LOOSE (CHAINS) CHANGE — Future Money Final Grant Report

MIA WRIGHT-ROSS — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 05:33:27 +0000

Project Update

We are thrilled to report significant progress on the Loose Chains Change project during the funding period supported by the Interledger Foundation’s generous Future|Money grant. As you all know, this project envisions a series of large-scale multimedia tapestries crafted from a unique and powerful material: leather and used lottery tickets collected from marginalized residents within Brooklyn, particularly in Crown Heights.

Progress on Objectives (KPI’s) (progress on project)

Our original proposal outlined several key objectives for the Loose Chains Change project. We are happy to report substantial progress on each, with some exciting evolutions along the way.

Material Acquisition and Community Engagement: Our initial goal was to collect 20,000 used lottery tickets from Crown Heights residents. Thanks to your funding, we were able to implement a comprehensive outreach program, exceeding our target with a total of 25,342 tickets collected. This process not only provided the raw material for the tapestries but also fostered important conversations with 44 community members. We compensated each participant for their contributions, with cash, clothing, food, and MTA Metrocards.

Tapestry Creation: The proposal envisioned a large-scale tapestry reaching 10 feet in length. We are proud to announce that the artwork has surpassed this goal, currently measuring an impressive 25 feet in length. The intricate design incorporates the collected lottery tickets, effectively transforming them into a powerful artistic statement.

Financial Empowerment Education (Evolved Objective): While not explicitly outlined in the original proposal, fostering financial literacy and empowerment within the community emerged as a crucial project objective. We are excited to announce that additional funding from the Brooklyn Arts Council in 2025 allows us to address this goal directly. In collaboration with CAMBA Community Center, we will be developing a one-month workshop series focused on financial literacy and engagement.

We are incredibly thankful for the support provided by the Interledger Foundation in the initial stages of this project. Their grant funding played a vital role in propelling the Loose Chains Change initiative forward, and the project's ongoing success would not be possible without their investment.

Short video

https://vimeo.com/972745494

What’s Next?

With the continued support we have received, we are confident that the Loose Chains Change project will reach even greater heights. This work just received 2 new grants to support Loose Chains Change from Brooklyn Arts Council. We are thrilled to leverage these funds to build a one-month workshop series with CAMBA Community Center for financial literacy and engagement. This exciting collaboration will directly address the project's mission by providing valuable financial knowledge and resources to the community we aim to empower.

The tapestry will continue to serve as a
focal point and conversation starter, while the workshops will provide practical tools and information. Together, these elements will create a comprehensive approach to financial empowerment within Black and Brown communities.

Community Support

All the support is needed!  We are looking for fundraising support & sponsors to donate lottery tickets,money, clothing, food, & metro cards that can be exchanged with our Community Liaisons for the dedicated work they contribute to this project. Know someone in need of our services or interested in being a Community Liasion or Community Lottery Recycling Center, email at atelier@mwrcollection

LOOSE CHAINS CHANGE— Future Money Progress Grant Report #1

MIA WRIGHT-ROSS — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:02:22 +0000

"Loose (CHAINS) Change" is a series of large-scale multimedia tapestries created using leather and paper lottery tickets collected by marginalized residents through the United States.

This work serves as a reflection and projection of the reimagining of hope, it is with this tool we seek to transform what was a lethal tool of capitalism that preyed on the community-rich centers of Black and Brown neighborhoods. The project directly challenges the existing systems of capitalist gain through gamification, a concept supported by US Government funding, one example being "Make Your Own Luck." This initiative employs a systemic state-based lottery marketing strategy aimed at manipulating and perpetuating a cycle of poverty within underfunded Black and Brown communities.

Progress Images

Project Update

Loose Chains Change is GROWING!
The community is really showing up for this project. We have received over 15,000 recycled tickets and counting. Our lead community Liaison, Mike, has been taking the charge to make sure we have lottery tickets. He has built relationships with local businesses and joined forces with other community members to collect recycled tickets.

In exchange for lottery tickets, we have been able to compensation our community liaisons with money, food, water, clothing, and metro cards. This has proven to be very successful at moments when our budget exceeded to community needs. We have been able to exchange value with all these forms of compensation.

A struggle we are coming up against is connecting to more community liaisons who are interested in participating in the program. In order to collect more lottery tickets, we need more community liaisons which means we needs more funding to compensate our community for their efforts. We have been applying and working with other local organization to raise more awareness about Loose Chains Change!

Progress on Objectives (KPI’s) (progress on project)

Compensating a team of assistants and community liaisons successfully with Future|Money Grant Funds
Ability to open a new atelier to facilitate the sorting and categorizing process of the tapestry development
Help support one of our Community Liasion's transition into a recovery program
Constructed Stage 1 of the LCC Tapestry to measure 15 ft long by 6 ft wide
For project updates, follow us on Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/loosechainschange/

Short video

What’s Next?

For the remainder of the grant period, I will be intergrating our new laser cutting machinery within the tapestry making process. I also want to implement a digital survey program that can adequate document the needs of our community liaisons that are pivotal in collecting our recycled lottery tickets. I think this next stage of development is important to implements technology strategy within our development process. I believe there are ways we can improve the making process and we continue to grow this tapestry. That can only happen if we continue to listen to our community. Our goal for the Final report is to have the tapestry reach a scale of 30 ft long.

Community Support

All the support is needed!
We are looking for anyone to donate lottery tickets, more donations (money, clothing, food, & metro cards) that can be exchanged with our Community Liaisons, help setting up a community liaison input system that can keep track of our ticket amounts and document the needs of our liaisons. We are also looking for a gallery location in NYC to display the work as it grows and continues to be constructed.

The Interledger Community 🌱: MIA WRIGHT-ROSS

LOOSE (CHAINS) CHANGE — Future Money Final Grant Report

Project Update

Progress on Objectives (KPI’s) (progress on project)

Short video

What’s Next?

Community Support

LOOSE CHAINS CHANGE— Future Money Progress Grant Report #1

Progress Images

Project Update

Progress on Objectives (KPI’s) (progress on project)

Short video

What’s Next?

Community Support