May 2: DIY Video Storytelling and Youtube for Nonprofits

May 2nd, 2:00pm-4:30pm

Location - Google Chicago Offices, 20 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Presenters - Let's Dabble and Google staff

In today's digital world, video has reached unprecedented levels of importance when it comes to capturing and captivating an audience for your cause. Luckily, as video has become more widespread, the tools needed to work with video have become more accessible to match. 

Join HandsOn Tech Chicago, nonprofit video creators/trainers Let's Dabble, and Google staff for a comprehensive workshop on creating and sharing videos for the web. 

The workshop will cover:

• Creating a video using basic equipment like your phone or tablet
• Free and simple video editing programs and basic techniques
• The basics of using YouTube to share your video with the online community
• Using the added features of Youtube for Nonprofits to get the most out of your nonprofit video creations

Let's Dabble was founded on the principle that, if you're breathing, you have a story to tell, and they exist to show you how it's done. They teach nonprofits to tell their stories through video and harness the power of the web. More people. More funding. More missions fulfilled.

Register Now

April 30: Design Solutions for Nonprofit Websites

April 30th, 1:00pm-3:00pm Location - Greater Good Studio, 2864 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60618 Presenters - Greater Good Studio, Socially-minded design studio This is our second time collaborating on this training, as the first one was so successful! This is a training for beginner to advanced nonprofits - just come prepared to think about your current website's design and plan for improving it. You can expect to: Define your website's mission Evaluate how your website is working for all your audiences Practice a user centered approach  Develop ideas for improving your current web presence Please bring your laptops for this event! Greater Good Studio, a socially-minded design studio in Logan Square that focuses on solving some of Chicago's most pressing issues through design. In the past, their talented team has worked with Chicago nonprofits, Chicago Public Schools, The Metropolitan Tenants Organization, and more.  Register Now

DanceWorks Chicago celebrates 7 years!

...with our 6 + 1 Benefit at the Museum of Contemporary Art tomorrow, April 27! On the program will be three world premieres, one Chicago premiere, and one company premiere. DanceWorks Chicago...always moving!

Board Lab May 14: What to have in place before recruiting for your board

Wednesday, May 14, 12:00-1:30pm
Arts & Business Council of Chicago
70 E Lake St, 3rd Floor Conference Room

Before your organization begins recruiting new board members there are several crucial steps to ensuring a productive search and fruitful conversations. Board prospects seek a certain amount of structure and process already in place and there are some simple steps that your current board members can take to make sure that your organization is appealing to a prospective board member.

This session is geared toward organizations that do not have a formal, comprehensive board recruitment process in place.

In this session we will:

• Identify the “must have’s” in your board recruitment packet and process
• Discuss how to assess your current board and what types of board members you really should be looking for
• Share resources to make the most of your valuable and limited time

You will leave with:

• Templates and worksheets to get started on your own board recruitment packet
• Ideas for where to seek new board members
• Creative ways that other organizations have found new board members

This session includes a 45-minute presentation followed by 45 minutes of small group discussion including peer coaching and direct feedback from one of our Board Consultants. Organizations are encouraged to attend with two board members or a board and executive staff member.

Price: $20 (brown bag: bring your own lunch) or $30 (includes lunch)

Register here: http://www.artsbiz-chicago.org/events/2014/05/what-to-have-in-place-before-recruiting-for-your-board/

DanceWorks Chicago is warming up...

It's Chicago Dance Month, and DanceWorks Chicago is warming up...check out these diverse offerings:

TONIGHT: Saturday, April 12: DWC performs I Wantchu Kool Cuz U Blow My Mind as part of A Beatles Songbook at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston, 7:30pm, $20

 

Friday, April 25: Dance Chance, Lou Conte Dance Studio, 7pm-8pm, $3

 

Sunday, April 27: DWC's 6 + 1 benefit, Museum of Contemporary Art, 1pm-4pm

Register for this Workshop and Town Hall - Tuesday, April 22, 2014

The Cultural Data Project recently released a new report, New Data Directions for the Cultural Landscape: Toward a Better-Informed, Stronger Sector, which offers an assessment of the state of data collection and use in the arts and cultural sector. The report reflects the views of 11 nationally recognized cultural researchers and presents a set of recommendations to the field for moving toward a more strategic, coordinated approach to developing new knowledge and information resources that improve the sector's performance, vitality, and public impact. We now need your help to take the next step: translating this report into action.

To join the conversation, we invite you to participate in a workshop and town hall with other arts and cultural practitioners, organizational managers, researchers, and grantmakers from your local community. In this first of a series of conversations to be held across the country, you will be asked to share your views, respond to the report's findings, and help identify what challenges are most urgent within your community. We will review the proposed solutions and develop action strategies that will have the most impact in addressing the challenges you identified.

We ask that all attendees read the executive summary from the New Data Directions report, available here, before the event.

Event Details:
Tuesday, April 22, 3:00pm - 5:00pm CT
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street
1st Floor Garland Room

Light refreshments will be served.

Register here: http://culturaldata.nonprofitsoapbox.com/calendar/event/379.