fwd'd

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Keenan <dkeenan44@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, May 22, 2014 at 9:00 PM
Subject: [omnilogistics] Fwd: [omnidelegates] Kazoo Introduction
To: "omnilogistics@lists.riseup.net" <omnilogistics@lists.riseup.net>




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kazoo <lovekazoo@gmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Subject: [omnidelegates] Kazoo Introduction
To: omnidelegates@lists.riseup.net


Hello Omni!

I am happy to be involved in this project!  The Thursday meetings are hard for me to make because I have an intern who comes to my SF studio and gives me free labor on Thursday evenings, but I will try to rearrange that with her starting next week.  I have also been a little late to the game because I have two other large projects starting that I had planned way before I knew about the Omni- building a studio from the ground up in Oakland, and writing and recording an album of my own music.  I have been planning this six-month period from now until September for full-time engagement in those two previous projects canceling my regular teaching schedule.  Ideally I would love to stay involved in the planning process with the Omni through the fall, but not begin my specific project within the space until the November.  I'm not sure how that feels to all involved.  I welcome your feedback. 

Here is a quick synopsis of what I want to do with the Omni Project:

Creative Empowerment Project

CEP is a screen printing and collateral production studio that makes all manner of printed media: tshirts, posters, book jackets, perfect-bound books, business cards, CD and DVD packaging, and various graphic design.  The space has several functions.  There will be a cooperative screen printing space where coop members will pay a small monthly fee (maybe 50$) to have 24hour access to the community screen printing space.  The screen printing space will be equipt with 8 printing stations so that many people may use it at the same time.  I currently bottom-line a space like this in San Francisco where I have been screenprinting for the past three years.  This will help cover our portion of the Omni rent.  There will also be an Education/Vocation component to the space where people who are formerly incarcerated, targeted by racism, or otherwise challenged to survive within the oppressive economic/justice system can build capacity for self-employment and group empowerment.  Participants in the E/V program will learn the skills of screenprinting, digital design, layout, cooperative business functions, and self-promotion through classes and practice.  The E/V collective will take jobs in printing and production to support its portion of the rent as well as paying its participants for their labor.  Eventually I would like the E/V project to expand to include people who are under 18, targeted by racism, and disengaged with the public school system.  The E/V project will employ its own students, and hopefully be taken over by those who have successfully completed the program. 

As far as the space is concerned, I think this could happen anywhere in the building, if it happens in the basement we would require some windows and a separate entrance so the coop members could have 24hour access without necessarily accessing the rest of the Omni building.

Looking forward,
Kazoo