But it wasn’t until this Spring when I asked him to write our study guide for high school science and social studies teachers that I learned the full extent of his stature and experience: Ken is a National Science Teacher of the Year, an inductee in the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame, Presidential Award Winner for Excellence in Science Teaching, a co-author of the National Science Standards, and Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher to Japan. And, he’s still teaching! (If I were in the Hall of Fame for anything, I would retire and live off my fees from autograph shows.)

Not satisfied to supply his own huge store of knowledge, Ken brought in his brother, who also taught Biology for over 30 years at high school, college and graduate school levels. He was the director and co-developer of the Inquiry Role Approach, a curriculum program for Biology Teachers and Students, published by Silver Burdette in 1974.

Jeff Tamblyn, Unconditional Films
Director, Kansas vs. Darwin

One public library director simply called Eating Alaska,
“quirky Food, Inc” Others are inviting chefs, urban gardeners, homesteaders, food activists and the filmmaker to speak; sharing wild, local and artisan nibbles, and talking about food justice and the impact of the industrial food system on our bodies, families and communities. One upcoming event is at the Scranton Library in Madison, Connecticut on July 15th.

Alice Elliott at Reframing Reality Festival in Jerusalem

Just returned from Israel. Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy and The Collector of Bedford Street shown at the ReFraming Reality Film Festival at The Cinematique.

It was last summer in the midst of trying to finish my latest film, Change is Gonna Come, three years in, out of money and vowing never to write another grant application, I read Think and Grow Rich. The book suggests finding a product to sell so I can raise money, in my case to finish my film. As I pondered this, I looked around my office and sitting on my bookshelf is my product– my first film The Smith Family, ready and waiting to be sold and distributed.

I finally got it, we create films so they can be seen and utilized. And what better way than to have them seen and used in the educational market with professors asking the hard questions, and students retorting right back with even more provocative questions. Getting people talking, was the very reason we made the film in the first place.

I am doing not only Change is Gonna Come, a disservice but also all those who haven’t yet experienced The Smith Family, all the professors who can use the film in their classroom to stimulate discussion about homosexuality, religion, AIDS, HIV, family, marriage, fidelity, faith, forgiveness, unconditional love.

The responses of how this film is used in the classroom never ceases to blow my mind, from dentists to nurses, to social workers. Used in ways I couldn’t have dreamed up, affecting lives and changing perspective in ways that force me to continue telling stories.

So, if I have to devout a portion of my brain power to stretching in ways I once believed I was incapable of, to reach my goal to make a difference and affect lives, then I will write that newsletter, learn to blog and build those lists.

Because I am a filmmaker, intensely passionate about what I do, I’m learning to be an entrepreneur so others can actually experience my work and make their own choices.

Tasha is based in Venice, California where, when not lamenting or filming, she plots and plans volunteer vacations in Africa, Cuba, Thailand and other remote corners of the world.

Tasha Oldham

TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai tells the inspiring story of the Green Belt Movement of Kenya and its founder Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The film was shown last week at the Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Kampala Uganda. The conference runs through June 11th.

Two weeks ago, our groundbreaking and deeply personal PBS film illuminating the remarkable history, implementation and real stories behind the policy was screened on Capitol Hill to a bi-partisan group of Congressional members including Sen. Al Franken D-MN and Rep. Patrick Murphy D-PA. Three subjects from the film — Jacob Reitan (Founder of the “Right to Serve Campaign”), Alex Nicholson (Executive Director, Servicemembers United), and Jarrod Chlapowski (Military Consultant, Human Rights Campaign) — as well as filmmaker Johnny Symons, were present for the event.

Meanwhile, despite his previous statements to the contrary, a letter from Defense Secretary Robert Gates was leaked stating that Congressional action changing the policy at this time ”would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform...” The letter triggered a flurry of conflicting responses from advocacy groups, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and ultimately, the White House. Now, it looks as though an issue that had the potential to be resolved this year may remain part of our military policy until 2013 or longer.