Make a Big Impact on the Future with the Big Give
This year, arm the next generation of innovators with the tools to build just and equitable technological futures through the Berkeley Center for New Media.
Building on our work prioritizing racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, and socio-economic inclusivity in all areas of technology creation and use, we are thrilled to have partnered with the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust in the development of our new land acknowledgement:
We recognize that BCNM is located in the territory of Huichin, the ancestral and unceded lands of Chochenyo speaking Ohlone peoples, specifically, the Confederated Villages of Lisjan. The history of prolific technological development in this region has always depended on this land, and all of our technological infrastructures and activities take place on and in relation to this land. We commit to supporting the sovereignty and ongoing stewardship of this place by Ohlone peoples through building long-term reciprocity and relationships with tribal leaders and organizations.
This statement marks the launch of our Indigenous Technologies Initiative, coordinated by recent alum Marcelo Garzo Montalvo. In its first year, the program has brought Indigenous scholars and communities into conversation to critically envision and reimagine what a more just and sustainable technological future can look like. We have also developed and published for free on the internet an extensive set of resources on the subject to educate and inspire others.
But there is more that we can do to champion these goals.
We invite you to help us on this journey by investing in new media education beyond the classroom for the benefit of society. Your support would allow us to hire a Director to both serve as a resource for students navigating local nonprofit internships and build additional community partnerships that will work directly with engaged courses across campus.
Radically reimagining the technologies of tomorrow starts with critical thinking and experimentation today. As UC Berkeley graduates more Silicon Valley employees than any other university in the world, BCNM plays a critical role in shaping the future of our technologies. A hallmark of the BCNM experience is Transforming Tech, which explores interventions to make the tech sector more inclusive, equitable, and diverse. Today, resources are available to offer the course once a year for a limited number of students, despite demand. With your help, we could expand access to ethically-driven coursework.
Donor funding also underwrites our incredible public programs that attract over 4,000 viewers each semester. Inviting preeminent artists, scholars, technologists, designers, and journalists fuels the curiosity of our students and deepens their learning experience. A new media artist residency program to complement coursework would further enrich and revitalize teaching and learning at Berkeley.
We also ask that you consider giving to peer learning experiences. Three years ago, we launched our Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Graduates mentor fellows on research practices and introduce the students to new disciplinary fields. Currently, we have funding to offer three fellowships a year, although we receive over a hundred applications for this award. New resources would expand this program so that every BCNM undergraduate has the chance to engage in cutting edge new media research.
Please consider contributing to BCNM and the future of new media once a year. If you cannot give at this time, we invite you to share your love of our programs by forwarding this email to someone you know.
Thank you for your support!