February 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Journalist and author Roland S. Martin will present the keynote speech at Illinois Wesleyan University’s annual Soul Food Dinner on Sunday Feb. 24 in the Hansen Student Center (300 E. Beecher St., Bloomington). The event, sponsored by Student Senate, is in celebration of Black History Month.

Dinner will be catered by Sodexho Campus Services and served at 5:30 p.m. Following dinner Martin will address the audience.

Tickets for the Soul Food Dinner will go on sale January 29 and sell through February 9. For the general public tickets are $12. For Illinois Wesleyan faculty, staff, and students tickets are $5. Illinois Wesleyan students with meals plans can charge the dinner to their ID.

Martin graduated from Texas A&M in 1991 with a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism and is currently studying for his master’s degree in Christian Communication at Louisiana Baptist University.

As a journalist, Martin has won more than 20 professional awards including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television News Directors, two citations from the National Associated Press-Managing Editors Conference, and several first place awards from the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators.

More

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Amanda “Gwydhar” Bratton, a 2004 Illinois Wesleyan graduate, is beginning to make a name for herself in the Chicago film community. With her new film The Persephone Project in its finishing stages, Bratton hopes to progress into a promising future as a director and producer.

An inherent interest in art brought Bratton to Illinois Wesleyan University as an art major. She quickly learned that she was able to foster her curiosity for cinema while attending the University, and made a film for an independent research project titled Anti-Hero. Illinois Wesleyan graduates Liz Schroeder, class of 2006, and Daniel Vendt, class of 2005, assisted Bratton with the movie. She recently collaborated again with both for The Persephone Project, with Schroeder acting as costume designer and Vendt composing the original score.

The film’s story revolves around the Greek myth of Persephone, who was captured by Hades and made goddess of the underworld until she was rescued. Using an experimental interpretation of the myth, the film focuses on a visual representation of the story. Each character wears a mask that was specifically designed and handmade for the film.

The production company behind the film is Blue Damen Pictures, founded and operated by Bratton. The organization, she explains, is a nonprofit Chicago-based ensemble of individuals dedicated to promoting and nurturing up-and-coming talent within the film community. “Our mission statement is to give anyone interested in learning or getting involved with filmmaking the opportunity to work hands-on on a film,” she said. Bratton felt that to really establish herself as a player within the film community, she would have to create her own production company so people would take notice. While The Persephone Project will be the first major short film Blue Damen Pictures has produced, they have created several smaller shorts, such as Man Jam, Big Brother and Single’s Awareness Day.

More

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – State Farm will be continuing its partnership with Illinois Wesleyan University to support the community.

Illinois Wesleyan’s Action Research Center (ARC), which connects students with area non-for-profit organizations, has received a grant for more than $53,000. This is the second year the State Farm Companies Foundation contributed funds to ARC.

“We have been pleased with the efforts of ARC and look forward to the ongoing collaboration which will engage students, faculty and community leaders in a way that not only enhances their growth and effectiveness, but also benefits local not-for-profit organizations,” said Kathy Havens-Payne of State Farm.

ARC was created in 2003 to provide Illinois Wesleyan students with a set of expertise and skills necessary for applied research projects in the community.

The grant will help Illinois Wesleyan ARC Coordinator Deborah Halperin expand the program. “Together we create innovative and meaningful ways for Illinois Wesleyan and State Farm to impact our shared community. We are ready to take several exciting projects to new levels and we could not grow without State Farm’s support.”

More