THE HIDDEN SECTOR

TC Media brings home two awards, and more on art and cultural nonprofits

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I started writing this column highlighting local nonprofit organizations about a year and a half ago. However, 25 years before I started this column, Thurston Community Media (known as TC Media) was airing “Mission Nonprofit”. Full disclosure, I recently joined the Board of Directors of TC Media, but even if I were not on the board, I still would be writing about their recent accomplishment.

Local TC Media Brings Home Two Awards

TCMedia recently announced that two of their local television programs received the 2023 Hometown Media Awards from the Alliance for Community Media Foundation. TCMedia received the Informational Talk Show Series - Access Center Professional award for its “Mission Nonprofit” series, produced and edited by Robert Kam, Martha Correa, and Jordan Plozai-Alicea. In addition, long-time public access program, “Karaoke Oly”, a family-friendly, sing-along program was acknowledged for the Entertainment & Arts Series - Independent Producer award. It is produced and directed by Robert Kam.

Legacy of Local Media

For over 25 years, Mission Nonprofit has showcased local organizations making a difference in Thurston County. “We started producing Mission Nonprofit in the mid-90’s” said TCMedia CEO, Deborah Vinsel. “There are hundreds of nonprofits in Thurston County, so we’ve had a lot of good stories to tell over the years about the great work they do.” “We are so happy to be recognized for both these programs that play a vital role in our community, “says TCMedia Media Producer, Robert Kam. “We will continue to be a leader in media education and content creation and have fun along the way.” Since the 1980s TCMedia has been a local leader in media education, content creation, and access to emerging technologies. The Alliance awards program was established to honor and promote community media, community radio, and local cable programs that are distributed on Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) access cable television channels. Each year, nearly one thousand entries are submitted, and awards are presented to the most creative programs that address community needs, develop diverse community involvement, challenge conventional commercial television formats, and move viewers to experience television in a different way.

Your Chance to Voice Your Support for TC Media

Currently, TC Media’s Strategic Planning Committee is conducting a community survey to gather data for its strategic planning process. Community input is vital as they plan their growth and service in the coming years. Please follow this link to complete the survey. If you choose to provide your email address, you will be included in a drawing for a $100 gift card when the survey closes on May 31st.

More Awards

Nominations are open until Friday, June 16 for the 2023 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards to recognize Washington’s outstanding arts and cultural leaders, artists, culture bearers, and organizations. Anyone from Washington State who is eligible can be nominated. ArtsWA values diversity, equity, and inclusion and believes in diverse forms of artistic expression. They strongly encourage nominations that reflect communities across the state, including historically underserved communities.

2023 Award Categories

  • The Individual Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to Washington’s arts landscape or its cultural heritage.
  • The Organization Award recognizes an organization that has made significant contributions to Washington’s arts landscape or its cultural heritage.
  • The Community Impact Award recognizes an individual, organization, or group that has dedicated significant time and effort to positively impact the creative economy, the arts, or cultural heritage in their local community.
  • The Educator Award recognizes an individual who has provided outstanding instruction in creative practice or cultural heritage.
  • The Young Leader Award recognizes an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who has shown outstanding impact through artistic practice or cultural heritage activities.
  • The Legacy Award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding impact through creative practice or cultural preservation for at least 20 years.
  • In addition, ArtsWA will select an Arts & Heritage Champion Award This award recognizes an individual or organization that has shown extraordinary commitment to the vitality of arts & heritage in Washington State. Nominations are not accepted for this award.

For more details and to submit your nomination, click here.  

The Art of Storytelling and Raising Funds

Window Seat Media is hosting a fundraiser titled “We Are Here” Saturday, June 3 at Tolmie State Park. According to Meg Rosenberg, the event will begin with a guided story-sharing walk as well as Playback Theatre with Brave Practice around Stories of Belonging in Our Homeplace and share outs from folks who participated in our offerings this year. Rosenberg, whose title is Community Weaver (Community Engagement, Storytelling Projects, and Development Director) says participants will learn about the community relationships and synergy built this past year and get excited about what is to come in 2024. “Community donations allow us to be nimble in our community programming and continue to offer large sliding pricing for our events and services. Our 2023 crowdfunding goal is $8,500, which would cover our monthly operating expenses for the entire year.” The mission of Window Seat Media is to use oral history and storytelling to spark conversation, connection, and social change in the Sound and beyond. For more details or to register for this event, click here.  

Soliciting your ideas

If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!

Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at  MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com

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