Wow. What a time. I began my internship at Arts Engine in July 2008 when Rose and Nangabire was just getting off the ground and we were waiting anxiously for more Election Day funding. Now that it’s December, I’m trying to take in the full experience of my last five months. 

Through it all I felt support. I felt the passion and the drive from all the staff members and interns. I felt a part of the team. Arts Engine has taught me to keep reaching for my dreams and take my defeats with grace. 

This organization has loads of charisma that I can only hope to take with me.  I’ve learned that independent media and film is where my heart and interest lies. Working with Election Day and watching the Media That Matters Film Festival, I’ve seen first hand the change one organization can make.  While Election Day encouraged and inspired people to vote and be a part of their democratic process, MTM is thriving in its internet home, where people from all over the world can log on, learn about serious social issues, and do something to help. These projects have inspired me and I’ve developed my own ideas for change through the amazing work that goes on here.

Working with Election Day during this epic and monumental election, I got a chance to be apart of many peoples’ learning experiences.  Part of being on the Election Day outreach team is making sure that as many people as possible have access to the movie. I did a lot of work contacting schools and organizing screenings and I was able to witness the fruits of my labors.

I attended two of the 40 screenings over September, October, and November and they were quite memorable. Jolene Pinder and I organized a screening at MIT in Boston for MIT and Harvard students.  The screening was held in a large classroom that sat about 25.  After the screening we had an elections official, Jim Youll, come and have a conversation with Jolene and the class. The two of them bounced ideas off each other and helped create a warm learning environment.  A lively discussion ensued; one of the MIT students stressed that he believes wholeheartedly that changes in poll technology are completely possible; no one is pressing the issue. In conclusion we all decided that this is a topic that needs to be addressed in more concerned communities.  We need to document it, like Election Day did.

Another documentarian from Harvard joined us at the screening. She was working with Video the Vote, an organization that video tapes the counting of the ballots. She was planning on recording the vote in New Hampshire and was there to recruit people to help. Jolene and I learned a few weeks later that the project was a huge success and some people from the MIT screening went and helped out!  This is a prime example of Election Day’s power to bring people together to change the way things are done.

Also, after being inspired by Election Day, speaker Jim Youll re-started his voter transparency project that he’d abandoned for some years. Another woman from the Black Youth Vote in Philadelphia, Tiffany Brown, attended an Election Day screening at SCRIBE and spawned direct visible change from her experience. After having a lively discussion with Katy Chevigny at the screening, she bought the film and organized five other screenings for Black Youth Vote in Philly. These are all great examples of how this film has been used as a domino effect to generate a dialogue about our democratic process.  Working with Election Day has been an incredibly rewarding experience and I have seen the positives.

In my work with production and executive director Katy Chevigny, I’ve had the opportunity to work with every department of Arts Engine. I’ve gained valuable skills that will definitely help me in my own career. I’ve learned the basics to managing a budget, how to start an outreach campaign, how to PA for a shoot, and how not to break the kitchen sink on your second day of work.  No matter what the lesson, this is a place and time I’ll never forget. Thanks to everyone who made this so memorable.

Isabel Solomon