The AjA Project is pleased to announce that we are a recipient of San Diego Gas & Electric’s 2012 Excellence in Civic Leadership Grant.  This will support our Youth Advisory Council and Leadership Program. We are extremely grateful for this partnership!  Thank you SDG&E!

Job Announcement: Graphic Designer/Artist
Department: Exhibits
Position: Contracted
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: San Diego, CA

About: The AjA Project is a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California, that utilizes photography-based educational programs to transform the lives of displaced youth. Utilizing participatory photography methods, AjA’s after-school and in-school programs encourage youth to think critically about their identities, increase their social capacities and see themselves as agents of personal and social transformation. Since its founding in 2000, AjA has provided long-term, community-based programming for over 1,300 displaced youth, and has shared their visual narratives with over 1 million viewers. In 2008, AjA received the prestigious Coming Up Taller award for excellence in youth programming, an award presided over by the President of the United States’ Committee for the Arts and Humanities. Learn more about The AjA Project at www.ajaproject.org.

Position Summary: As a visual arts agency, AjA works continuously to ensure that the work of our students is brought to the community in the form of public art and exhibits. The Graphic Designer/Artist will be responsible for creating physical representations of AjA’s vision and philosophy as well as students’ voices and expressions. This work will be used in public art installations, exhibits, social media, fundraising campaigns and website galleries. The ideal candidate will posses both technical and creative skills, with an emphasis on creativity.

Essential Functions include, but are not limited to:
Design-
• Conceptualize public art-works based on student voice and site specific constraints
• Design and present proposal to AjA team for input and collaboration
• Follow existing artistic direction of AjA when designing projects
• Work with vendors to produce art-works and final product

Exhibits-
• Conceptualize gallery and/or travelling exhibits for alternative spaces and formats
• Create an artist rendering and mockup for each exhibit opportunity
• Submit a budget of all expenses for approval
• Work closely with exhibit site staff to coordinate exhibit logistics and installation

Miscellaneous Design Projects-
• Design, coordinate and produce any marketing or advertising materials for AjA events, exhibitions, campaigns, etc.
• Assist with other design projects as requested

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
• Expert knowledge of design programs such as CS5.5 (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator)
• Knowledge of typography and experience in photo editing
• Attention to detail
• Ability to meet deadlines and stay within project budgets
• Ability to work within a given space to create art

Other Requirements:
• Minimum of two years experience in graphic design
• Experience quoting and managing print jobs, as well as working with printers
• Previous experience with non-profit sector a plus
• Experience working in deadline-driven environments
• Associate of Arts degree or related field
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and complete work timely and accurately
• A personal connection to the arts and providing arts education to at-risk youth a definite plus
• Open to feedback and discussion around projects

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to perform tasks which involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work on a regular basis. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Application Procedure: Application Deadline: Open until filled. Please submit a thoughtful cover letter, resume and work sample to: comments@ajaproject.org with “Graphic Designer/Artist” in the subject line. Please, no phone calls or walk-ins. The AjA Project is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or age.

Job Announcement:
Grant Writer
Department: Development Position: Hourly, non-exempt, temporary: Reports to: Executive Director 20 hours/week, flexibility in work times and number of hours
Location: San Diego, CA

About: The AjA Project is a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California, that utilizes photography-based educational programs to transform the lives of displaced youth. Utilizing participatory photography methods, AjA’s after-school and in-school programs encourage youth to think critically about their identities, increase their social capacities and see themselves as agents of personal and social transformation. Since its founding in 2000, AjA has provided long-term, community-based programming for over 1,300 displaced youth, and has shared their visual narratives with over 1 million viewers. In 2008, AjA received the prestigious Coming Up Taller award for excellence in youth programming, an award presided over by the President of the United States’ Committee for the Arts and Humanities. Learn more about The AjA Project at www.ajaproject.org.

Position Summary: The Grant Writer is responsible for leading efforts in proposal research, design and writing for the agency. Special emphasis is placed on working with the agency to further develop the program planning strategy of grants. Work is performed under the direction of the Executive Director, with the majority of the work performed independently.

Essential Functions include, but are not limited to:
Proposal Preparation-
Provide program planning strategy to The AjA Project including:
• Perform prospect research on foundations and corporations to evaluate prospects for corporate
and foundation grants
• Understand institutional history and programs
• Substantiate the need for the program in the community
Work with the agency to-
• Determine the measurable goals and objectives of the project
• Determine the precise procedure that AjA intends to use to carry
out the program objectives
• Help AjA to devise evaluative procedures and systems
Other functions-
• Write boilerplate proposals and “letters of intent” (LOIs) for AjA
• Adapt boilerplate proposals and LOIs to the unique specifications of the funders, as
described in their guidelines and web-sites
• Assemble proposals and LOIs for submission to funder, including all photocopies, cover
letters, budgets, and addenda to the Director of Operations
• Record all relevant information regarding proposal submissions in the agency’s grant database
• Maintain regular appointments with the Executive Director & Director of Operations to provide
updates on fundraising progress
• Assist with other fundraising projects as requested

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
• Solid written communication skills; ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive
proposals
• Strong editing skills
• Attention to detail
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Knowledge of fundraising information sources
• Knowledge and familiarity with research techniques for fundraising prospect research

Other Requirements:
• Minimum of two years experience with grant writing
• Previous experience with non-profit fundraising
• Experience working in deadline-driven environments
• Bachelors Degree, preferably in English, Journalism or related field
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and complete work timely and accurately
• A personal connection to the arts and providing arts education to at-risk youth a definite plus

Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to perform tasks which involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work on a regular basis. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Application Procedure:
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter, resume and a writing sample to: comments@ajaproject.org with “Grant Writer” in the subject line. Please, no phone calls or walk-ins.  The AjA Project is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation disability, veteran status, or age.

Photo by: Emily Goodrich

The AjA Project has long been about the telling of stories, affirming in students who’ve arrived in San Diego from all over the globe the value of their own identities captured in the still image. This semester, it’s been a privilege to partner with the Asian Film Foundation as we teach our students to translate those stories into film.

It’s been a whirlwind of learning so far; camera techniques, composition, and the art of asking open-ended interview questions. Last week, we learned about setting up lighting, and the students enjoyed the opportunity to discover what filming looks like behind the scenes. “I think it was pretty cool because we used lighting to create emotion, we showed face expression and it was almost like a real set.”

Even the quietest among them is trying to conquer her fear of being filmed in her excitement to share, “What I like about interview is when I answering question… What I did not like about it was I felt uncomfortable when I talked & looked at video camera, but I did it anyway.”

As trust builds in our classroom, both between students and their peers, and students and instructors; they’ve begun to dig deep into their personal experiences to share with one another the common joys and struggles that each of them encounter during their transitions into American life. We cannot wait to share these stories with you.

In the meantime, we are grateful to those of you who’ve supported this program and allowed these students the opportunity to share. And perhaps they put it best, “For me camera and video activity has been my favorite because this is a big opportunity for me. To be able to share my experience about my past and hearing other people’s experience to. This gives me hope to know that they are people who cares and wants to hear people’s experiences…”

We are very pleased to announce that in the spring of next year, AjA will be unveiling a large-scale mosaic mural at the City Heights Square Mini Park. The Price Charities commissioned the project that will consist of over 1,300 custom printed tiles depicting photos taken by City Heights youth and residents.

Community members will have the chance to contribute to the mural by bringing family portraits to the photo scanning event held by The AjA Project on December 17th at the City Heights Library from 10 a.m. until 2p.m. The photos will be scanned, added to the photo database and returned to their owners that day.

The Speak City Heights collaborative hosted a community event for residents and community members on Nov. 12 at the City Heights Wellness Center. The event included a multi-media presentation, cooking demonstration and a panel discussion about food access in City Heights. Speak City Heights is a media collaboration between The AjA Project, KPBS, Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD) and voiceofsandiego.org working to give a voice to the community of City Heights and provide a place for dialogue on healthy community living and how to overcome any barriers preventing access to healthy food. Saturday’s event showcased AjA student photographs, videos created by MACSD Teen Producers, samples of traditional East African food and a discussion mediated by KPBS and voiceofsandiego.org reporters. Panel members included Anchi Mei of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Lisa Vandervort of the City Heights Wellness Center, Diana Moss of the Project New Village and Djoha Uwamwira, member of Swahili Speaking Cooking Group.

To learn more about the collaborative, visit speakcityheights.org

Join us this Thursday, September 15th from 6-10 PM for a Photo Contest Exhibition at Subtext Gallery to support our friends, American Photographic Artists (San Diego Chapter).  The AjA Project will also have a collage of student photographs on display at the exhibit.  There will be live music by The Red Fox Tails.  A portion of the proceeds from the silent auction will benefit The AjA Project.

So come on down and enjoy a fabulous night filled with art and music!

Subtext Gallery : 2479 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101

For more information about the event visit: APA Photo Contest Exhibition’s Facebook

Groupon, the popular daily deals & discounts sites, has selected The AjA Project as “Today’s Featured Campaign” from August 30-September 1^st.

100% of the proceeds raised through Groupon will go to The AjA Project, but only if the “deal” gets tipped!  That means, when at least 45 people purchase the deal from August 30 – September 1^st, AjA is funded to buy more cameras!

Thank you to all our supporters who are able to give a donation and/or share this offer with your network of friends! (A tweet or post on your Facebook wall will do wonders too: http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-the-aja-project)!

How do I donate through Groupon?
1. Go to: http://www.groupon.com/deals/ajaproject
2. Click “BUY” and select quantity, e.g., 1=$10, 2=$20, etc.
3. Complete Order

Spread the word so more people can participate!

1. Copy and Paste this tweet/Facebook post and spread the love:
Support @TheAjAProject via @GrouponSanDiego Aug 30-Sept 1 http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-the-aja-project Let’s help them capture this moment!

Thank you for all your support!

The AjA Project is raising $25,000 from now until September 30th to fund our Youth Leadership Program, Youth Advisory Council. For internships, college prep opportunities and career development, we need your action by Donating Now… so we can all watch leaders grow!
http://ajaproject.kintera.org/donate