“Stand up for Creativity!” is the theme of the Creative America Project’s second candidate and organizer training session in Chicago on May 14, 2005, at Columbia College's Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Avenue.

The training session will take place from 9 am to 5 pm and is designed to show creative professionals how to run for local office using grassroots, progressive strategies. The training will also show people how to be grassroots organizers or managers for social change campaigns.

The session is sponsored by Columbia College's Civic Responsibility and Engagement Committee.

Subjects covered will include:

- The place of creativity in the historic and economic life of America
- Why artists and creative professionals are needed in the civic arena
- Who is pursuing an “anti-creativity” agenda and why
- How to translate your creative credentials into political assets
- How to put together a grassroots campaign
- How to get your message out
- Recruiting and managing volunteers
- Raising funds for your campaign
- Running and winning as a creativity champion

The cost for the training is $20.06. To register, please visit www.creativeamerica.us.

We held our first candidate/organizer training session in Chicago at the Bailiwick Theater on Jan 22. Despite a blizzard that dumped 11 inches of snow on Chicago, we had 40 people turn out for a day of training, ideas and fellowship. Over 50% of the attendees were women. The youngest attendee was 20, the oldest early 60's. White, black, latino, straight, gay and representatives of the performing arts, writing, educational, organizing and marketing professions were present.

There were performances, reports from local and national experts in the arts, politics and grassroots campaigning and great networking. Most important, attendees explored a galaxy of new possibilities for creative professionals in public life.

For more information, please contact Tom Tresser Lead Organizer, tom (at) creativeamerica.us.