I’m in the middle of pulling 28 Squared together… then as I usually do got distracted and followed a link and found NINA SIMONE VIDEOS… A digital breather.. your have to click the link to the post if your are reading this on one of my various “outpost!
But that “OUTFIT”
BTW I’m Looking for sellers or collectors of Vintage black or/and African clothing.. (1920-1980)
But again, check the Jumpsuit out .. Ms Wyche you can do this! You already have a top.
I finally realize what I’m missing, one place that you can just find great clothing on a regular basis! Not the cheap poorly constructed stuff but a great boutique that has a selection of creative top class designers! I’m not speaking the “one Designer” store either! they are no fun… NY and especially Brooklyn used to be about great boutiques… now we have many “Fast Fashion” “Spots” with little ambiance, the worst store clerks, who have no sense of style, trying to hustle… shopping should be well fun!
I am willing to be corrected if you know of a great boutique please share and you cannot nominate your self! If your customers can’t vouch for you… you’re not doing something right!
Even On teh web as we’re putting together the designer online sale for later this month… there are so many great designers of African Heritage! You Can’t find them… unless you know them and their web address! Even Then their websites remain the same year after year…. PLEASE STOP USING FLASH! Get a platform with RSS, some sharing features and if you must then add Flash “widgets”!
Back to great design… and I’m not speaking costume, the dramatic stage effects we see. so often. I’m speaking great wearable, well designed clothing! That would still look good 40 years from now.
Maybe what we need are better events to wear fabulous clothing… promoters can you help… maybe get back to promoting events and stop trying to pimp … I mean Prostitute, I mean present… Fashion Shows!!
Now that I have your attention, what are you – - – - ing 4 RELIEF
its time to take action. You do not need to head over to our 28 Squared Site and sign up…just click this link or
Sign Up To Support Relief efforts
If you are on one of our web pages you can sign up below. if Your are reading a feed (we even brought it to you) You’ll need to head over to sign up!!
If you need some explanation read on but at the end YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING!
I can ask you and even send you various emails of various length but frankly I do not have the time… your community needs you to get of your behind and DO…
We are good at waiting at putting on a show at appearing busy! The truth is most of you have the time! We have the desire. I cannot say this enough you’re an adult stop waiting for motivation get up and do something for your community
WHAT, HOW?
As project lead I design solutions to create change!
This project from the inception has been about using technology to create solutions! The process of design “creating to solve problems or add pleasure” , to problem and/or situations as defined, can be a hobby or a business. I chose it as an art project! Along the way however we have helped many!
So what are the problems and the solutions.
The recent tragedy in Haiti.. Affected us all and everyone I know wants to do something, all our communities are hurting!
Giving of oneself is a gift with it’s own rewards! We run this project in Brooklyn but for the last two years we’ve included a designer in France who has the same problems that local designers have… and no it is not marketing, There is a lot to do before “exposure”!
If all we have is time, talent or even the ability to communicate that can go so far in helping others since accepting this challenge on October 28th last year, I had set as a mandate to help locals needing to find a way to support themselves and their family and the team had in September decided to use group project to help community organizations! At Web 2.0, I met a two women both with projects outside the US, One I have promised to help in her quest to help artisans in Senegal, the other is helping us with her technology companies technology!
Europe, US, Africa the Caribbean.. There is more that connects us than separates us!
Ultimately the core projects help utilize natural “resources”, time talent, community to create and build change! We know it works the challenge issues in October was to take it national in the US and in then adapt it to the Caribbean region!
Fortunately we are able to communicate in real time across oceans, with little difficulty and even less cost! There is so much need how can we use distance technology to get the information out there, what do we as leader need to do … how do we get individuals to to put aside fears and preconceived notions and yes work together!
We usually have had a group of young people from various backgrounds volunteer as models. They work together even when culturally it was not the norm! It may seem simple, but there contributions have helped feed many families! Images sell and a small designer often cannot afford to cover these! Some use their knowledge of technology or their ability to post and text to share news and information, they use their networks! In a digital divide that is a great help! So yes giving of self time and talent is important!
What is significant they were giving what they had and doing what they loved!
Which is what I see has the most effect… Give what you have, doing what you love! So if you love to sew and have the time to, sew! If you have space and it can be used donate it! If you can cook have a taste party!
We are in the design field we either love to DESIGN or SEW, and yes some of us LOVE TO SHOP.. and some love to show off or perform! I now have to take the raw component and create something that people would LIKE! I am a connector … I love design as solution! So Sew Social one of the aspects of 28squared will focus on design for change!
Pulling The components together
One of the designers from our African Heritage Month celebration has created two designs, that we will be use on merchandise ! He too is Haitian, giving of talent! Any non profit needing to use the logo that type of service or merchandise can contact us!
I am already working on getting designers to donate clothing that will be resold or auctioned. I have a sign up page http://www.28squared.com/support
We’re donating some of our great images and photos to a Print auction online, that Flickr is hosting!
So yes photographers and artist can donate images! Performers, if you can’t do it alone get together with others!
From my friend in the tech community. We need individuals with tech skills to sign up for a one or two day type Tech initiative with Haitian organization, who know and understand what is needed… our goal is simple turn our talents time and efforts into cash for relief!
I actually have another young woman who lost 3 family members; her organization is the Haiti’s Hungry Task Force and has teamed up with Haitian
American Care, Inc. out of Boston. (operating for 2 years in
Haiti with 2 mobile clinics they supply.www.haitianamericancare.org. they need help!
I myself am donating all the profits from Sew Social and would love to work with any models designers or photographers who want to volunteer! Our photographer has volunteered his photography services! We have artwork and media services!
We can get volunteers.
We can Create , we need to sell relief … it should be easy but have you bought anything with Haiti in mind have you gone to local events supporting local causes, have you packed up your products, and I’m not speaking of sending the clothing you do not want…
Yes they need clothing but what type… where will they wash these, how appropriate is the relief!
Intentions are great, selling relief is HARD especially as memory of disaster fade.
so what will i do how do I Design Relief… I’ve done a brief inventory of what i have access to. I’m researching what I need; I have ideas. The process of bringing an idea to fruition is what actually Sew Social is about…
The reason there is no change is because
we do not know how to design change
We do not know how to implement change
we are waiting for someone else to do it
So back to my main concept I want people to do what they love for relief but NIKE got “Just DO IT™”.. Probably the best slogan ever…
Let’s focus on the individual and taking responsibility “I AM”
AM Artist Mosaic the First phase of this project is still around, it’s about artist working together for change
“I am Brooklyn” did not seem right Brooklyn is everything! I AM not doing everything! “I am 28 Squared”, we wanted this to expand beyond the confines of “I AM (@$#^&)ing 4 RELIEF™” .
” I am —-ing 4 RELIEF™
I Like It… I’ll keep it but, will it work
Most, working in or on RELIEF, are Moms and Faith based organization, Imagine the Rabbi or Pastor with that shirt! So maybe, I need to modify the statement! That is just the start of the design process… we need to stop waiting and design for change!
www.demarketplace.com/blog
Or did not use the best strategy they could think of.
Please excuse the candor of this post. Two recent conversations have brought me to one of those rants that many will agree with but few will say out loud! The Journalist and Media outlets in our community are failing themselves and our community,
I cannot understand anyone in the 18 -40 age group serious about employment not wanting to learn or making extra efforts to beef up their technology skills…but someone from a local paper telling me they could not download and open a PNG file sent via Gmail was the last straw!
Why do we refuse to be ready for life as it is today…
Few speak honestly of the issues within our community… looking good especially in a public setting is a cultural obsession and we go out of our way not to air issues in public…
We have an issue with local communications and media centers as represented by local press!
The local press is a vital link, be it micro radio (underground radio) or print formats. If you want to access our community, they are vital. Yet, pick up the papers or tune into the local stations. For the most part articles are of little substance; they are the white bread in the media menu… filling but of no nutritional value!
These outlets are often lucrative money makers for the individuals in charge! In some, even articles are often secured when you take an ad! Expect that from newsletters, which are more about fetes than about issues!
I, like most, pick up the local papers hoping for information on our community. To be honest I find the style of journalism – dated, articles and images are focused on individuals not issues.. the result – an ill-informed community that is years behind in progress!
Yet, I still pick up the latest issue hoping for change…
I opened my email this morning to find a note from a freelance journalist stating that the local paper needed an image to go along with an article or the information would not be printed!
Do not let the name fool you – Caribbean Life is a major access point to the local readers in Brooklyn! If you want to get information into the hands of the Brooklyn Community this and it’s sister publications are key!
I have not seen the article I am just hoping it is focused on technology and the work I do to help businesses rather than on me as an individual!
As it was, I was in meetings with project sponsors for 28Squared… (more on that later) which will allow us to access some of the latest tools from tech companies. I came home to have an early morning conversation with a young woman … on why she was not ready nor had not attended the free seminars, and discovered on opening my mailbox today an email telling me that the local paper could not download a .png file…
As I See It that’s pure BS!
.PNG is available in the paint program that comes pre-installed with any computer today… it is one of the most basic file formats!
So I fired off an email… which may illicit some comment from the 28Squared PR team but… addressing the “Digital Divide” is a platform I am intent on taking on this year!
A Copy of my Letter To Kenton Kirby Editor at Caribbean Life Newspaper PNG comes in the paint program that is on each computer. It is ONE of the basic file formats. Have whoever cannot download this call me… I will come in and show them how to do their job!
I do not mean to offend anyone, however, if our community and businesses are to remain competitive; poor tools, policies, and usage by employees need to be addressed. Our press is a vital link in that information chain and I keep getting these basic questions and suggestions that a mid-school student would be able to do!
I was at meetings for our Black History Month special on “Bridging the Digital Divide” yesterday! While a piece in Caribbean Life would be great, the agenda is getting our community up to date with technology… it is more than an event, it is a platform and mission and I stand firmly behind it! That said, I have to address Caribbean Life and the lack of understanding of technology and what seems to be outdated knowledge and protocols!
It bothers me when those in charge with informing are not up to date with the basics. Far more, what is on the horizon, as far as developments in new media tools, formatting, protocols and practices.
These .png files very basic. Many media companies, actually prefer these because they are easier to work with. .Jpegs are lower quality! .Pngs are also transparent, so text can work around them!
The problem is most likely at YOUR end.
The download is basic and opening .png files could be done even in the public library by a 7 year old!
It is either the System Administrator for whatever reason has blocked certain file types.
The staff is unfamiliar with basic media formats and protocol in use today.
The individual downloading does not recognize that this is a basic file format in any image editing software (yes even the pre-installed paint program).
I would suggest that a Gmail Google APPS account be set up that would allow (company name) to access these. There seems to be a need in this office to understand new media and its manipulation.
You would be surprised the number of media companies and businesses taking advantage of Google apps for their business! www.google.com/a
I would also suggest that a review of the company’s policies as they relate to the latest trends and usage of media, for use by both it’s online and offline publications.
If for whatever reason the company chooses to accept media in a particular format that should be stated with any request!
Here are some links to articles.
I am sorry if this affects the inclusion of your article, but I cannot be silent on this situation!
I will gladly come in and show whoever cannot download this file how to do this simple task and/or give a presentation on where media and technology stands today !
Please feel free to share these links with any interested journalist. http://podcamptoronto.pbworks.com/MediaArchive2009
Please note this Upcoming event http://2010.podcamptoronto.com/
Closer to home – FashionCamp NY; the technology unconference will be at
Parsons that weekend.
The Caribbean Life is not the only paper whose dedication to it’s role I am looking at… they like many are getting the trappings on web 2.0 on their sites!
Not to be able to download a PNG … leave little hope for how these brands and papers conforms to the social and collaborative aspects of web 2.0 technology! When print space is limited how are they using the rss feeds or even exploring 2d codes to extend articles!
Let’s not even speak on the issue of business models and content and audience monetization as a part of that picture.
In 2004, I sat with the editor from another local paper who validated not covering Fashion, one of the largest local employers in our community as there was no valid, commercial value … So the paper still employs a connection, with a serious lack of industry knowledge to cover local and regional fashion! I can just imagine what else is happening in other sectors, health, business, real estate!
When will we get decent business and technology columns? Ones that are focused on current events and happenings, not pulled from generic online articles or simply press releases reformatted – articles that are researched or vetted. Articles that are not hidden behind walls or paid for by ad placements! When will our features not be glorified press releases from local companies with the correct connections!
If I cannot hope for the local press to be leaders in covering local news, I have little faith that they would educate the next generation of leaders!!
