AISD School Board Mtg., 12.17.12

The Austin School Board unanimously approved the city's first in district, community-based charter school at Travis Heights Elementary where Mateo enjoys his Kindergarten.  I could not stay for the actual vote but here's a little I Phone video of the drama just outside.  Congratulations to the PTA, Innovation School Project board members, the teachers union,  and Austin Interfaith for getting us to this exciting point.  Now the work really begins since Austin Independent School District supplies very little money for a Charter school to survive on.  Sort of like being liberated after being enslaved for decades with a bit of severance pay and a biscuit for the road.
Austin school board approves first in district, community based charter school for Travis Heights Elementary from Karen Bernstein on Vimeo.

This American Life, "Mob Mentality", 2000
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/158/mob-mentality

Not to be completely self centered -- though that's probably what Blogs are for -- but this story I produced and wrote for an episode of This American Life way back in 2000 is pretty darn good. It serves as reminder of how impressionable good teachers can be and how important to forming a central core philosophy early on in life.  I can certainly trace every bit of work I have done since 1973 to this event in school. Listen on. This American Life is organized by acts and strung together by the very talented, Ira Glass. My piece is at position number two but try and stay on long enough to hear "One Tin Soldier" from Billy Jack.

Producing Light on PBS

Researched, shot and edited in 8 weeks. I've never felt more proud of an achievement. An inside look at Ballet Austin's production, Light/ Holocaust and Humanity.

They say that every filmmaker is the sum of her parts - a well-worn cliche. In this case, it is completely true. I would not have been able to do it without Cinematographer, Deb Lewis, and Editor, Nevie Owens, and the willingness of Ballet Austin to open their hearts and doors. The Naomi Warren interview was NOT shot by us, just FYI.

View here:

Dr. Cecilia Thompson

Dr. Cecilia Thompson was born in Jeff Davis County, died in Brewster County, lived and expertly wrote about Presidio County. She called her youngish friends like me new pioneers for West Texas. If that is the case, Cecilia blazed a beautiful trail for us all. Thank you, Cecilia, for sharing with me an ounce of your courage to write about the Chinati Mountains and all those who live beneath their grace.

Handmade vs Machine Made

I am in awe of Mike Daisy's piece on This American Life about Shen Jian, China: the birth of all our plastic junk (including the I Phone). The entire piece is worth the 20 minute listen but especially the very end, the demi monde. We all wish for a simpler life with hand made products. Well, everything at those insufferable sweat shops in China, is put together by thousands of HANDS. Human hands, not machines, some working 34 hour shift. Think about that the next time you proudly chose handmade over machinery production.

This is the most important bit of radio you'll hear this year:

www.thisamericanlife.org