HomeMy WebLinkAboutConstituent Letter - Mail Packet - 2/20/2018 - Information From Joseph E. Somodi Iii Re: Support For Foco Speaks Out!Joseph E. Somodi III
3239 Green Lake Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: 212-246-3874
E-Mail: focospeaksout@gmail.com
Web: focospeaksout.org
To: City Staff and City Council
From: Joe Somodi, Founder |Producer
Date: February 12, 2018
Re: Support for FoCo Speaks Out!
Memo
Last year, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) hosted an event at Bas Bleu called FoCo Speaks Out!
Despite there only being 116 seats, nearly 200 people attended the evening that was a celebration of our
humanity. The standing room only attendance was a clear affirmation that our community was hungry to listen
and discuss deep issues of diversity and equity. The numerous “thumbs up” that were printed in the
Coloradoan confirmed that the audience left the event feeling inspired and wanting more. This thirst for
meaningful engagement is why I am writing you and seeking the city's continued support.
Seeing the need and knowing the commitment it would take to grow FoCo Speaks Out! into a thriving part of
our city's culture required me to step down from HRC and pursue this as a full-time project. An extensive
listening tour taught me that this event has great potential to keep vital conversations of social justice in the
forefront of people's minds. FoCo Speaks Out! can connect and educate our community by galvanizing people
to be more involved in issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The mission of FoCo Speaks Out! is to build a community of transformative inclusion. We can accomplish this
goal if we work in partnership with organizations that are already having this conversation. For example, we
can be an advocate for Diversity Solutions and their multicultural retreats that the city currently supports. In the
same spirit, I’m in discussions with CSU’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity, the Bohemian Foundation,
the Music District, Community Equity Consortium (CEC), and La Familia (The Family Center), all of whom have
expressed interest in collaborating with FoCo Speaks Out!
Attached you will find the following:
● 2017 event recap - including a promo video I edited
● Mission/Value Statement
● 2018 Vision Plan - including five key target goals
● 2018 Budget
The next FoCo Speaks Out! event will be on Wednesday, May 9th, at the Magnolia Theatre in the Lincoln
Center. I hope you see the value this event brings to our growing community and feel inspired to lend your
support.
Sincerely, JOE
TRANSFORMATIVE
INCLUSION
BY JOE SOMODI
What Happened
On December 6, 2017, an event took
place at Bas Bleu Theatre in Fort Collins
called FoCo Speaks Out! It blended
thought leaders with local artists and
was billed as the art of social justice. The
theatre seats 116 - almost 200
community members attended.
I T A L L B E G A N . . .
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
The standing room only audience was riveted for
90-minutes as local voices invited the audience to
think about and respond to the places of
brokenness and hope in Northern Colorado. Each
of the artistic performances uniquely touched the
audiences' hearts in a way that amplified the
speakers messages.
And what was most surprising, despite
the challenging subject matter on equity
and diversity, the audience left inspired
and wanting more.
C L I C K H E R E & W A T C H A S H O R T R E C A P V I D E O
A wonderful evening
of learning,
challenge and the
arts at the first of
what I hope will be
many more FoCo
Speaks Out events.
Jeff Wright,
Windsor
FoCo Speaks Out
was one of the most
powerful,
motivational and
enjoyable events I
have ever attended.
Terri Reherman,
Fort Collins
FoCo Speaks Out
fosters qualities of
acceptance,
empathy and
encouraged
courageous
community
conversation that
nurtures inclusivity
in celebration of
diversity.
Jessica Kerr,
Windsor
community impact
FoCo Speaks Out
celebrated,
embraced and
discussed what
diversity and equity
means in Fort
Collins and beyond.
I left the event
inspired.
Chelsey Mandell,
Fort Collins
The night was
magical…I walked
away inspired,
informed and
renewed to speak
up, speak out and
speak often.
Anthony McGlaun,
Fort Collins
FoCo Speaks
Out was one of the
most inspirational
and entertaining
events I have ever
experienced.” Bravo!
Ruth Beauchamp,
Fort Collins
community impact
Answering the Call
positive reception is proof that our
community is hungry for FoCo Speaks
Out! that gathers, connects, inspires, and
motivates people to take positive actions
towards social justice. Like NewWest
Fest, the vision is to make FoCo Speaks
Out! another staple in the Fort Collins
community.
T H E O V E RWHELMING
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
Since Dec 6th, I have have taken on the
daily duties and responsibilities of
growing and developing the project so
that it can be an integral part of our
community and a regular celebration of
our humanity.
After hundreds of hours of research and interviewing
dozens of community members, I’ve culled together a
plan and vision of how to sustain the message and
impact of what happened on Dec 6th.
T I M E T O D I V E D E E P E R I N T O T H E F U T U R E
Our
Mission
Building a
community of
transformative
inclusion.
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
FoCo Speaks Out! promotes vital conversations
around local issues of social justice to
deliberately build a community where every
person is treated with dignity and respect.
This dynamic event generates awareness
through community engagement and forms a
path of personal growth through deeper self-
reflection.
W E E X I S T T O
make social connections in order to create a
sense of belonging
use the power of story in order to create
influential change
motivate community members to take action
and be a part of the solution
That last point is most vital.
O U R M O S T I M P O R T A N T P U R P O S E I S P R O V I D I N G A
C L E A R P A T H T O T R A N S F O R M A T I V E A C T I O N S T H A T
I M P R O V E I N C L U S I V I T Y , D I V E R S I T Y , A N D E Q U I T Y .
The Problems.
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
A S E N S E O F B E L O N G I N G
C A N ' T B E F E L T I F O U R
C OMMUNITY I S N O T
U N I T E D .
G O O D I N T E N T I O N S L A Y
D O R M A N T W I T H N O
A C T I O N .
A M A Z I N G S T O R I E S C A N ’ T
C H A N G E L I V E S I F T H E Y G O
U N H E A R D .
The Solutions.
Every attendee is offered a multifaceted
approach to be a part of the solution. The
mix of presentations, music, art, and
performance galvanizes the community
into taking transformative actions
toward a better world.
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
provides a platform for stories to
paint realities of local inequities and
inequalities while inspiring hope and action.
Passionate presentations are woven with
performances by local artists that resonate
the call for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
2018 Vision Plan
B I G P I C T U R E
Host 2
Live Events
Diversified
Sponsorship
Speaker Mentor
Program
Kids with
Kamera Program
Community Art
Installation
Online Resource
Center
Next Event...
May 9th, 2018
Lincoln Center,
Magnolia Theatre
2018 Vision Plan
5 E V E N T T A R G E T S
Connect people to relevant and
vital local non-profit and city
resources that improve diversity,
equity, and inclusion.
T A R G E T # 1
Information tables at each event provide
many levels of community engagement and
ways to contribute skills and resources.
Measurement. Reach 50% of the audience in
email commitments. Follow-up is required to
evaluate what actions were taken. Mission
Alignment. Community engagement is
critical to achieving our mission of
transformative inclusion.
S T R A T E G Y
Create meaningful social
connections.
T A R G E T # 2
Through an art installation that is
interactive and planned moments in the
program, audience members will be encouraged
to meet someone new. Measurement. We aim
to reach 50% of event audiences. A post event
survey and on-sight testimonials will gauge the
impact. Mission Alignment. A sense of
belonging is a pillar for building a stronger
community.
S T R A T E G Y
Share impact of event with wider
audience.
T A R G E T # 3
Volunteers and film crew will gather
testimonials captured on video, audio and in
written form. A promotional video will be edited
to represent the experience. Measurement.
Using social media, our website and press
releases will illustrate the impact of event.
Number of shares and views will measure the
audience reach. Mission Alignment. By sharing
the event we continue the learning, and keep
the conversation about diversity alive.
S T R A T E G Y
Expose community to wide scope
of personal experiences that
illustrate local inequalities and
inequities while inspiring hope and
action.
T A R G E T # 4
Selection of diverse presenters with an array
of topics and short community video profiles
shown during events. Measurement.
Audience feedback during the event and a
post-show survey will evaluate the effect. Our
goal is 50% of the audience feels they
expanded their knowledge base. Mission
Alignment. An informed community is an
empowered community.
S T R A T E G Y
Improve the lives of the
FoCo Speaks Out! presenters.
T A R G E T # 5
Develop mentor program that improves the
personal growth of speakers by improving
their skills so the message is more succinct
and style/manner on stage is dynamic and
effective. Measurement. Direct feedback
from each participant will help quantify the
impact. Mission Alignment. By improving
the lives of those who help create the event,
we ignite inner growth and confidence to be
more effective leaders in our community.
S T R A T E G Y
2018 Vision Plan
W H A T W E N E E D
501C3
STATUS
BENEFITS:
ACCEPT TAX DEDUCTABLE
DONATIONS
APPLY FOR GRANTS
DEVELOP LONG-TERM
FUNDING STRATEGIES
FURTHER DEVELOP
MISSION, TARGETS &
IMPACT
DIVERSE
FINANCIAL
SUPPORT
POSSIBLE ALLIES:
CROWDFUNDING
CORPORATE
SPONSORSHIPS
CSU/D I VERSITY
DEPARTMENT
C I TY OF FORT COLLINS
POUDRE R I VER D I STRICT
L I BRARY
BOHEMIAN FOUNDATION
Typical Event Budget
V E N U E R E N T A L : $ 2 , 2 0 0
S T A F F : $ 1 4 , 0 0 0
L O B B Y E X P E R I E N C E : $ 3 , 5 0 0
E V E N T D A Y : $ 2 , 6 0 0
M A R K E T I N G : $ 1 , 5 0 0
V I D E O P R O D U C T I O N : $ 5 , 2 0 0
W E B S I T E M A I N T A N C E : $ 1 , 0 0 0
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
F O C O S P E A K S O U T !
B U I L D I N G A C O M M U N I T Y
O F T R A N S F O R M A T I V E
I N C L U S I O N
Venue Rental
7%
Staff
47%
Lobby Experience
12%
Event Day
8%
Video Production
17%
Marketing
5%
Website
3%
EXPAND
SUPPORT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
THROUGH:
BROADENING OUR
NETWORK
BUILDING ONLINE
D I VERSITY HUB
COMMUNICATE CLEAR
V I S I ON
BE TRANSPARENT WITH
SUCCESSES & CHALLENGES
And now, it begins...
" W E M A K E A L I F E B Y W H A T W E G I V E . " C H U R C H I L L