At Year-End, “Thank you” and “Please”

COC began as a simple idea that has evolved through the enthusiasm and generosity of many special people who have contributed their time, energy and expertise. Sheryll Franko and her talented colleagues shot – pro bono – hundreds of hours of footage for our mental health documentary. Actor John Turturro and Harvard professor Anne Harrington volunteered as narrator and screenwriter respectively.  Sean Campbell wrote the first complete draft of the treatment and two grant proposals. The indomitable Lois Oppenheim set up interviews with Nobel Prize winners, VIP authors and mental health professionals, and she continues to work tirelessly – writing, editing, arranging and coordinating – to bring the film to completion. Melissa Brand, Victoria Grinman, Suzanne Amro, Inna Rozentsvit, and Marshall Alcorn have been actively developing our emotional literacy curriculum.  Together we wrote and presented papers that we plan to turn into a book, with interest from publishers.  A wonderful group of students from the Fordham School of Social Work, headed by Sara Goldberg, designed our jobs project and wrote a grant proposal.  The Depth Perception Party on Facebook has 165 “likes” and continues to grow.  John Foy and Susan Dansker made our 501(c)3 happen. Susan expertly administers the organization, while continuing to creatively direct our marketing and communications efforts. Jon Bogaty contributes his computer programming talents.  Bernice Arricale invariably takes my thinking to new levels. I am enormously grateful to all of them.

COC is now at a tipping point, where we need money.  Serious money.

Without financial support we can’t take the next, huge steps – finishing a professional documentary, designing and implementing pilot projects in schools, opening a charter school, developing a jobs project, hiring staff, and publicizing the projects and the overarching vision of the organization. Yes, we’ll apply for grants, but our experience has been that word of mouth and personal interaction have been the primary catalysts for change.

As the year draws to a close, we ask for your financial support. Please consider making a 2011 tax-deductible contribution to Changing Our Consciousness. 

You can help in other ways, too. Can you put us in touch with foundations or individual philanthropists who might contribute to COC?  Do you know an attorney, a publicist, or media representative who would be interested in working with us? Can you introduce us to a school that might want to develop a project with our education group, or a politician interested in exploring “depth perception” as a way of approaching political conflict?  Can you contribute your own talent, time and expertise?  Would you take a moment now to share this message on your Facebook or Twitter page or email list?

If you think COC isn’t worth the investment, we would like to know that as well.  Honest and direct challenge is also a gift.

With much gratitude, and warmest regards for the holidays and the New Year,

– Alice Maher and the Board of Changing Our Consciousness