2009 Interdependence Day Award

Sondra Myers, co-founder of Interdependence Day movement noted Mr. Hanley’s knowledge and advocacy are the gifts which have enabled him to address our 21^st century challenges in the 21^st century ways.

 Scranton, PA—Michael Hanley, United Neighborhood Centers recently received the 2009 World Citizen Interdependence Day Award from The Greater Scranton Interdependence Day Committee.

Rose Mary Broderick, co-chairman Interdependence Day, stated that the purpose of the award is to provide a format to publicly recognize outstanding leadership and the contributions of individuals closely connected with Interdependence and its practice, to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of interdependence in our community.

 Ms Broderick remarks included that this prestigious award reflects a variety of ways which exemplify the spirit of interdependence….a commitment to embrace all people and to take responsibility for them, whether it is at the local, regional, national or global levels.  Past recipients include the Honorable William Scranton, Federal Judge Tom Vanaskie, Sr. Margaret Gannon and Keystone College President Ned Boehm.

 “Michael Hanley, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to unite neighbors throughout our area with the objective of building a more humane and viable future for our region,” remarks Ms. Broderick.  She also stated that our honoree has demonstrated a vision and responsiveness to assess the needs of low income families; he has worked with the youth and senior citizens of our community to provide them with the tools necessary to integrate into the community and attain self sufficiency. Through Mr. Hanley leadership, his organization provides services and creates opportunities which empower individuals to build strong interdependent communities.   He is proactive, innovative and steadfast in addressing the needs of the hungry, assisting immigrants, homeowners at risk of foreclosure, and children who need support to build their capacity and much more. 

Sondra Myers, co-founder of Interdependence Day movement noted Mr. Hanley’s knowledge and advocacy are the gifts which have enabled him to address our 21^st century challenges in the 21^st century ways.

 Ms. Broderick presented the “2009 World Citizen Award” to Michael Hanley, Executive Director of the United Neighborhood Centers.

2009 Interdependence Award Photo

Photo Caption:  Left to Right: Kevin Klose, Dean of the Philip Merrill, College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Reverend Mary Jane Hitt, Pastor of Providence Presbyterian United Church, Scranton, Sondra Myers, co-founder of Interdependence Day; Michael Hanley, 2009 World Citizen Award winner;  Susan Hanley,  Kathryn Holod and Rose Mary Broderick co-chairpersons for 2009 Interdependence Day Committee.

Enviromental Artist to be Part of Hexagon Project

Hexagon Project

Interdependence Day 2009

our reality, our hope, our change

August 31, 2009

Press Release                                                                           Immediate Release

Michael S. Taluto

(570) 357-3843

Mike@taluto.com

Environmental Artist to be part of Hexagon Project

Scranton, PA- Environmental Artist, Cindy Snodgrass will be present at this year’s opening of the 2009 Hexagon Project on September 4, 2009 at the Melberger Arts Center Gallery at 123 Wyoming Ave, Scranton, starting at 6 p.m.

Snodgrass will do an interactive installation in the windows space both inside and out.  This will be her second appearance at the Hexagon Project.

A lifelong connection with nature has empowered her art-making and educational alternatives. Her projects are site and situation specific; often created with communities.

“SOS Fish: about Water” was recently on exhibit in the MIT Stata Center.  Snodgrass works to focus the viewers and the participant’s attention on water, climate, and food: balance.

Through her ideas on “social aesthetics” she questions environmental balance and cultural /individual wellness. Her projects expand direct participation in the arts as a way to address social change. At MIT this year [2009] she worked with student’s parents and other community members to expand her “no non-sence sense project;”
”BAU2 Business as UnUsual:” what does it look like? In interdependent workshops, diverse groups of people created Hexagons that focus on MIT students’ international collaborations.

”SOS Fish: About WATER” exhibited in Frank Gehery’s “Fishbowl” the Stata Center, is an example of her traveling collaborations. It has had participation from diverse groups including the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival and Museum, MIT, Surfrider’s,, NYC Museum for Water, Ohio schools and  children from Gee’s Bend.

Snodgrass received her BFA from Kansas City Art Institute and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She chaired textiles at the Cleveland Institute of Art, taught at Washington, Syracuse, and Carnegie Mellon Universities; and has guest lectured at MIT, RISD, Cranbrook Academy and many other places. She is the recipient of grants and fellowships from the NEA, Heinz Endowment, the Grable Family Foundation, the Ohio Arts Council and 3 catalyst grants from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

www.windsphere.org

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Interdependence Day Hexagon Project Post Card

For e-mail pdf card

INTERDEPENDENCE DAY HEXAGON PROJECT EXHIBIT III OUR REALITY, OUR HOPE, OUR CHANGE. September 4, 2009 – October 2009 Opens Friday, September 4, 2009 • 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM The Hexagon Project Exhibit features visual art by students from Asia, Canada, the United Kingdom and throughout the United States. It’s purpose is to invite youth of the world to thoughtfully and creatively address the themes of Global Interdependence. Opening night program will include: Heart to Art: Hands-on Hexagon building workshop Diversified Children’s Chorus Faces of Freedom: Rugmark, Nepal and Paparo: Fighting Child Labor Electric Theater Company: Acro-Balance interactive performance – 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Recognition Ceremony – 7:00 PM www.MelbergerArtsCenter.com 570.499.5202 • themacgallery@gmail.com The MAC 123 Wyoming Ave. Scranton, PA 18503 Artwork on cover by Dinesh Tulachan, Nepal; Devin Holmes, USA; Lauren Rudolph, Canada;Danielle Gaydorus, USA; Heidi Schmidt, USA

Hexagon Project Opens Sept 4, 2009

Beth Burkhauer, Co-chairman, Standing: Annette Palutis, George Barbolish, Co-chairman; and Sarrah Dibble, Blue Ridge Elementary. Absent from the photo is Erica Romanowski, Melberger Art Center.

Scranton, PA—The Greater Scranton Interdependence Committee announced that the Hexagon Project Exhibit will open on September 4, 2009 at Melberger Art Center at Diversified Information Technology 123 Wyoming Ave, Scranton, starting at 5 p.m.  The exhibit will on display for the Month of September.

This will be the third year for the Hexagon Project according to Beth Burkhauer, co-chairperson. This year’s exhibit will have over 300 hexagons from schools worldwide. Invitations have been sent to schools in Australia, Canada, Nepal, United States and other counties

New to the exhibit will be a display of rug samples by designer Diane Paparo, New York and Pennsylvania.  Also a digital presentation of “Faces of Freedom Photography exhibit on child labor and the South Asian Rug Industry by acclaimed documentary photographer U. Roberto Romano.  The collection of black and white and color photographs depict illegal child labor in the handmade rug industry and RugMark’s innovative child-labor free rug certification program designed to eradicate it.

The idea of the Hexagon Project began with Beth Burkhauer, a local educator, wanted a project as part on the Interdependence Day Celebration, to involve the entire community. “The idea of hexagon came to me because it seemed to be a shape that is a perfect metaphor for interconnectedness and it can be tessellated meaning that it interconnects infinitely,” stated Burkhauser. “If we asked educator to have students work inside of a uniform template, we could have student expressions become a visible statement.”

Burkhauser, also made note at the project was feature in the March Issue of School Arts Magazine.

This year committee consist of  Beth Burkhauer and George Barbolish, Art Department, Mountain View Jr-Sr High School are co-chairman;  Annette Palutis, retired educator from the Scranton School District and Sarrah Dibble, Blue Ridge Elementary. For additional information check out the website at www.interdependencedaynepa.org

WEBSITE CHANGE

The name of the Interdependence Day website has been changed to www.Interdpendencedaynepa.org

Committee Announced for the 2009 Interdependence Day

Scranton, PA—The Greater Scranton Interdependence Day Committee announced that the 2009 chairpersons will be Kate Holod and Rose Broderick. Activities will take place throughout the month of September.  Activities include “The Hexagon Project”, lectures, religious services, Kids Around the World, A Multi-Cultural Kids Festival; community service projects, several events at local universities and colleges throughout the Greater Scranton Area. “All You Have to Do is Listen” a performance by Rob Kapilow, a commentator, composer and conductor will perform at the University of Scranton. For additional information you can check out the group’s website at www.idayscranton.org. The group is also on Face Book, MySpace, Ning; They also have a blog at www. Idayscranton.wordpress.com.
Interdependence Day was launched in Philadelphia on September 12, 2003. The date was deliberately chosen as a post 9/11 symbol of regeneration, as a time to reflect on the tragedy of the incidents of terror, not only in the United States, but all over the world, and to ask ourselves “What next?” It seemed critically important to acknowledge the inevitability and significance of interdependence in our time, and set out to build constructively and culturally a global civic society.
Photo; Seated: Sondra Myers, founder of Interdependence Day; Audra McCloe, Penn State Worthington Campus; Kate Holod, co-chairperson. Standing: Reverend Mary Jane Hitt, Pastor, Providence United Presbyterian Church, Scranton; Ann Marie Stamford, University of Scranton; Sr. Margaret Gannon, Marywood University and Beth Burkhauser, Co-chairperson, Hexagon Project.

Declaration of Interdependence

Declaration of Interdependence

Hexagon Project 2008

Hexagon Project 2008

Hexagon Project

The Interdependence Day Scranton 2009 committee is seeking both visualand textual artistic expressions from high school and junior high school/middle school students for its worldwide celebration on September 12, 2009.

What is the Interdependence Day Hexagon Project?
High school and junior high school/middle school students (grades 5-12) are invited to respond creatively to the many themes of global interdependence – real-world issues – and become a part of an international movement to create a more civil, peace-minded and just world.

This project is a meaningful vehicle for allowing young people to think and respond about issues of personal and global importance. We had more than 250 pieces exhibited at an exciting, participatory event this 2008 year and we hope to have a bigger and even more meaningful exhibit in 2009! Click here to view photos from last year’s Hexagon Project exhibit. We envision filling the Melberger Arts Center here in Scranton from floor to ceiling with interconnected hexagons that tell the story about students’ vision and understanding of connectedness.

Why a hexagon?
The hexagon is a composition of complex relationships, interdependent lines, like bonds of human connection, strengthened in multiples into an infinite network of connections. It maintains its own presence as a shape, symbol of light and life, yet, structurally, destined to be part of a whole – a splendid architectural element, infinitely expandable.

How to get involved.

* Download your Hexagon Packet and read it (below).
* Engage support from administration and other disciplines.
* Keep checking back to this website for updates and additional resources.
* Download or purchase an Interdependence Handbook to gather ideas and understanding.
* Communicate with contact persons (below).
* Launch project and have entries ready by the end of June 2009! Click here to view photos of last year’s hexagons.

Hexagon Project Resources

Entry Form

Parental Release Form

Project Themes

Hexagon Template

Hexagon Project Power Point Presentation

2008 Hexagon Project Exhibit Presentation (samples & inspiration)

Project Deadline: June 30, 2009.

What is Interdependence Day

Interdependence Day was launched in Philadelphia on September 12, 2003. The date was deliberately chosen as a post 9/11 symbol of regeneration, as a time to reflect on the tragedy of the incidents of terror, not only in the United States, but all over the world, and to ask ourselves “What next?” It seemed critically important to acknowledge the inevitability and significance of interdependence in our time, and set out to build constructively and culturally a global civic society.

Interdependence Day 2009 will be celebrated on Thursday, September 10, 2009.