISTE (International Society for Technology and Education) conference in Denver this June!  A group of super-star MOUSE Squad students will present on “Digital Youth Leadership” during the Student Showcase.

Click here to learn more about  MOUSE and The LAMP’s  most recent collaboration!