Rohit Malhotra (of Center for Civic Innovation) and Malika (of ChopArt, 2015 A3C Action WINNER) recently sat down with WABE, Atlanta's NPR Station, to talk about A3C Action.

LISTEN HERE

"School is out for most metro-Atlanta students, and some will soon head to summer camp – even those who can't afford it. ChopArt, a nonprofit organization that empowers homeless youth through art-related programs and projects, is offering a free, seven-day, over-night art camp for homeless teens in Atlanta. 

Malika Whitley founded ChopArt in 2010 when she lived abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. The organization then traveled to Hyderabad, India, where it continues to serve thousands of youth. This is its second year in Whitley’s hometown Atlanta.

Last October, the A3C Festival and Conference partnered with the Center for Civic Innovation to develop a grant that would support an organization that uses art, music and culture as a vehicle for social justice issues. Of 75 applicants from around the country, ChopArt won the $5,000 grant, which will support 18 of the 100 homeless teens going to camp this summer."

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A3C Action is accepting submission applications at www.a3caction.org. 

A3C Action seeks creative projects that address systemic social justice challenges and opportunities for civic engagement. This includes, but is not limited to, ideas that work to empower citizens, increase access to essential rights like a great education or fair treatment in the criminal justice system, and address issues of economic opportunity, income inequality and ownership. All projects must include use of art, music, and/or hip hop culture as a driver. A3C Action aims to increase new, diverse audiences of creatives and artists at the public problem solving table.

A3C Action is an initiative that aims to find, support, and invest in new, innovative ideas that use art, music and hip-hop culture as a vehicle to advance social justice and civic engagement.

A3C Action invites organizations from around the country to submit their ideas, and from those ideas 5 organizations will have the opportunity to participate in a pitch competition at the 12th annual A3C Festival & Conference in Atlanta from October 5-9. 

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1) Submit An Idea

If you are using art, music or hip-hop culture - in any form - to advance social justice and civic engagement.  PLEASE submit today.  It only takes a few minutes, and we want to help.

2) Support An Idea

1. Help us connect with amazing people and organizations.  Whether you know someone directly or can get the word out through your network, help us reach the right people.  Here are some graphics to help, and be sure to use #A3Caction.
2. Donate.  100% of donations go directly into the ideas we support.
3. Sign up for more info.  We'll keep you updated on news and information, as well as a mentorship program that we'll be launching this year.
4. Partner.  If you are a company, foundation or organization that would like to sponsor A3C Action, please download the partnership deck.

Everything you need to know is here: http://a3caction.org/

Five finalists will be flown to Atlanta in October 2016 for the A3C Festival & Conference, where they will attend a business development and pitch bootcamp, and get a chance to pitch their idea to a national audience. The finalists will compete for more than $10,000 in cash as well as in-kind contributions, not to mention amazing networking, business development training, and partnership opportunities.