YOUTH ZONES to screen at UN General Assembly

Nearly two years in the making, YOUTH ZONES - a film and poetry project I did with UNFPA and the Women's Refugee Commission - is having a very big moment. A 4-minute clip of this 25 minute film that I shot in Colombia, Liberia, Lebanon, Northern Uganda and New Orleans will screen at the UN General Assembly on August 12th to help launch the International Year of the Youth.

22-year old Wissam Samhat, who is featured in the film will do the introduction. 

MDGFive.com on the move!

The issue of maternal health has been a focus in my film work for the past 5-6 years, and despite the number of incredible screenings, discussions, and conversations that have resulted, there is so much more that needs to be done to change the trends of women dying or suffering from complications due to childbirth or pregnancy. 

That's why I chose to produce MDGFive.com - in collaboration with Grammy-winning singer, Maya Azucena - as a means to bring new audiences into the global conversation taking place to improve maternal health.  I'm happy to report that a small idea that started last year is starting to blossom...and fast!! 

Not only did we receive our first corporate sponsorship from REALITY DIGITAL (an industry-leader in social media who produces online editors) who is offering us $90,000 worth of pro-bono site development and hosting services, we were also chosen to receive a mini-grant from the Pepsi Refresh Campaign to record "LIFE FOR LIFE", a maternal health song/poem to help launch our new initiative to unite artists and activists around maternal health.  You can find more information about the song and our activites below. 

My and Maya's interest is to utilize our collective networks with the creative and humanitarian worlds to attract new audiences (including young people and communities of color) to maternal health with this project.  There are many exciting events and opportunities for MDGFive.com coming along in the next few months (including the Beta-launch of the site at the Women Deliver conference in Washington DC in June.)  Some events are listed below.  We'll keep you posted on further developments.

Feel free to send me ideas, comments, referrals - they are welcomed and necessary to build the community we hope to build!  As always, thanks for your support!

Lisa

Curating CINEMA CORNER at Women Deliver

I'm really honored to have been asked by Women Deliver to help curate the CINEMA CORNER at their prestigious conference coming up in May.

In the last few months, I've been introduced to some amazing films covering women's health/maternal health.  It's been a pleasure getting to know the filmmakers.

If you're planning to attend the conference, come check out the CINEMA CORNER on Wednesday, June 9th. We'll be showing films in 30-minute slots.

See you there!
Lisa