Conley’s office seeks nonprofits for annual grant awards

 Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced last week that his office will be distributing a series of free cash grants to provide young people of Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop with constructive alternatives to crime and drug use, and invited applications from area nonprofit organizations that work with kids and teens.

The annual grants are distributed from Conley’s Asset Forfeiture Reinvestment Program, which takes cash and assets seized from drug dealers and awards them to Suffolk County organizations that work to help young people.

“Our mission of intervention and prevention is shared by many community partners throughout Suffolk County,” Conley said, “and we are proud to help support these valuable programs with our annual grants. Using the ill-gotten gains of drug dealers and traffickers to fund education, athletics, job training and artistic expression, it’s truly an opportunity to do good things with bad money.”

 The awards and their recipients are selected each year by an independent panel of county residents appointed by the district attorney.

Nonprofit organizations that wish to apply for a grant award should request an application from Tanya Brussa, deputy director of community relations, at 617-619-4000 or Tanya. Brussa@massmail.state.ma.us. The deadline for completed applications is June 21. Award recipients will be announced shortly thereafter.

State law allows up to 10 percent of money from the auctions of dealers’ property and confiscated funds to be returned to the community. Since 1992, the program has awarded thousands of dollars each year to dozens of youth groups, community centers and social service agencies. Last year’s awards totaled $50,000.

State-of-the-art techniques on display at media conference

The Filmmakers Collaborative will hold a daylong conference for film and media makers on June 1 at the Boston University Photonics Center.

The conference will provide an opportunity for filmmakers to learn about the latest innovations in cameras, digital formats and other media technologies and how they are changing the ways films are produced, marketed and distributed.

Video blogs, social networking and media publishing sites have revolutionized media and democratized the tools for its creation and distribution.

“If filmmakers don’t learn to use the new tools available, they’re missing out,” said Bonnie Waltch, spokesperson for the Filmmakers Collaborative. “There are new ways for filmmakers to use the Web to distribute and monetize their work.”

Special guests will include Mike Hudack, CEO of blip.tv; Annie Valva, director of research and business development at WGBH Boston; and Lance Weiler, a pioneer in the use of new digital technologies whose first film, entitled “The Last Broadcast,” was shot for less than $1,000 and grossed $4.5 million. It was the first film to be transmitted via satellite directly to theatres.

Admission is $100 with discounts available for Alliance for Independent Motion Media (AIMM), Massachusetts Production Coalition (MPC), and Beanywood members and students. Registration closes May 27. The fee includes a box lunch and refreshments. The Boston University Photonics Center is located at 8 St. Mary’s St.

For further information, contact Jennifer Kaplan or Bonnie Waltch at the Filmmakers Collaborative at 781 647-1102.

Register your squad for the Boston Neighborhood Basketball League

The Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) is now accepting registrations for teams to compete in the 38th season. The registration deadline is June 11.

Sponsored by Reebok, the Boston Neighborhood Basketball League is the oldest municipal basketball league in the country and serves over 3,100 young men and women in three divisions: 13 and under, 15 and under, and 18 and under. BNBL also offers a Pee Wee Developmental Program for boys and girls age 11 and under, which will be coached by former Fox25 Celtics host and WILD 1090 personality and current 96.9FM radio personality Jimmy Myers.
 
Myers has been involved in the local sports scene for over 35 years.  Aside from his prestigious career in radio and television, Myers is also an outstanding coach and mentor. He will be bringing his passion and skills to the BNBL Pee Wee Developmental Program.

The new season of the BNBL begins June 25, so all youth coaches, parents and youth sports organizers must register teams by the June 11 deadline. Team rosters can be picked up in person from Woodley Auguste at Boston Centers for Youth & Families’ Administrative Office, located at 1483 Tremont Street in Mission Hill, or by calling 617-635-4920 x2116. Completed rosters must be returned to Woodley by the June 11 deadline. The league’s regular session will end August 3 followed by play-off games.