The National Coalition Against Censorship’s Youth Free Expression Program invites kids and teens to participate in its Youth Free Expression Film Contest. This year’s theme is “What Does Free Speech Mean to Me?”
 

Contest entrants create and submit a video (up to 3 minutes) using film, animation, photographs, music, or anything else to explore what free speech means to them–a student, a citizen and a human. The deadline is September 19. The first-place winner receives a scholarship to the New York Film Academy. The top three filmmakers (individual or team) will receive cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250.
 

The annual Youth Free Expression Film Contest invites young filmmakers to create a short film on a contemporary First Amendment issue. Over the past 15 years, the contest has showcased the talents and ideas of dozens of student filmmakers. NCAC’s Youth Free Expression Program Film Contest is made possible by generous support from the New York Film Academy.

Students can learn more and submit their entry here:

https://ncac.org/project/film-contest
 

Ryan Dowd is hosting his next live training, Sexual Harassment: How to Respond to Customer's Inappropriate Comments.  The replay will be available on zoom for 4 weeks and in Niche Academy 5 days after the live training. 
 

When: August 11 at 2 p.m. ET 
 

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4316469293825/WN_-mttXBf_SsaGULCW3GY48Q 

This training will cover: 

A former director of a Chicago homeless shelter, Ryan Dowd is the author of The Librarians Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict, and Serving Everyone.  He travels all over the United States speaking to libraries about how to best help homeless patrons using empathy and respect.  He also provides training to police departments, nonprofits and other organizations on how to compassionately manage problematic behavior from troubled individuals. 
 

To access The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness core training on Niche Academy, go to the State Library of Ohio’s Training and Professional Development page and click the training link below Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness Training via Niche Academy. Once in Niche Academy, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Certificates will be issued within Niche Academy after the completion of the core training or webinar.  

If you have trouble accessing the training or upcoming webinar, email Erin Kelsey, Library Consultant at the State Library of Ohio at: ekelsey@library.ohio.gov.   
 

The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness core training purchased by the State Library in 2019 and has been renewed through August 2022. The online training, authored by Ryan Dowd, is available for all Ohio public and academic library staff.  The four-part training is an empathy-driven approach that provides best practices for library staff on how to understand the homeless population and serve them better. There are also practical tips on how to deal with and de-escalate common situations and issues, and make staff feel empowered and safe.  Archived webinars are available as separate modules in Niche Academy.