The first ever Chicago South Asian Film Festival is taking place October 1-3, with 16 films being shown over three days across a wide variety of genres. The festival was conceived by Amit Rana as his project in Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program.

The festival has blossomed into a major extravaganza, with films being shown at the Chicago Cultural Center and Chicago’s Film Row Cinema, with at least 2,000 visitors expected. Opening night features a red carpet arrival for actors and the director, who will conduct an open question-and-answer with the audience followed by an exclusive gala event. The festival is now being supported by Columbia College, the Network of Indian Professionals of Chicago, and a variety of corporate sponsors.

Visit the CSAFF website to buy tickets and get more official information – below, Rana speaks in his own words about his motivation for initiating the project and some of what it took to make it happen:

I was always passionate about films and movies and wanted my Self-Expression and Leadership project to be in line with this passion. At the time I started SELP, I had joined a non-profit volunteer organization called the Network of Indian Professionals which holds several social and charitable events throughout the year. They were looking to expand their cultural programming and I decided to take on creating Chicago’s First South Asian Film Festival as my community project with my community being Chicago’s  South Asian, film-loving community.

In doing some research, I realized that Los Angeles and New York both have big South Asian Film Festivals but Chicago never had one despite its large South Asian Population. I reached out to a few friends and began forming a team to make the project a reality. Since we didn’t have any experience in organizing a film festival, we really exercised our network to obtain guidance, volunteers, sponsors, and films for the festival. I was surprised to see the enthusiasm within the community for a South Asian Film Festival. Columbia College was the first to enroll into our vision and jumped on board by giving us free theater space for two whole days! The Chicago Cultural Center also gave us free theater space for a whole day. In terms of films, several up and coming filmmakers both in Chicago and outside Chicago were more than happy to send their films in for the festival.

Over the events, the festival has grown from interms of size and goals. More and more volunteers have joined the team and our film programming expanded from 7 movies to now 16 films. In fact we have reached out to Mayor Daley to come and ‘cut the ribbon’ during opening night of the festival.

Watch the video below to see previews from some of the festival films:

Olga’s Beautiful Beings was created by Olga Nisenboim to make a difference for women impacted by sexual assault and abuse. As her project in Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership program, Olga and her spa, Olga’s Day Spa of Highland Park, Illinois, put on ‘Olga’s Beautiful Beings’ first event, which gave more than a dozen clients of the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center a full day of spa treatment.

The event, held April 29, provided spa and hair services and gave each attendee a gift bag. In the words of Nisenboim, it was provided to empower women and restore confidence, giving them a day of beauty. The video below tells about Olga’s Beautiful Beings and the work of the Zacharias Center, of which Nisenboim has been a long term supporter. For more information, go to Olga’s Beautiful Beings website.

A project begun by Landmark Education graduate Carolyn Elaine in the Self-Expression and Leadership Program to reduce violence in Chicago's schools was recognized by National Public Radio (NPR) in a story about Fenger High School.

Last fall Fenger student Derrion Albert was beaten to death in a nationally publicized case which became a symbol of the violence in Chicago's schools – last year a total of 49 students were murdered in Chicago, and this year is ahead of that pace. Fenger and its new principal, Elizabeth Dozier, are taking action to turn the school around.

As her project in Landmark's SELP, Elaine, who herself is a Fenger graduate, formed the organization Restoring the P.I.E.C.E.S., whose purpose is to connect schools impacted by violence to their communities through student art projects.

The specific project mentioned by National Public Radio was the creation of a 700-square foot peace mural. Elaine worked for weeks with students to create the mural, according to the story. The mural, titled Choose Your Own Legacy, was recently unveiled to cheering students, faculty and alumni.

"We can't keep looking for something on the outside and change what's happening with our children," said Elaine. We have to be that change."

The mural portrays Fenger's history, including current and former students, teachers, students such as Albert who have died, and past student groups.

For more information, also go to the Restoring the P.I.E.C.E.S website.

The story of Zindaba Nyirenda and her efforts to reduce poverty in Africa have been featured in the Daily Herald newspaper of suburban Chicago. Nyirenda credits The Landmark Forum with giving her a voice – for having her realize she could make a real and lasting difference in the world.

Nyirenda grew up a princess in Zambia, and experienced a sheltered and affluent upbringing. As she grew older, she saw the problems her country was having with poverty, disease and a lack of clean water. She has written a book titled "Ta-Lakata: The Tears of Africa" in which she hopes to make suburbanites more aware of these issues. The book also tells of what it took for Nyirenda to deal with family losses which were tied to issues that affect much of Africa – her father and a sister died of AIDS, while her mother died from drinking contaminated water.

Nyirenda also sees global connectedness as a key to making a difference. When she took part in Landmark's Self-Expression and Leadership Program, she created a project to link sister schools in the United States and Africa through distance learning. She founded Light on the Hill for Africa, a nonprofit that supports leaders of African villages.

Landmark Education News has received word that "Tying up Loose Ends", the play focusing on end of life issues written and performed by Ann and Catherine Gallogly, will be appearing at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts on December 11-13 and again on December 18-20. The impetus to write and produce the play was apparently from a Landmark Education program.

The play tells about a dozen different stories of people near the end of their lives, informed by Catherine's thirty year history as a caregiver. It includes a variety of monologues and songs from different genres. Despite the subject matter, observers have described the show as upbeat and lively, capturing both the pathos and the surprising humor of life and death. The 70-minute play is directed by Jamie O'Reilly, with the music by Ann Gallogly and Dan Stetzel.

Showtimes are at 8pm for all shows, with additional 3pm matinees for Saturday and Sunday shows. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 at the door. To get tickets go to www.theaterland.com, call 312-733-6000, or email boxoffice@theaterland.com. To find out more about the play and read an interview with Ann on how it was created, read an article from the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest.

Landmark Education News has received an update on the project that Oz du Soleil of Chicago created in his self-expression and leadership program. Trough the project, which Landmark Education News covered after an article in he Chicago Tribune, collected bras, du Soleil has collected almost 4,000 bras which he has distributed to a variety of organizations that support women in dire need. 

Most recently, du Soleil and the organization he created to distribute the bras, Support 1000 (named after his original goal for collecting bras, long since surpassed), were featured in The Grio, a leading blog offering stories, News, blogs and videos from the African American community.

Most recently, Support 1000 has contributed bras to a San Diego non-profit that helps women inmates reintegrate with society after their release. The article also points to experts who say that taking care of a woman's basic physical needs is critical to confidence and feeling of empowerment. To contribute or find out more information, visit the Support 1000 wesbite. Here is some of the story from The Grio.

As economy sags, man finds way to support women in need

 by Bonnie Davis

Julia Sledge runs a nonprofit program in San Diego that helps former women inmates re-enter society. Among the basic items that many of these women need when leaving prison or jail is underwear.

So, when Sledge ran across Ozkr "Oz" du Soleil's Internet offer to donate bras to low-income women in need, she quickly responded.

Two weeks later, a shipment of 50 bras arrived, which Sledge, founder of St. Taylor's Wrap-Around, will distribute to women who are on parole and unemployed. Good-quality bras, which costs between $20-$50, can be expensive for low-income or out-of-work women.

"[Not having] a change of underwear because you can't afford it" is a reality for many of her clients, Sledge says, adding that she speaks from similar experience. "I'm heavy-chested and remember once, years ago, being so broke that I had to ask someone to help me buy a bra that would fit me."

To read the entire story at much greater length, visit The Grio website. Also view this video of du Soleil talking about the project.

Oz du Soleil’s invented a unique project in his SELP program, which has received attention from The Chicago Tribune. Du Soleil collects bras which he donates to underprivileged girls and women. He says he has collected more than 3,000 bras at this point in time. How du Soleil chose this particular project to undertake in the Landmark Education program was the subject of the following profile article in the Tribune.

Thousands of bras collected for needy

by Dawn Reiss

Stacks of bras in brown cardboard boxes fill Oz du Soleil’s home in Chicago’s Kilbourn Park neighborhood. Red bras. Polka-dotted pink and brown ones, white lace and sheer black bras. Hundreds of them sorted size AA to DD, with an H or even a J thrown in the mix.

When asked why, du Soleil, 44, always has his elevator pitch prepared.

"I collect new and slightly used bras for underprivileged, lower-income girls and women," he tells them. "Usually they ask if I’m serious, and then I just tell them I’ve sent more than 1,400 bras around the world. I am careful about it since people do look at you like you’re some weirdo."

Du Soleil collects the bras through his blog, support1000.blogspot.com, which in April surpassed its goal of collecting 1,000 bras to donate. He’s now at 3,000-plus and counting.

At $15 to $40, an inexpensive bra is not the type of thing most people think about donating. But many women who show up at shelters or are homeless don’t have a bra, and many girls are embarrassed to go to school without one, say advocates.

Paula Gomez, a domestic violence advocate for the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, responded to an ad that du Soleil posted on Craigslist for free bras, which she says are the least donated item. "If you can’t afford to pay the rent, you’re not going to buy a bra," Gomez said.

Deborah Slowe of the nonprofit IMAGINE Me Foundation said du Soleil donated more than 100 bras to that organization. The foundation focuses on self-esteem issues affecting teenage girls.

"I had girls crying," Slowe said. "Things that are so small that we take for granted are so important to young girls."

To read the rest of the article about du Soleil’s project, visit The Chicago Tribune website. To donate bras or to receive bras for your organization, contact support1000bras@blogspot.com.

Chicago businesswoman Zully Alvarado formed Causes for Change International out of taking Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program in 1996, and 13 years later CCI is still going strong. Alvarado had grown up in poverty in Ecuador and suffered from polio. It was only when she was brought to the United States and received advanced medical treatment was she cured. CCI seeks to assist impoverished communities with medical assistance, training and education (see Landmark Education News’ original story about CCI.)

Recently, LE News received word about what was undertaken and accomplished on CCI’s latest annual travel mission to Ecuador.

Twenty indiviuals traveled to Milagro, Ecuador: Seven students from Northwestern University, a CCI student intern attending Norbert College, a graduate school student from Depaul University and a high school student. The professionals on the volunteer team included a registered nurse with expertise in acupuncture, a dental assistant, a special education teacher, an ecologist, an energy healer and a business owner. Three researchers came from the University of Illinois, two were supported in part by CIRRIE, the Center for International Rehabilitation Research Information & Exchange.

It was the responsibility of Causes for Change – Ecuador to coordinate the health care professionals and facilities where healthcare and education would be provided. CCI’s focus was to seek the support team with expertise needed in planning for the future, and the gathering of medicines and supplies.

In keeping with CCI’s mission through the development of partnerships with individuals, organizations, businesses and other interested bodies, we continued to focus on health, education and economic self-sufficiency; impacting the lives of children, women and persons with disabilities.

Intended outcomes for the July travel mission included: gathering data on population with disabilitiesfor the creation of the Exploration Institute; providing parents, educators, and health care providers training on disability; increase understanding of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities; following up on the mutual agreement of understanding between the University of Illinois at Chicago and UNEMI Nursing department; have the US Youth Team gain insight into health care in a developing country; increase Spanish language fluency on the team, and many other objectives.

Here are some of the many accomplishments of the team on the July travel mission:

• Dr. Fabricio Arteaga, a CC-Ecuador volunteer, conducted health screenings for 150 children with disabilities attending and receiving rehabilitation services at AVINNFA in Milagro, Ecuador (AVINNFA serves 286 children with multiple disabilities).
• The majority of the children seen by Dr. Arteaga were then referred to the dental clinic at UNEMI for dental hygiene, treatment and extractions. The children were seen on Luly 20th thru the 25th Dr. Santiago Llaque and two local volunteer dentists; a CCI dental assitant and student volunteers. A total of 74 children received fluoride treatments, and tooth extractions where necessary.
• CCI provided a dental chair, equipment and supplies to meet the needs and requirements for dental care. With the support of UNEMI and Dr. Santiago Llaque dental care will continue to be provided at the clinic set up at UNEMI at an average of three children per day at no cost. CCI through CC-Ecuador will provide the needed supplies whenever possible.

Stay tuned for a later article from Landmark Education News which highlights more of the accomplishment’s of Causes for Changes annual Ecuador Travel Mission. In the meantime, get more information at the Causes for Change website.