The Northwest Institute for Social Change

Phil Busse is Executive Director of The Northwest Institute for Social Change.

Nothing drives me more nuts than listening to a White House press conference. The reporters shy from any probing questions and have all but muzzled themselves.

There must be a better way.

That's why this summer we're hosting the Northwest Institute for Social Change here in Portland-an academic program for undergrads to learn how arts and the media can bring about positive and progressive social change. (Sam is on the Board of Directors.) We're hoping to turn out a new generation of truth-seeking filmmakers, bold journalists and rabblerousing musicians. Check out: www.nwisc.com. The institute is a mix of liberal-arts styled classroom academics (taught by Reed, PSU, UO profs) and real-life projects (like producing a series of short documentaries about gentrification and designing a media literacy curriculum for middle schools).

The only challenge? Finding our students! If accepted, students receive a full-ride fellowship and can earn academic credit!

We're recruiting undergrads from across the country-from Middlebury College (my alma mater) to University of Kentucky. And we need help finding the right students. This is truly an opportunity for an ambitious and optimistic college student to find traction for his or her political passions-and to turn them into a career in the media.

Do you have a professor from your alma mater who inspired students and would be able to recommend someone? Is there a person that you know at Student Affairs? Do you have a son or daughter in college who you would like to bring back to Portland for the summer - but have them do something more productive than hang out at Rooster Rock?

The ideal candidate has completed his or her first-year of college. A background in Political Science and/or Media Studies is helpful, but the program is open to all disciplines. The ideal candidate has experience with media or art projects-such as the school newspaper, college radio, a band, dance, ‘zines, blogs-and has worked with community projects. When thinking about the student, these adjectives should come to mind: charismatic, motivated, creative, optimistic, tenacious.

We are not necessarily looking for the A+ student who sits front-and-center, but are looking for students who have potential, and who have a seriousness and earnestness of their purpose and desire to positively affect their communities-whether that means starting a blog that watchdogs city council in their hometown or means producing the next documentary that informs millions about global warming.

This summer is one that we hope will be a catalyst for professional development and personal transformation. Our application is on-line at www.nwisc.com or you can get it right here.