Thank you to the applicants. . .

Dear Friends of the HEN Foundation:

I am writing this letter with great news! The deadline for grant applications has come and gone and in this, our first year, we have received three applications from three very diverse artist-activists. The applicants represent different art forms and are working closely with social justice groups in their communities to develop lasting changes…changes that benefit us all. In the light of their efforts and in celebration of the HEN Foundation’s first year, we would like to fund all three grant applicants.

Throughout the course of the year the HEN Foundation has raised enough money to fund two artist-activists. We need your help to fund the third. It is you, the community, who make the work of artist-activists possible, and with your support you will help the following artist-activists continue their work. Please read about each applicant below as I’m sure there is an artist or cause that is worthy of your support. If not, forward this e-mail to those who may be interested!

The first applicant is Tracy Lang (http://www.tlangdance.com). Using Urban Contemporary Dance Tracy works to expose sociopolitical issues facing women. She has chosen to work with Planned Parenthood of Georgia where she will conduct dance demonstrations, lectures and workshops to promote discussion of sexism, gender issues and social constructs pushing women to adapt to the culture of perfection. Tracy utilizes deep dance poetry with subtle humor to promote dialogue. Through her efforts Tracy will continue to provide young women the tools needed to evaluate difficult issues with deep personal relevance.

The second applicant, The Beehive Collective (http://www.beehivecollective.org), works with several partner organizations but has partnered with Coal River Mountain Watch for the purposes of this grant. Using their blend of graphic art and story telling, the Beehive Collective is working on a campaign to help prevent coal-harvesting, mountain top removal in Appalachia, the U.S. Southwest and Colombia. The collective’s collaborative drawings unify power, history, ecology, and resistance movements.

Last but not least is Anne Feeney (http://www.annefeeney.com). Anne is a well-known singer/songwriter/labor rights activist/rabble rouser with an international reputation. For the purposes of this grant, Anne has proposed organizing spaces for spoken word, music, performance arts and puppetistas at the AFL-CIO conferences and the G20 summit held in Pittsburgh, PA in September, 2009. Throughout the month of September, Anne will be organizing the artists that help expose the evils of the G20 and promote labor rights in the U.S.

It is with great pride that I present these three applicants as potential HEN Awardees. Now, it is up to you, our community, to help support them. I am asking that you make a small donation to the HEN Foundation by visiting our website (http://henfoundation.com). These artists and the causes they represent need your support.



Thank you in advance,
Craig J. Rouskey
President, the HEN Foundation

P.S. Stay tuned for more information on the Midwest HEN Tour presenting HEN Artist-Activists