Recent Posts
Welcome to the News section! Here you can find out about all sorts of news related to Land of Opportunity, the people and issues presented in the film, reviews of the project, and upcoming events.
RECENT POSTS
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February 06, 2012
Affordable Housing
Please support Kawana Jasper!
Kawana Jasper, tireless advocate for social justice, devoted mom, and protagonist of LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, needs your support!
We have learned that Kawana Jasper was arrested last Tuesday night (January 31st) outside of her home and in front of her children. Her bail was set at $50,000, a shockingly high amount-and as a result, Kawana's family has had a difficult time getting her out. The detailed facts of what took place are still unclear, but it sounds as though Kawana was arrested after she called NOPD for help when someone threatened her at home. We are currently working with Kawana's family to find the legal resources she needs to address any criminal charge and secure her housing.
In the meantime, we are putting a call out for support to everyone we can think of to help raise the money that will be needed to support Kawana during this difficult time, including legal fees. The Jasper family was able to secure Kawana’s release from Orleans Parish Prison on bond today, but she faces a long road ahead and will need all the support we can muster.
Please consider donating whatever amount you can in order to help Kawana out. No amount is too small. Kawana is a part of our social justice community and we hope to be able to show that we have her back during this difficult time. She is a devoted mother and needs to be able to care for her kids.
You can make a donation online or you can drop checks made out to Kawana Jasper or cash off to Kawana’s mother, Sharon Jasper, at her home at:
2731 Bruxelles Street
New Orleans, LA 70119The Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative is serving as a fiscal sponsor for online contributions. All money raised, other than fees charged through Paypal, will be turned over to the Jasper family.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please forward it on to anyone who might be able to help.
Sincerely,
Luisa Dantas, Shana griffin and Kate Scott (on behalf of the Jasper family) -
Land of Opportunity nominated for a Progie Award
Land of Opportunity was among the illustrious nominees for the 5th annual "Progie" Award for 2012's Best Progressive Films and Filmmakers.
We joined other amazing documentary films like Granito: How to Nail a Dictator in being nominated for the Langlois award for “best progressive picture deserving theatrical release in the U.S.”
To learn more, Click Here
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Stop Web Censorship-Speak out against SOPA
As we develop interactive web content, we recognize the fundamental need for an open and democratic web. The SOPA bill threatens that.
This Wed Jan 18, many of your favorites sites will be unavailable to you to stop web censorship in the form of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its corresponding Senate bill, PIPA . Please support them and take action by telling your representative not to support the SOPA and PIPA bills. Learn More -
Our DVD is a great holiday gift!
This holiday season, in solidarity with the 99%/Occupy movement and other similar actions such as Bank Transfer Day, we are joining the call to ask people to avoid corporate “big box” purchases of any kind this holiday season. We encourage you instead to spend your hard-earned dollars at family-owned and independent businesses throughout the holiday season.
We are also very proud of the fact that we have a beautiful new DVD to sell, and want to encourage you to consider buying it for yourself or your friends and family this holiday season. In doing so, you will be avoiding the thronging masses and shilling corporate pitchmen, and instead support the work of lovable (and debt-ridden) indie filmmakers! In addition to DVDs, we also have t-shirts designed by hot local New Orleans designer Dirty Coast. They’re sleek, soft and sassy and a great conversation-starter! We have women’s and men’s sizes available.
We have already begun shipping DVDs to people across the country and the world. As always, if you’ve seen the film, please email us your comments or post them on our facebook page. We also encourage you to hold screenings for friends, family and community. So sign up to host a Happening today!
Here are some things our viewers have said to us after watching Land of Opportunity:
If your goal was to get people to think, it worked on me. Thanks so much for bringing the film to our community. And thanks so much for pointing out the importance of focusing on our own community needs. It’s always easier to judge what is happening in another community than to deal with our own real issues at hand. Please keep up both your good and important work.
-Jim, Urbana ILI watched the film and found it wonderful and moving. It is fascinating as a piece that has some much texture and detail about organizing, policy and politics, but doesn’t have a certain thesis that is narrated over or shoved down your throat as the conclusion to what it all means. It is a wonderful tool for teaching and provoking discussions. -Kevin, Minneapolis, MN
I want to say thank you for a job well-done…as a former New Orleanian with a Ph.D. in urban studies, I have grown weary and leery of so much of the work. Your documentary was one of the few I’ve seen that I believe shows a fair and true representation of the complexities. -Denese, Chicago, IL
The film is truly a masterpiece. Every time I see it I am truly moved. I especially appreciate the focus on organizing, which I feel like is something no other documentary has shown to the same extent. I appreciate that the film ends with a sense of urgency—hopeful but not rosy. -Hannah, New Orleans, LA
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November 14, 2011
Affordable Housing
GNOFHAC files suit against landlord over discrimination against Latino renters.
Our partners at the GNOFHAC have filed suit against a landlord over discrimination against Latino renters in the Greater New Orleans area. You can read their press release here
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Three Upcoming Land of Opportunity Screenings!
Land of Opportunity is having three screenings in the next 10 days:
1. New Orleans:
Friday, November 4th at 6pm
First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans
2903 Jefferson (at Claiborne)
See the flier here.2. Chicago:
Saturday November 5th, 10am-4pm
5811 South Ellis Ave // Film Studies Center (Cobb Hall 306)
Chicago, Illinois
Part of a half-day symposium sponsored by the University of Chicago Human Rights Program
See more info and the flier here.3. University of Illinois: Champaign-Urbana campus
Monday, November 7th @7pm
See the attached flier here. -
Occupy NOLA
There is a lot of great energy with Occupy New Orleans in Duncan Plaza right now, which is amazing to witness in New Orleans!
We wanted to re-post this short video we presented on the 4th anniversary of Katrina, which elaborates on some of the history and people behind Homeless Pride, the homeless union that occupied Duncan Plaza for 6 months in 2007, and ultimately how it ended.
We will continue to post updates about “OccupyNOLA”: as they come, both here on the site as well as on our facebook page
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We Are Looking For Two Great Interns To Join Our Team!
Land of Opportunity is seeking two fantastic interns to assist us with our non-theatrical and educational outreach and distribution campaign.
Please see our full intern calls here: educational distribution and social media/marketing.
Anyone interested should email a resume, hours of availability and a short letter of interest detailing why this internship would be a good fit for you to ludant@joluproductions.com and please CC: resnedeker@joluproductions.com
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Working Films Blog features Land of Opp Interactive Player
This week, The Working Films blog featured a piece on Land of Opportunity’s latest endeavors to create an interactive web-based video player. Read the whole story here
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The Polis Blog reviews "Land of Opportunity"
A film review on the Polis blog emphasizes how Land of Opportunity connects the dots between New Orleans and urban America.
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Final New Orleans Public Housing Redevelopment to Occur in 2012
The Housing Authority of New Orleans today received a $30.5 million federal grant that could drastically change a large portion of the city’s downtown. The grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also seals the fate of the Iberville, the city’s last traditional public-housing development, which sits near the edge of the French Quarter.
Read the entire article here
Tags: Ibervillepublic housingredevelopmentdowntown revitalization
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Updates on the 6th Anniversary of Katrina
Several pieces have been published in local and national outlets about the sixth anniversary of Katrina: Here are some of our favorites:
Our friend Jordan Flaherty, published in The Root
Feature article from the local daily paper, The Times-Picayune
Important piece on Human Rights and Internal Displacement from the Institute for Souther Studies
*Note: this last piece was re-released as Irene passed through New York City when it was announced that the Rikers Island jail would not be evacuated, just as New Orleans’ jail had not been evacuated during Katrina
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Kawana Jasper, tireless advocate for social justice, devoted mom, and protagonist of LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, needs... http://t.co/tstWmg2P 1 days ago
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Kawana Jasper, tireless advocate for social justice, devoted mom, and protagonist of LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, needs... http://t.co/HT5qHVYe 1 days ago
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Nola Folks, start your Mardi Gras off right with this stellar film by the one and only Rebecca Snedeker. "BY... http://t.co/BJSX8pWi 2 days ago
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Further evidence of the need to provide support for the women and children who bore the brunt of post-Katrina trauma. http://t.co/BosKADqS 13 days ago