Mezcla Media Collective is championing the film community by launching the month-long Mezcla Media Collective COVID-19 Relief Fund to raise $15K for its members in light of the Coronavirus pandemic . Members will be able to apply for $500 micro-grants of emergency relief once the campaign closes.
A recent survey of Mezcla members found that over half have lost all sources of income, including laid off full-time freelancers and staff. The survey found that over half have lost an average of nearly $3K within the last six weeks to date because of the shelter-in-place order, with 25% having dependents. Several members have family members who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are struggling to make ends meet. With such outstanding circumstances, this fund hopes to ease the financial burden on members.
“We strive to be a force in the Chicago media community not just for our creative work, but for what we stand for as women of color. For this relief fund, we’re bringing industry leaders and supporting organizations across the city together to support a demographic most negatively impacted by COVID-19 ,” said cofounder Elena Valentine.
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Since its founding in 2017, Mezcla Media Collective has grown to support 500 members throughout the Chicagoland area with volunteer-run programming including: monthly meet-ups, feedback screenings, technical workshops and masterclasses. Mezcla members include producers, cinematographers, directors, screenwriters, video journalists and more. Many are self-taught artists and recent graduates of Chicago-area colleges and universities. Members actively advance their craft by taking part in programming the city has to offer while maintaining nine-to-five jobs.
Mezcla Media Collective is proud to have provided programming, access, and opportunities for its members including securing 35 production jobs, hosting over 30 member events and meetups, fostering 11 organizational partnerships with industry-leading companies, facilitating 15 hires, funding one independent film and more.
“We were founded to help close the industry diversity gap and open doors of opportunity for women and non-binary filmmakers of color in Chicago. We are now seeking relief funds to support a community that is already the most marginalized in the industry ,” said co-founder Colette Ghunim.
Donate to the Mezcla Media Collective COVID-19 Relief Fund, happening throughout the month of May.
About Mezcla Media Collective Mezcla Media Collective is a Chicago hub that strives to ensure that women and non-binary filmmakers of color realize their full potential as storytellers and agents of change.
For more information about Mezcla visit www.mezclamediacollective.org
To contribute to the Mezcla Media Collective COVID-19 Relief Fund visit here.
