Meet Alisa from the UX team + Max, Content Producer for Rural Action: Watershed Restoration

Meet Alisa Kessler!

Alisa is working with Project C team members to make the user experience the best it can be! She is a senior in the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University.

Hometown: Oakwood (Dayton), Ohio

What is your favorite part of working on Project C?

"My peers. It's a really good group of smart, creative students that make getting along and learning from each other come easy! They've all been very supportive."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens?

"I spend so much of my time in my apartment, but on nice days when I find time, I love relaxing on college green."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

"Athens has great food to offer. I love getting Big Mama's Burritos, Slovaki's, and O'Betty's on late nights out. I eat a lot of Jimmy John's, too. Insomnia Cookies is banging. Casa is great and I'm going to try Salaam this weekend!"

Describe your dream job:

"I would love to design for a professional sports team, preferably the NFL or NBA."

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

"I'd love to be able to jump from one spot to the next, kind of like a time warp in the sense that I can go to one place to another in the blink of an eye. That way I could be wherever I wanted and do whatever makes me happiest."

Do you prefer the toilet paper to roll from the top or the bottom?

"Oh my gosh, definitely from the top, do not get me started on how annoying it is to grab toilet paper that's rolled from the bottom, smh!"

Where was your first job?

"Working in the annex of the Dorothy Lane Market corporate office, helping the graphic designer and IT guy. It wasn't that fun for a 15 year old so I ended up moving into the actual grocery story and worked as an associate."

The most valuable advice you’ve ever received?

"Everything that happens, happens for a reason."

Do you volunteer anywhere? 

"I volunteer at Possum Creek Stables, it's a horse boarding facility. I manage annual horse shows for their boarders and other volunteers. I love doing it because of how happy it makes everyone and they turn out to be so much fun!"

When was the last time you were nervous?

"Today. I always worry myself with the smallest things, I'm capable of making myself nervous over anything."

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

"In San Diego, California, duh."

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be and why?

"Photoshop, because I'm working in it all the time!"

Were you named after anyone?

"My first name isn't, but my middle name, Iris was named after my mom's mother who was so excited to meet me, but unfortunately passed away from cancer shortly before I was born."

Meet Max Rodriguez! 

Max is a full-time CreMedian, but when he's working with the Project C team he is producing content featuring Rural Action: Watershed Restoration. He is finishing up his senior year at Ohio University, studying Video Production in the School of Media Arts & Studies. 

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

What is your favorite part about working on Project C?

"Honestly I like driving to Trimble. Its probably one of the more relaxing commutes around here and it always get me in the zone to shoot."

Favorite memory in Athens/Ohio University:

"There are too many to count. I've been in the Scott Quad lab for a good 50 percent of my college career and I miss having everyone in there that graduated in 2011 working late into the night and goofing around."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens?

"The roof right outside my bedroom."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

"Union Street Diner Baby!"

Do you have any hidden talents?

"I can speak like Donald Duck"

The most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?

"All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us."

What’s the #1 most played song on your iTunes right now?

"1986" by Big K.R.I.T.

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be and why?

"I'd be Final Cut Pro because Adobe Creative Suite programs are too conformist"

Three words that describe you best:

Jedi. Ninja. Pirate.

What are your favorite things to do in your free time?

"I like to catch up on my research, AKA sit around and browse Vimeo, music videos, and listen to some new music."

Meet the Lead Animator + One of the Project C Writers

Meet Heather Germann!

Heather is a senior studying interactive multimedia in The School of Visual Communication. Heather has worked on video documentaries in Germany, interned for Ohio University Athletics and the Kansas City Chiefs Football Club. She is the lead animator for Project C.

Hometown: Van Wert, Ohio

What is your favorite part about working on Project C?

"My favorite part is witnessing first hand how much it has grown in just one year. Anyone can think of ideas on how to improve the world, but only few actually take those ideas and turn them into actions." 

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens?

"I would have to say Old Man's Cave, or if you are forcing me to stay on campus, College Green never fails on a sunny afternoon."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens?

Purple Chopstix

What's the #1 most played song on your iTunes right now?

"Jimi Thing" by Dave Matthews Band

If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

"Princess Auroa (Sleeping Beauty), so I can catch up on all the sleep I've lost over this Project."

If you were an Adobe Creative Suite program, which one would you be?

"After Effects, because I can take all the content everyone gives to me and I make it flyyy."

Would you rather vacation in a mountain hideaway or a beach house?

"Well, I would just go to Hawaii so I can have mountains on the left and beaches on the right, BUT if you're making me choose solely on one, I'd have to go with the mountains."

Meet Lindsay Boyle!

Lindsay is a junior in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She is working with the production team on the Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action (HAPCAP) story. She is the lead writer for the HAPCAP project.

Hometown: Garrettsville, Ohio (a bit north of Kent)

Favorite memory in Athens/Ohio University?

"I would have to say some of the best moments I've had in Athens have happened during interviews I've conducted for the InterActivist magazine and Project C. I've met so many truly benevolent and inspiring people, and their stories have pushed me to be the best I can be."

What is your favorite part of working on Project C? 

"I honestly can't pick just one favorite part of working on Project C. My top two favorites are, first, the people from the community I get to meet who all have such enlightening stories. Second, the people with which I work side-by-side. It's awesome to see so many OU students volunteering so much of their time to help out the Athens area."

Where is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Athens? 

"On the rare occasion I have a free afternoon, you can find me at Scripps Amphitheater, on the bike path or on my neighbor's roof."

What is your favorite restaurant in Athens? 

"I can't get enough of Bagel Street Deli."

The most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received: 

"The most valuable "piece" of advice I've received isn't necessarily one piece that occurred on one occasion, but rather some things I was instilled with throughout my youth: Help others who are in need, because you never know when it could be you in their position."

Do you volunteer anywhere? If so, what drives you to volunteer for that organization? 

"I volunteer weekly with the OU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. It's been a passion of mine since freshman year of high school. I'm blessed not only with a shelter to call my own, but also the ability to create shelters for others, so that's what I do."

When was the last time you were nervous? 

"I don't get nervous very often. The last time was probably when I was being interviewed for an opportunity to study abroad in Zambia, Africa. I ended up going, and it was a truly amazing experience."

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? 

"Seek not and ye shall find."

Sincere Thanks to our Donors

To our community of donors and supporters:

On behalf of the entire Project C team here in Athens, Ohio, I would like to extend my biggest thanks for giving your financial support to Project C and the four organizations with whom we are working to feature in this years edition.

After spending time with Good Works last year, I found myself using a simple phrase often said by the people I met: I am grateful. Today, I am so very grateful and moved by the generosity of over 50 individuals, families, friends, and businesses from not just Athens, but a multitude of locations throughout the country.

You have shown us that you care deeply about the people involved in this project, the mission of Project C, and our ultimate goal of giving of our time, service, and financial support to four outstanding organizations that work each day, to make this world a little better.

As a founder of Project C, I could not be more proud of our team who is working extremely hard to connect with you, with our organizations, and with each other. This has been a learning experience every step of the way, and throughout the last year-and-a-half, the one thing that never seems to falter is the love and support of the people surrounding us: you.

With sincere and heartfelt thanks,

Annette Drapac | Co-Founder and Co-Director

HAPCAP: Connecting, Improving and Changing Lives

Last week, I spent the better part of both Thursday and Friday in Glouster, Ohio equipped with nothing more than a voice recorder, a notepad and my inquisitive mind.

I, along with the content producers for Project C’s Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action program (HAPCAP) team, conducted interviews with six people — three on each day — in the just more than 24-hour time period. It proved to be one of the best 24-hour time periods I’ve had in quite a while.

HAPCAP is an all-encompassing nonprofit agency that aims to promote self-sufficiency and to improve the qualities of life of those struggling with poverty in Hocking, Athens and Perry counties, as well as in the surrounding areas. HAPCAP runs a multitude of programs that work to improve education, increase employment, improve housing, provide food and provide transportation in southeastern Ohio.

Doug Stanley, Executive Director of HAPCAP, talks about the many programs it provides.

Every time I go throughout Athens County to interview people working for and affected by local nonprofit organizations — which is actually quite frequently — I always return to OU with a fresh perspective on life. This time was no different.

Seeing how truly happy clients are directly because of HAPCAP programs, as well as how genuinely compassionate HAPCAP employees are, restored my faith in humanity in an area where overwhelming poverty statistics can be quite disheartening. Many of the clients experienced complete, 180-degree lifestyle changes for the better because of HAPCAP.

Bill Anderson, user of HAPCAP's Logan Public Transit program,
smiles during an interview.

There are people out there who devote each day to improving the lives of others, and they succeed in doing so more than they know. Every time I’m stressed out about this deadline, that exam or any other life event, I try to remember those people and the lives they are affecting. 

Nikina Fletcher is involved with HAPCAP's By-Car, Learn and Work,
PIPP Plus and Early Head Start programs.

Those people deal with stressful situations every single day and work to make them better, to turn bad into good. I always find that to be truly inspiring and motivating.

Just about an hour ago, I received word that we surpassed our $2,000 fundraising goal. I was so excited thinking about all of the money we’ll be able to give to local nonprofits that I yelled and told the first person I saw — no joke. I still can’t stop smiling.

Project C isn’t something we do for our résumés. It’s something we do because we care about Athens and the people in it. I am so glad I’ve been able to be a part of it for two years.

 - Lindsay Boyle | Writer

A Place of Warmth

It’s crunch time! My team members and I are embarking on our final stage of the storytelling process, editing. Our story is on The Gathering Place, which over the last month I have grown to love. The Gathering Place was a house that I walked past everyday last year on my way to class, never knowing how special it was.  It is a home-like atmosphere that supports the recovery of persons with mental illness by enhancing personal development and well-being, while fostering community involvement. There is a certain warmth about it, a warmth that could only be made possible by the people that build a sense of community there. My job as a videographer and editor is to try and capture some of that warmth and make audiences feel it as well.

 As a student practicing video for many years I have been in many uncomfortable and unpleasant filming situations. The Gathering Place however, is one of the most welcoming environments that I have ever filmed in, and that’s because of the people.  Part of my job as a videographer is to form a relationship with those whose story I’m telling, and the second part is to capture that story. The hardest part for me so far has been pressing record, because instead of filming I find myself engaged in conversation and interaction with people at the house. With the fast paced and stressful college environment I find myself in, it has been very refreshing to experience the people at the gathering place who seem very genuine and who are there because they enjoy being there and enjoy each other’s company.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our own worlds and we forget that there are places out there that are run by people who spend their days not worrying about themselves but others. It’s eye opening. I appreciate everyone working at The Gathering Place who have allowed us to come in to film and have welcomed us as friends. The unsung heroes of this country are the ones that should be acknowledged and I hope that in our documentary we can acknowledge the people who are helping make The Gathering Place possible.  

- Andrew Thomas | Content Producer

           

UCM Lending a Hand Throughout the Area

Hey there, everyone, my name’s Ryan and I’m one of the content producers working behind the camera to make the multimedia pieces.  This year I’ve been assigned to cover United Campus Ministry.  In case you’re unfamiliar with UCM, they are a nonprofit organization that has been in Athens since 1968 and encourages engagement between Ohio University and the Athens community while promoting spiritual growth, community service, and work for justice through socially progressive interfaith values. 

Often times down here at OU there seems to be a real disconnect between the students on campus and the rest of the Southeast Ohio area that we call home for four or more years.  While there are certainly some Bobcats down here who couldn’t tell the difference between Albany and Amesville or Shade and Stewart there is a significant population of students who are working hard to break that stereotype by becoming involved not just in the immediate Athens are, but in towns throughout Southeast Ohio.  This Saturday I had the opportunity to tag along with a few of those students as a group of volunteers from UCM traveled up to Shawnee, Ohio bright and early to volunteer with the Little Cities of Black Diamond organization.

It was pretty amazing to see a group of college students gather at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning and devote most of their entire morning and afternoon to helping out people in a small town almost an hour away from campus.  Though, really, the most impressive thing wasn’t the time commitment that the volunteers made, but rather how they interacted with the members of the community in Shawnee.  This seems to be an overarching theme in all of the work that United Campus Ministry does.  Trust me, it’s a big organization that is involved in a dizzying amount of activities and causes throughout the Southeast Ohio region, but it seems that at the heart of everything that UCM does is the desire to bridge the gap between students at Ohio University and the community that surrounds them.  Needless to say there are some parallels in that and what we hope to do here at Project C, so I’m pretty excited that we have the opportunity to work with them this year, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what more they have to offer the community!

- Ryan Young | Content Producer

Athens Beautification Day

     "Wow! He is a Showman!" volunteer, Nick Shank, shouted after President Roderick McDavis opened Sunday's Athens Beautification Day. The almost uncontainable enthusiasm from both President McDavis and my friend, Nick, summed up the overall feeling of the day for me. It was so encouraging seeing students and community members blanket the amphitheater outside Scripps Hall on a Sunday afternoon because, like McDavis said, we were there not because we had to be there but because we wanted to be there.

Student and community member volunteers listening to Mayor Paul Whiel give the opening address. There's 800 people there. Eight. Hundred.

     Friendships are strengthened and created through these volunteering opportunities. You bond with other residents and community members, learning more about the place you have occupied (or will occupy) for four of the most unique years of your life. The Off-Campus Life Commission of OU Student Senate has done an incredible job organizing Athens Bday (Athens Beautification Day) this year. Their goal is a simple one, Keep Athens Beautiful. Anyone can see the beauty in Athens, not just the lively, picturesque town and it’s unique businesses but the nature that surrounds and engulfs it and most of all, the people that reside in it. Over the past eight years the event has grown from a few small groups of people to an astounding 800 students and community members this year. There were 30 projects planned covering a five square mile radius. Some of these projects were located at Stroud's Run, The Ridges, Passion Works, the Eco House, and numerous parks. Tasks ranged from graffiti removal and trash cleanup, to weeding, painting, landscaping and other pick-me-ups. Because there were so many volunteers and because we were so eager to help out, occasionally those residents and volunteers in charge had to do a little scrounging to find more jobs for us to do!

Sarah, surrounded by her signature color.

     I had an absolute blast helping out with Annette Drapac and Ryan Young at Putt People First, the putt putt golf course at The Ridges. In case you don't really know what the colorful course is all about, don't worry; I've got you covered. The course is a fundraiser that supports the Employment Services Program for People with Disabilities and the Athens Area Mediation Service (a group dedicated to finding cooperative approaches to resolving disputes in nice, calm ways). Local businesses sponsor a hole and in turn get a snazzy advertisement that becomes the obstacles for that particular hole. Too Cool.

            What else was cool? Definitely not us; we were sweating up a storm. The sun decided to grace us with its presence finally, making the day enjoyable to work in. Honestly, we could not have attempted half the projects if it was another classic day of rain, so I thank you for joining us, sunshine.

Please note the pocket protector, he's handsome and smart.

There must have been over 30 people helping out in that small stretch of land, weeding painting, sweeping, and building. Annette reconstructed a few obstacles, and she, Ryan, and I painted a few of the signs that will soon showcase advertisements. I stuck with the paint and made my way to all that was green. By the end of the day, my hands were coated in a layer of green paint. Kermit was right; it's not easy being green. Speaking of frogs, Ryan made this frog one of the most handsome frogs in all of Athens. Probably all of Ohio.

     Helping those who need it, repairing the broken, breathing new life into the old and worn out, when you look back at all the effort you and your friends put forth, there is often a great sense of humility, joy and honor in knowing that you had a part in all. The coolest part about volunteering is that anyone can do it. Any bit of effort has an affect. When I take a look around these last four years in Athens, I am so happy and so blessed to have been apart of all this change.

Annette & Sarah working hard on reconstructing the quilted obstacles.

-Sarah MillerBehind the Scenes team l Project C

Structuring a User-Centered Website

The User Experience [UX] design team has been organizing various methods of user testing, specifically targeting more efficient ways of communicating content to our audience. Our strategy began with the user test, which involved having several volunteers tour through our 2011 site. From their feedback, as a team, we were able to map out pros and cons and make changes coming to the 2012 site, accordingly.

What Users Liked and Disliked About Our 2011 Site

Pros of the site included the overall design; its colors and pictures appealed to all of our test users. One thing we were surprised to learn is that many of the users preferred the footer to the main navigation. As far as cons go, many of the users stressed that the site needed better organization and clarification to understand the meaning and purpose behind the website. We also discovered that our language wasn’t well written, making it difficult for users to understand our links.

With this valuable user feedback, the UX team went straight to work on concept maps, site maps, user flow diagrams and detailed wireframes of each page to prepare the creation of a new, more user friendly website for Project C!

The development and UX teams working. Alisa Kessler, pictured far left, Jess Buse, center right, and Steph Rumph, far right.

According to our user feedback, we mapped out a user flow diagram to better understand the process our users experience when navigating through the site. Our goal was to create an easy, organized, and direct user flow with multiple options to reach your destination on the site.

Priorities for User Experience

Presenting the featured organizations was our main concern, followed by stressing the option to learn about them and provide the opportunity to vote, or learning how to get involved with that organization. We’ve also established the idea to share the stories of these organizations by focusing on social networking and bringing more traffic to the website to educate more individuals.

To wrap up the initial UX phase, we worked on several wireframe drafts. After our own team members presented their sketches and ideas, we began sketching out the overall idea on whiteboard with the design team.

From this first wireframe, the UX team built the first Photoshop wireframe, which was tweaked and edited a dozen times. In class, the entire team critiqued each wireframe draft for further improvement. At this point, the UX team is finalizing wireframes in-between design critiques to figure out what layouts work best on each page to prepare for the visual design and development phase!

We’re so excited to launch the 2012 Project C site, sharing our work with all of you! Your feedback is crucial and highly valued; if you would like to participate in our second round of user testing please email annette@clickingcreateschange.com.

Alisa Kessler // Steph Rumph // Jess Buse

User Experience Team | Project C

Everyone Can Make a Difference. Learn What You Can Do!

As we begin the fourth week of spring quarter at Ohio University the Project C teams are working hard to bring you amazing, meaningful content in our 2012 edition! For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Project C, it is a student-run multimedia project that ultimately donates funds to local nonprofit organizations.

Students work together to create documentaries chronicling the activities of four local nonprofit organizations. Video documentaries, along with still photos, infographics, and feature articles are then presented on Project C’s website: www.clickingcreateschange.com.

With the click of a mouse, community members, as well as any other visitors to the site, can vote for their favorite organization. When users vote for an organization they are helping decide how to allocate funds to the featured nonprofits. This year, voting will take place from the time the site launches on Monday, May 28 until Friday, June 1.

Stay Connected with Project C

Join us in the social media spheres to keep up with all the latest happenings!

  Follow us on Twitter: @ProjectC_

  Like us on Facebook!

Get Involved

Just by telling your family and friends about Project C you’re making a difference in the Athens community! Project C strives to inform and inspire, and we couldn’t do that without the help of our supporters, and the ability each of you has to spread the word about our work, our mission, and the nonprofits in Athens, Ohio we feature and hope to raise funds to support.

Donate

Whether you can afford $1 or $1000, Project C and the organizations we are featuring this year will be forever grateful!

In 2011, Project C raised $1075 to assist the local nonprofits. This year we aim to raise more than $2000. Project C is reaching out to charitable individuals like you for financial support. Online donations can be submitted via IndieGoGo, a digital crowdfunding platform at www.IndieGoGo.com/clickingcreateschange. Online donations must be submitted by Monday, May 14, 2012 at 11:59 PM PT.

Help us give back to the wonderful and unique community that is Athens, Ohio.

Lauren Nolan

Public Relations Director | Project C

Announcing our 2012 Organizations

In January, we implemented a nomination process, where visitors to clickingcreateschange.com could nominate an Athens County nonprofit organization for our consideration. It was our goal to give community members input in the organization selection process. We had 1,185 individual nominations. From this list of organizations, we were able to choose the four who had the most nominations. The remainder of the organizations will remain on the nomination page for upcoming years and hopefully serve as a hub where people can look up organizations with whom they can volunteer.

This morning, we announced our chosen organizations for 2012 on Sandy Shirey's local radio show, Volunteer Action. Now, we're excited to announce (on our blog and website!) that we will be working with the following nonprofits to help tell their unique stories and spread their messages:

• Hocking-Athens Perry Community Action (HAPCAP)
• Rural Action Inc: Watershed Restoration
• The Gathering Place
• United Campus Ministry (UCM)
  
  

You can visit http://www.clickingcreateschange.com/announcement/ to see this announcement as well.

Our collaboration with these organizations will commence this week and continue through the end of May, so be sure to continue following our progress here on the blog over the next two months. 

-Annette

Co-Founder | Project C

Kicking Off Year Two

Project C 2012 is now in full swing. We are heading into our second year, and I am very excited about the things that will unfold throughout the next two months. A few weeks ago, Co-Founder Tony Guglielmi and I had the opportunity to talk with the former Director of Digital Content and Strategy at the National Film Board of Canada. He stressed the importance of documenting and sharing the process: the essence of any creative, multimedia-based, collaborative project. I look forward to sharing our process with you as our second year unfolds.

Team

We have gathered a talented group of creative minds that have the common passion of working for the good of others. Many of these people were an integral part in our first year, but I am excited to work with a variety of new faces as well. We have four production teams consisting of videographers, photographers, writers and graphic designers. We have a dedicated animation team, a savvy PR and marketing team, and a brand new event planning team. Finally, we have a collection of developers, UX designers, and visual designers to lead the web team.

Fundraising Goal

This year we have a goal of raising $2000, which would double our 2011 total. To encourage donating, we have set up an IndiGoGo Campaign that allows donors to contribute money online. We hope you take the time to donate as little as $1.00. Our online campaign runs until May 18, 2012.

In October, the Project C team received a Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund (PURF) Grant to help offset the cost of our production. This grant will help cover costs of promotion and marketing materials, web hosting and event costs. Last year, many of these costs were out of pocket, and we are grateful to have a small production budget that will go a long way.

Awards

Over the summer and fall, Project C was privileged to have been a Finalist in Adobe's Design Achievement Awards Competition in the category of Browser Based Design. Tony Gugelimi was flown to Taipei, Taiwan for the awards ceremony in October, 2011. Finally, we took the Bronze Award in the College Photographer of the Year Competition in the category of Large Group Multimedia Project.

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Through this process, it's important to remember the purpose and drive behind this project. I believe that we are well on our way to achieving the mission of Project C: to inform, inspire, and call others to become more involved in their local community.

Annette Drapac

Co-Founder | Project C

4 Causes, 7 Days, your Vote

I'm excited to announce that after nearly twelve weeks of production, Project C has launched! clickingcreateschange.com went live late last night to kick off the week-long voting period.


Please visit the site, learn about four nonprofits in Athens, Ohio, and vote for the one you'd like to support. Each computer gets 2 votes a day. And don't forget to spread the word to those around you!

Thank you to our supporters, donors, dedicated team of OU students & grads, and the exceptional organizations that we have worked with. It has really been an incredible experience - and I am excited that this is just the beginning!