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· What is The I.A.M.C.A.? ·

The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

is The Public Association for Community,

Cultural Arts, News, Activities & Events. 

OR, YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD

PUBLIC * POTLUCK * PEOPLE’S PLATFORM!!  

 
    At a time when so many working families & individuals, across the country, working longer hours to make ends meet, are increasingly relying on social media platforms, to stay connected with family and friends, & informed on the issues directly affecting our lives.  The field of such available platforms is dominated by five giant digital media gatekeepers, AKA “Big Tech”, as well as a small handful of corporate mass-media monopolies, owning over 90% of all mainstream media (that includes TV, newspapers & other print, radio, record labels, film studios, etc.).  These large corporations represent & serve only the interests of their wealthy shareholders & CEO’s, etc.
 
    This was made possible, in large part, due to series of bad (and very consequential) legislation such as “The 1996 Telecommunications Act”, the repeal of Net Neutrality laws, deregulation, industry capture of regulatory agencies, a failure to enforce anti-trust laws.  The losers, in this deal, are the communities, whose locally owned newspapers, radio & TV stations, etc., that once featured local news, journalism, local arts & culture, and other programming & services, in the public interest, who were quickly bought up or otherwise driven out of the market.  
 
    What was driven out along with it, were the days of turning on the radio and hearing your favorite local bands, high school team sports news & scores, ads from the local hardware store, diner or roller rink, newspaper & broadcasting that employed local journalists to cover local news, politics, activities, events, and other matters of public interest. 
 
    And with vast corporate media monopoly & the homogenization of programming, across the country, also vanishing are the days of local arts & culture putting a community on the map, from Beale Street to Austin, Harlem to Detroit, San Fransisco to Memphis, etc..  And along with that, the whole interconnected fabric of the local economy, from tourism to arts & events venues, record shops to print shops, poster artists to instrument repair techs, & numerous other services & industries, that support or in some way benefit from the kind of activity a vibrant, dynamic & bustling such cultural arts centers draw, begins to unravel.  What ultimately was driven out was us.
 
    What the corporate mass-media model offers, in its place, apart from monopoly, relentless commercialism, and an empty, “cookie-cutter” consumer culture, is a media landscape flooded with the kind of narratives & content that serves the material, socio-economical, political and ideological whims of said, wealthy shareholders, who have consistently demonstrated little to no interest or commitment to the public interest. 
 
    In just the last 15yrs, employment opportunities for professional journalists has dropped by well over 70%, and currently in free fall, globally.  What has replaced local journalists investigating & reporting on the matters that directly affect our lives, apart from record profits, are pre-packaged VNR’s (“video news releases”), produced by corporate PR or marketing firms, a steady drumbeat of corporate PR spin, corporate lobbyists as expert guest commentators on broadcast news, “if it bleeds, it leads” type sensationalistic & cynical marketing ploys, to name a few.
 
    Media literacy, journalistic integrity, accountability & standards, public service, an informed citizenry with a strong, working knowledge of civics, public affairs, and the issues that most directly impact their lives.  All dropped from the list, in favor ever more profits, public interest be damned.
 
    The “vast wasteland” of commercial broadcast media models, as famously described by former FCC Chairman (1961 – 1963), Newton N. Minow, has now gone on steroids and taken over the internet.  Much like with radio & TV, and now, more than ever, there needs to be a robust, sustainable & accessible public platform option, dedicated to serving the interest of local, working-class & under-served communities.
 

IT’S TIME for a PUBLIC PEOPLE’S PLATFORM!!!

The 4 PILLARS of I.A.M.C.A.’s MISSION

1.)  COMMUNITY:

    I.A.M.C.A., at it’s core, is a community organizing tool, that provides a basic framework to build a sustainable, member-supported, non-profit, public utility/platform, committed to serving public interest.  It is a place for connection, collaboration, participation & mutual support. It is a platform that supports, promotes, & brings together; 

  • LOCAL COMMUNITIES
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT ARTISTS
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
  • LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES

    These are OUR ‘shareholders’.  

2.)  EMPOWERMENT:

    The I.A.M.C.A. begins with a deep and abiding belief that real, positive, transformational, sustainable and just change is only made possible, not by “strong”, charismatic leaders, celebrities, large corporations or Superman, but by ordinary people and communities, working together to build a stronger and more connected community.  It is those communities that the I.A.M.C.A. is designed to support and serve.

    Through a wide range of member-supported services, features, tools, resources, activities, events, information, and programming, in the public interest, the I.A.M.C.A. seeks to engage, connect, support, celebrate, educate & inform, invest in, and uplift local communities, & individuals.

3.)  OPPORTUNITY:

    The I.A.M.C.A. is designed to function as a central hub, organizing base, resource, and springboard, in support of all things local.  Our goal is to help build strong, healthy, connected communities, as well as dynamic, diverse, stable, & thriving local economies by

  • providing a platform for the promotion & support of local independent artists & journalists, small businesses, from public markets, worker owned co-ops, to “mom ‘n’ pop’s”, craft artisans, and other services, community organizations & programs.
  • through membership support, revenue from featured services, merch sales, special fundraising events, available grants, and other such means, create new local jobs & opportunities for local independent artists, journalists, and other creators/producers of cultural arts, activities, events & programming, serving in the public interest.
  • organizing & maintaining a robust & effective, on-going “Support Local” campaigns.
  • featuring & maintaining directories, classifieds and other community bulletin boards for local independent artists, journalists, small businesses, and other community non-profit organizations & programs.
  • helping to identify & promote local government agencies, programs, resources & other opportunities.
  • providing featured coverage & promotional support for all contributors.

4.)  CELEBRATION:

    At the core of our sense of self-identity, self-esteem, & general well-being, is COMMUNITY.  It’s that sense of connection we feel when we meet someone, abroad, from our home town, the sense of pride we feel when we hear someone we went to school with, on the radio, or when our team wins the big game, but much more.  It is foundational to both, who we are, as individuals, as well as our shared humanity. 

    All throughout history and everywhere you look, the communities with an active, dynamic, robust, inclusive “culture of community” are more connected, resilient, prosperous, engaged, involved, happy, healthy, supportive, and thriving communities, draped in rich, vibrant tapestries of cultural arts, celebrations, traditions, history, local cuisine, and so much more.

    I.A.M.C.A. sees the CELEBRATION of COMMUNITY as an essential & key tool for realizing our goals for all other three pillars.  We provide a basic framework, tools & other resources to help you organize, develop, support, and promote your local arts, culture, events & activities.

    

    

    

More about the American Buffalo as I.A.M.C.A.’s symbol.

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I.A.M.C.A. vs CORPORATE MEDIA 

I.A.M.C.A.’s MEMBER-SUPPORTED MEDIA vs CORPORATE MEDIA MODELS COMPARED

CORPORATE MEDIA

I.A.MC.A.

  • Corporate mass-media conglomerates, serving profit & market dominance. 
  • Member-supported & organized, public platform, serving & supporting local communities.
  • The alternative to community.
  • The community alternative.
  • Corporate, for-profit media model.
  • Public, non-profit media model.
  • Maximizes profits for wealthy shareholders
  • Connects, empowers, uplifts, supports & serves the community.
  • Promotes celebrity & consumer culture. 
  • Promotes community culture, local arts, activities & events.
  • “Blockbusters”. 
  • Block parties.
  • Employs A.I. (artificial intelligence), in place of artists.
  • Employs, supports & promotes local independent artists.  There is no place for “A.I.” in the I.A.M.C.A.
  • Major League Sports programming (corporate sponsored, pay per-view)
  • Local leagues, high school sports, neighborhood family flag football/BBQ at the park, etc.
  • Increases profits by way of deep cuts to news department budgets, journalists, local news coverage, replacing investigative journalism & coverage with pre-packaged, corporate PR content, etc.
  • Promotes & supports local independent journalists.  Creates new jobs & opportunities. Develops and provides tools & resources, in support of independent journalists.  Member-supported local news.

How does it work?

    The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is a central “community hub” for all things local.  It is built around a partnership between;

 

1.) LOCAL COMMUNITY:

  • I.A.M.C.A. members, family, friends & neighbors.
  • Non-profit organizations & programs serving the public interest.
  • Community organizers, advocates, activists, mentors, volunteers & stewards.
  • Local environment, wildlife, parks & public spaces
  • Participants & wallflowers 
  • Friends & partners
  • YOU!!!

2.) LOCAL ARTISTS:

  • Community cultural arts, activities & events organizers
  • Independent artists, musicians, authors, performers, filmmakers, & other talent.
  • Contributing creators of public interest programming & other content.
  • Local producers, engineers, technicians & other talent.
  • Public art creators, parade designers to buskers.
  • Local arts venues, theaters, museums, & other cultural arts centers.
  • Aspiring new artists.

3.) LOCAL JOURNALISTS:

  • Member-supported I.A.M.C.A. Local News coverage
  • Independent journalists, investigative reporters, commentators.
  • Small, locally owned & independent broadcasters, publishers, podcasters, etc.
  • Local documentarians, historians, fact-checkers, archivists.
  • Contributing creators of public interest programming & other content.
  • Local producers, engineers, technicians & other talent.
  • Media literacy educators
  • Aspiring new journalists

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES:

  • Local, independently owned & operated, small businesses/services only.
  • “Mom ‘n’ Pop’s” to worker owned co-ops.
  • Farmers Markets to Public Flea Markets.
  • Artisan hand-crafters to “small-batchers”.
  • Aspiring new business owners

 

DEPARTMENTS & FEATURES

 

    The I.A.M.C.A. website is comprised of 4 DEPARTMENTS.  Each with it’s own special functionality, features & sub-divisions.  These are the following:

1.) LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS:

  • CULTURAL ARTS, ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Calendar
  • I.A.M.C.A. PRESENTS…
  • INDEPENDENT ARTISTS DIRECTORY
  • “THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS”
  • FEATURED PROFILES
  • POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS
  • TOOLS & RESOURCES
  • LOCAL ARTS ARCHIVE
  • BUSKER BOOTHS
  • The BULLETIN BOARD
  • JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES Classifieds
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS

2.) NEWS DEPARTMENT:

  • I.A.M.C.A. LOCAL NEWS
  • I.A.M.C.A. NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS 
  • CONTRIBUTING LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
  • PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • CIVICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
  • MEDIA LITERACY Tools & Resources
  • LOCAL ELECTION COVERAGE
  • “I.A.M.C.A. TOWN HALL”  
  • EDITORIALS & COMMENTARY
  • COMICS & PUZZLERS
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS DIRECTORY
  • FEATURED PROFILES
  • “MEMBERS’ CHOICE” Investigative Reporting
  • TOOLS & RESOURCES
  • LOCAL NEWS ARCHIVES
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS

3.) The COMMUNITY HUB:

  “The Community Hub” is the place to connect, discover events & activities near you, get involved, post bulletins/classifieds, find everything from new bandmates to local p-patches, car pools, & used item swaps, organize a parade, block partycommunity projects, and much more.  Here are just a handful of The Community Hub’s featured sections:

  • NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTIES:  
  • The BULLETIN BOARD:  
  • PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • WORKSHOPS & CLASSES Calendar/Directory:
  • “HOBBY-IN” Calendar & Directory:
  • COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AUXILIARY:
  • NEIGHBORHOOD P-PATCHES:
  • FARMERS MARKET Calendar & Directory:
  • COMMUNITY OUTREACH Directory:
  • ADVENTURE GUIDE:
  • NEIGHBORHOOD “SWAP CIRCLES” Classifieds:
  • “BARN-RAISERS” COMMUNITY LEAGUE:
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS:
  • and more!!!

4.) LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS:

  • LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY
  • FARMERS/PUBLIC MARKETS Calendar & Directory
  • NEW BUSINESS PROFILES
  • “MEMBERS’ CHOICE” BILLBOARD
  • The BULLETIN BOARD
  • JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES Classifieds
  • TOOLS & RESOURCES
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS

The FRONT PAGE

    The I.A.M.C.A. website is your journal for all things local. “The Front Page” is where you will find;

  • Highlights from the LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS, “COMMUNITY HUB”, and NEWS DEPARTMENTS.
  • Important public announcements, news & information
  • FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
  • COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES announcements & coverage.

FEATURED CONTENT

    Each I.A.M.C.A. Chapter curates their own “Front Page” programming, and other special featured presentations & content.  These are drawn from the following 4 sources:

 

1.)  I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL:

    Public interest programming, tools, resources & other content, created by the I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL’s own production team.

  • Cultural arts, activities & events
  • PSA (public service announcements)
  • Media literacy tools & information

    Programs are made available to local chapters as supplemental public interest programming, with exclusive member licenses.

 

2.)  I.A.M.C.A. Presents…:

    Special features, local cultural arts, activities, events, news, information & other public programming, created by

  • your local chapter’s production team
  • commissioned works, from local independent contributors.

    “IAMCA Presents” is funded by membership fees, small dollar donations and in-kind services & support, fundraiser events, grants, and other such revenue.  Proceeds from the sale, subscription, and licensing of feature presentations, goes back into

  • creating more jobs, opportunities & support for local independent artists, journalists & other contributors
  • funding new public interest programs, activities, events, & services
  • I.A.M.C.A. Staff and other operations costs.

 

3.) POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS:

    A “Potluck Production” is an independently developed & organized, community collaborated & produced program, activity, event or other such content.  Looking to meet other local artists & individuals interested in collaborating on bigger projects or events?  In the POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS department, you will find;

  • BULLETIN BOARD, where members can post & search project collaboration proposals.
  • Tools, resources & other information on everything from project development & production tips, to how-to’s on everything from organizing a parade or other such public event, to tips on fundraising, promotion & distribution, and more.
  • CLASSIFIEDS section, where you can post & search Potluck Productions project ads
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS

    A “Potluck Production” that has reached the specified criteria & meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, receive pre & post production promotional support.

 

4.) LOCAL INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTORS:

    Independently produced programs & other content that meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, can be

  • shared on the LOCAL ARTS & ARTIST section’s feed
  • submitted to the I.A.M.C.A. team, for consideration, for the “Front Page”, in exchange for multi-faceted, special featured promotional campaign & support.

What is “I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL”?

    I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL is the national chapter & supporting parent organization for all local chapters.  Our role includes the following:

 

  • Reviews & approves charter applications for local chapter status.
  • Establishes general standards & guidelines for chapter membership.
  • Coordinates, oversees & records chapter votes on amendments to national charter practices & policy.
  • Provides support for local chapters.
  • Creates feature public interest programming, PSA’s & other content, tools & resources, for use by local chapters.
  • Develops & maintains I.A.M.C.A. media archives.
  • Organizes & hosts nation conventions / conferences.
  • Coordinates friends & partner collaborations, supporting local chapters & I.A.M.C.A.’s mission.
  • Organizes & chairs nation/world news divisions.
  • Hosts national election coverage & “national member town hall’s”.
  • Coordinates nationwide promotional campaigns, chapter membership drives.
  • Manages “I.A.M.C.A. National Flea Market”.
  • Organizes “support local” campaigns.
  • Helps organize, develop, produce, support, promote, cheerlead for, or otherwise participate in multi-chapter collaborations, productions, and other efforts.
  • Produces, publishes, licenses, & distributes public interest programming, tools & other resources.
  • Supports I.A.M.C.A. and it’s member chapters through grants, fundraising drives, membership & services fees, merch sales, and other donations.

Promotional Support & Advertisement

     The I.A.M.C.A. is intended to provide an effective springboard for local independent artist, journalists, & small businesses, with an emphasis on accessibility, equity & affordability.  In order to maintain a more level playfield, & protect against undue influence of sponsors of more abundant financial means, eligibility for promotional support & advertisement space is based on the following criteria:

  • Must be local, independent & currently earning a gross income that qualifies as small business status.  Businesses that grow beyond the established threshold, receive a place of honor on I.A.M.C.A.’s “Graduates Billboard & Listings”, but are no longer eligible for advertisement space

I.A.M.C.A.  Supports the Following

  • Money out of politics.
  • Universal Healthcare.
  • Housing Justice.  Safe, clean, affordable, dignified housing for all. 
  • Taking our communities & housing back from predatory, private equity & corporate landlords.
  • Divest public subsidies from large corporations & reinvest in local small businesses, public markets, co-ops, and other jobs & opportunities.
  • Net Neutrality
  • Public Broadband
  • Replace “1996 Telecommunications Act” with laws & regulations that support & protect local ownership of media.
  • Public service & community stewardship
  • Social justice, community health, safety & well-being.
  • Universal human rights.
  • Community culture that celebrates its diversity.
  • Workers’ rights, health, safety & well-being. Labor unions.
  • The protection of journalism, journalists, journalistic freedom, safety, security, & justice.
  • Fully-funded public education
  • Creating good paying jobs, opportunities and support for local, independent arts & artists,
  • Environmental justice

MEMBERSHIP

BASIC MEMBERSHIP:

  • Access to all I.A.M.C.A. Special Features, programs, & services.
  • Access to I.A.M.C.A. Archives
  • Receive member NEWSLETTER, notifications of special public events, activities, programs, etc.
  • Ability to participate in COMMUNITY FORUMS
  • MEMBERSHIP CARD that entitles you to special discounts with participating local businesses, independent multi-media content creators, vendors, subscriptions, and more.

 

ARTISTS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Artist profile in the LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

JOURNALISTS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Journalist profile listing in the INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

SMALL BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Business profile listing in the LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY
  • Special member discounts on ADVERTISEMENTS
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/PROGRAMS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Profile listing in the COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/PROGRAMS DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Free & discounted ADVERTISEMENTS, and other promotional support.

MY I.A.M.C.A.

Join or start a local chapter.  Discover cultural arts, activities, events, news & information, and other services & special features.  Support local arts, journalism, & small businesses. 

CHAPTERS

Explore other affiliated I.A.M.C.A. chapter’s arts, media and other special features.

NEWS DEPARTMENT

For all things news, journalism & other information.  Join or contact us.

· OPPORTUNITIES ·