Waitt Institute For Violence Prevention

1) SPONSORED, WITH A DONOR, A SUICIDE PREVENTION/ MENTAL HEALTH PSA WITH A COMMUNITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN IOWA TO TRY TO REACH APPROXIMATELY 135,000 RESIDENTS WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS. AS WE HAVE HAD CHARACTERS IN OUR DOCUMENTARIES "BULLY AND "AUDRIE AND DAISY", WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE DUE TO BULLYING AND VIOLENCE, WE FEEL THAT SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT VIOLENCE PREVENTION MESSAGE. THIS YEAR, DUE TO COVID AND OTHER MAJOR STRESSORS, RATES OF DEPRESSION WENT UP. THE PSA WAS VIEWED BY OVER 18,000 PEOPLE.

2) FORMULATED A PLAN WITH THE SANFORD CENTER COMMUNITY SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL 5 OUTREACH WORKERS IN THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOLS OVER THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS. THE PROGRAM IN THE PAST EMPLOYED 10 OUTREACH WORKERS TO COVER 10 SCHOOLS, BUT DUE TO COUNTY BUDGET CUTS, THE PROGRAM NOW HAS ONLY 5. ONE CASE WORKER CARRIES A CASELOAD OF 30 HIGH RISK CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, SO WE ESTIMATE THAT THEY WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT OVER 100 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, THIS DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS HELP THE SCHOOLS TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SCHOOL CLIMATE AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR ANTI BULLYING AND ANTI- VIOLENCE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE $45,000, INCLUDING JUVENILE COURT SERVICES DOLLARS TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL WORKER FOR AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE WILL ALSO USE FUNDS FROM THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER (VIRTUAL THIS YEAR) TO SUPPLEMENT ADDITIONAL NEEDS.

3) CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE FILM TEAM ON THE UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY "THIS IS THE HOUSE WHERE I LEARNED NOT TO SLEEP". DUE TO COVID, AND DIFFICULTY FINISHING ONE CHARACTER'S STORY, WE MADE THE DECISION TO CUT THE LENGTH OF THE PRIMARY CHARACTER TO A 45 TO 50 MINUTE FILM AND PRESENT THE OTHER CHARACTER'S STORY IN A 10 MINUTE OP DOC. THE EMMY WINNING FILM TEAM HAS NOW MOVED INTO EDITING AND ARE PREPARING ANOTHER FUND RAISING PIECE TO GET THE FILM TO THE FINISH LINE. WIVP SECURED AN ADDITIONAL 15,000 IN FUNDING. THE TEAM HAS BEGUN WORK WITH A COMPOSER FOR THE SCORE. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD DESPITE COVID, TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT AT 2022 FILM FESTIVALS. WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH PBS AND WILL EXPLORE ADDITIONAL OUTLETS THAT MAY WANT TO PRESENT. OTHER WIVP FILMS HAVE ALL BEEN ACQUIRED BY NETWORKS AND HAVE HAD AN AUDIENCE OF MILLIONS, INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS IN SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL WORK TRAININGS.

Expenses: $86K