In partnership with the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, two UMBC students have been awarded the new Entrepreneurship URA Award for 2018-19. They will receive $1500 to start their idea and get their social entrepreneurship project going.
Project Title: Ella and Ida Summer Camp
Mentor - Gib Mason
The contributions that black women have made to major social movements such as the civil rights movement, has been largely ignored in historical texts. In many books and texts, authors center their narrative around a male figure who somehow organized the entire movement. In contrast, black women are often portrayed as supportive figures to men. This narrative marginalizes the stories of black women. For many years, comic books were viewed as a source of entertainment for children. In recent years, more and more educators are seeing the benefit of utilizing comic books in the classroom. Comics can possibly help visual learners who process information better by studying pictures and images.
Mentor - Gib Mason
The contributions that black women have made to major social movements such as the civil rights movement, has been largely ignored in historical texts. In many books and texts, authors center their narrative around a male figure who somehow organized the entire movement. In contrast, black women are often portrayed as supportive figures to men. This narrative marginalizes the stories of black women. For many years, comic books were viewed as a source of entertainment for children. In recent years, more and more educators are seeing the benefit of utilizing comic books in the classroom. Comics can possibly help visual learners who process information better by studying pictures and images.
The goal of Ella & Ida Comics Summer Camp is to not only teach young girls about the black women’s contributions to nineteenth- twentieth century social movements, but to also teach them how to produce a short historical comic book.
Mia Rickenbach (Theatre Design and Production)
Project Title: Create Freedom
Mentor: Nataniel Sinnott
Mentor: Nataniel Sinnott
Many people are unaware of the realities of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Many people who are aware of these issues feel they are powerless to take action for change. Many organizations that are fighting modern-day slavery are underfunded and unable to make a larger impact than they already are. Create Freedom is an idea to change these three circumstances: to raise awareness, to empower change-makers, and to fund fighters. Two years ago, a group of students at UMBC gathered together on Shine a Light on Slavery Day to create works of art with donated time, talent and materials. These pieces of art were then shared, sold online, and sold in the UMBC community. This raised over $300 for The Samaritan Women, engaged students in discussions about human trafficking, and empowered artists to use their skills to make a change. Moving forward, Create Freedom can become a vast network of artists, partnered in the fight against modern-day slavery. Thankfully, lawmakers are taking greater action to address this issue, but I believe art will be the catalyst for the social change necessary to end this slavery. When everyday people are made more aware of the realities of trafficking, they can identify and oppose its workings in their own communities. In addition, as we partner with more organizations and build greater trust, there is the exciting opportunity of engaging survivors themselves in this process. Through art therapy, rescued trafficking victims can tell their stories. Create Freedom could empower their stories to be shared, heard, and sold to benefit the organizations that have helped them. (Mia will be presenting part of this work at URCAD on April 25th from 10-11:30am in the UC Ballroom).
For more information on URA programs and how to fund your research, creative work, or social entrepreneurship or business idea, contact Dr. April Householder at aprilh@umbc.edu or go to:
ur.umbc.edu/ura
For info on the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, see:
