What We've Done. . .

The best way to break the cycle of poverty, prison and violence is to give people a real alternative. We do that through BLUE1647 by providing all interested, not just those who can afford it, with the training needed to get the well-paying jobs of today and tomorrow.

So far, this effort has:

• Transformed over a dozen communities worldwide by providing 21st century tech training to over 16,000 students
  
• Served those who are often ignored or priced out by others who provide tech training - with 95% of those served being at-risk youth, seniors, minorities and others underrepresented in tech
  
• Helped trainees do everything from start their own businesses and become fully-employed at top tech firms to become scholarship recipients or even tech trainers themselves at BLUE
  
• Launched a crowdfunding, rewards-based platform called Blue Fund Rewards to help entrepreneurs obtain the funds necessary to turn their ideas, skills, and work-ethic into a business

Training alone isn't enough if people still face legal barriers and discrimination. That's why we also help people:

1. Know their rights;
2. Learn how to pursue any available legal remedies when being discriminated against because of past mistakes;
3. Acquire the legal assistance or other resources to help them follow-through on their legal, educational, or employment goals; and,
4. Garner the advocacy skills necessary for them to overcome those barriers.

To this end, to date Social Change members have:

• Hosted more than 50 such legal seminars throughout IL and beyond
• Trained more than 1,000 people have received the training to date
• Helped more than 1,000 access needed legal assistance and other resources
• Trained individuals hailing from instituations and organizations such as the National Legal Aid & Defense Association, Community Assistance Program, Employer & Employee Services, Safer Foundation, University of Chicago Law School, and Northwestern Law School

Our conversations with community members nationwide regarding the issues and hardships they endure do now fall on deaf ears. When a systemic issues arises that we can assist in addressing, we do.

So far, we've introduced, advocated for, led or assisted in the effort to pass over 20 critical pieces of legislation in several jurisdictions nationwide.

The follow are examples of successful such efforts:

• Comprehensive Bail Reform in IL
• The "Whistleblower Ordinance" in St. Louis that gives police and other government employees the affirmative protections and necessary for them to root out bad apples and hold others accountable.
• Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act
• "Banning the Box" for public employers
• Bills that remove the barriers that prevent hard-working men and women from accessing jobs or occupational licenses HB 3475, HB 5771
• Ensuring people are properly informed of the consequences and the collateral consequences before pleading HB 2569
• Bills that permit judge's to limit access to old records to only those deemed necessary HB 298, HB 2378, HB 3061, HB 3149, SB 844
• Preserving a measure to close multiple prisons SB 2474
• Making sure more license applications are fairly considered SB 3517

Art is the best truth-teller.

Given that, over the past 5 years, Social Change has used film as a vehicle to help people see and feel the hardships and hopes of men, women and youth worldwide.

Specifically, hosting the Social Change Film Festival that has:

• Hosted over 4,000 award-winning filmmakers, actors and attendees from all over the world
• Received over 15,000 hours of films worldwide for consideration for our annual festival
• Showcased over 175 inspiring films and other forms of art ranging from world premiering films to internationally renown poets and local artists
• Moderated robust discussion among filmmakers, experts, attendees and more
• Provided dozens of action opportunities to ensure those interested can get engaged and do something to address the issues in the films shown and beyond
• Hosted multiple receptions to ensure that people from all sectors and interests get a chance to build bridges and meaningful relationships