Media Omniverse (formerly "The People of the National Equality March"

A Conversation on "Working" Mothers

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:10:00 +0000

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10 Myths About Single Black Mothers

Homepages: White Guy on MLK Blvd.
Media Omniverse "Occupied Squares" Project

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Can the Occupy Movement form a National Government?

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Are You Behind the Occupy Movement?

In 2011, "The Protestor" was named "Person of the Year,"

but in 2012 it is literally going to be a matter of life and death for vulnerable people across the globe if we cannot translate our

"protest narratives" into "governing narratives."

Below is an idea that just might change everything!

By merging decades-old theories in governing, bureaucracy, and the agenda-setting process with

social media and a virtual reality

gaming platform, a Ph.D. student at Florida Atlantica University

is hoping to overcome challenges in public administration that have thwarted long-overdue policy change

efforts ever since the 1970's.

Dear iQreport-blogger,

Every night in our household it is a struggle to muster enough courage to watch the news. Some nights we just can't handle it and choose instead to escape into a good book or find a movie, but I have to admit, most nights we are following along with the rest of you as we try to figure out how we can redeem certain people from their groundless fear that some horrible force is trying to deprive them of their liberty. If you are like me you are waking up in the middle of the night wondering what it would take to get a message through to these frightened people who speak in hateful terms toward a narrative of compassion, equality, and opportunity.

What exactly are they afraid of?

Who is telling them to be afraid?

What is in the code behind their words:

"Take our country back?"

When I see people from "the 99%" who are rallying behind the words, "Take our country back" and "Don't tread on me," I find myself asking, "What will it take before they see who their real enemy is?"

In 2009 I came back to university after a 25-year career in business so that I could better answer that question, and I think I have come up with an idea that will work for all of us. If it does work, then we will not only succeed in changing governing narratives, but we could change how democracy works on a global scale.

The project is not all that complicated, so please take a moment to watch all five videos below and let me know if I have done a good job in communicating my ideas. If you see a place where you can help me take this research from being a "theory" to actually becoming a "virtual governing institution," then please, just jump in. At the core of this project is the idea that nobody needs a formal invitation to be involved in democracy.

As you will see by the end of the fourth video, your "Occupy" group where you live can be up-and-running with a virtual governing presence in a matter of a few hours, and at a cost of less than $50. If your group is so new that it doesn't have a budget yet, I have room for five groups on the existing "Mandu" region where you can get started for free.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Lester Leavitt

Ph.D. Graduate Assistant

School of Public Administration

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL 33431

MOCSIE 1 - an Invitation

As the first video in the "Occupied Squares" dissertation project series, this video introduces you to Lester Leavitt. It will give you an idea of the background that is behind the six years of interviewing, writing, traveling, and record-keeping that have all come together to play a part in an incredibly ambition dissertation that will likely exceed twelve chapters by the time all of the eventualities have been compensated for.

MOCSIE 2 - Slideshow Introduction

This is the second video in the "Occupied Squares" dissertation project of Lester Leavitt. This video fills you in on how a study of history, in general, and the events of 2011 specifically, gave rise to the idea of a virtual governing institution. This quick slide show explains why it is so important that something like this be done before protest narratives can be seamlessly converted into actual governing narratives. No new technology needs to be created to do this. We have everything we need right now, and it will only cost each "Occcupied" group about $30/month for server space.

MOCSIE 3 - The Vehicle

As the third video in the series, this video describes a virtual governing institution that is designed to be free of hierarchy as well as barrier-free to participation. The virtual institution will not have to recognize geographical or political boundaries and it intuitively works with the "collective thought" ideals of the Occupy Movement and our general assembly practices. As the metaphorical "vehicle," this virtual institution sets the stage for MOCSIE 4, the video that will explain the "engine," and MOCSIE 5, which will explain where the "fuel" will come from. Taken as a whole, the project will propel this movement forward into a functional form of actually governing by taking control of our own agenda-setting process. In this way we will be improving how democracy works for previously marginalized and oppressed individuals and communities. This mechanism will work because it effectively eliminates the ability of the "organizational elites" to control any part of the process.

MOCSIE 4 - The Engine

This video is the fourth in the "Occupied Squares" series. It expands on the idea of how a social media connected virtual governing institution can be utilized to transform protest narratives into actual governing narratives. For more information visit http://www.mocsie.com or visit the "Mandu" region of Second Life. If you do not have a user ID for Second Life we recommend the basic (free) membership.

MOCSIE 5 - The Fuel

Video 5 in the series goes into detail about how a soon-to-be-created database will actually assist this virtual-reality-based global governing institution in creating "narrative threads" from which excellent policy proposals that have broad popular support can be generated. The idea of a "narrative threads generator" is based upon the proven theories of social anthropology (Clifford Geertz) and qualitative research methods.

Five Introductory Videos to Explain the "Occupied Squares" Dissertation Project

MOCSIE 1 - An Invitation

MOCSIE 2 - Slideshow Introduction

MOCSIE 3 - The Vehicle

MOCSIE 4 - The Engine

MOCSIE 5 - The Fuel

MOCSIE

Media Omniverse Collective for Social Initiative and Enterprise

http://www.mocsie.com

Email: LLeavitt@fau.edu

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Do you have ideas for radical change?

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:22:00 +0000

January 11, 2011

Dear Friend and Ally:

It has been a while since you have heard from me, but I wanted to send you a note to update you on what I am now doing as a social justice advocate. I have just completed my Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia Journalism (except for the practicum) and am now enrolled full-time at Florida Atlantic University in their Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) program. In that capacity I am already starting on what I hope will become my thesis, and I believe my work will help you or someone that you know.

I just need you or your ally to come meet with me in Fort Lauderdale on January 20^th.

I believe you would want to be there because, like me, you want to radically change how direct assistance programs and social justice advocacy work are administered and/or funded. My master's thesis (if approved by faculty) will be about radical change.

If you don't remember my name, you might recall who I am by some of the activities that I have been involved with in the past four years. Most likely you will remember that I spent two years working as a grant writer at the Pet Project for Pets, helping the terminally ill and disabled by eliminating the cost of feeding and caring for their companion animals. If not that, you might have come to know me as a gay rights activist trying to get the word out about the harmful effects of ex-gay therapy, especially in the case of teenagers and young adults. My concern for the well-being of all youth continues to drive me and give me the sense of urgency in my work, but my passion has now expanded far beyond just helping gay youth.

This invitation to have you or one of your allies join me in a round-table discussion is about a bigger problem; an all-encompassing problem. And that is why I need you to be there and meet with me on January 20^th. As I've implied, if you can't make it in person please ask someone you know or work with to come in your place. To make it easier, we are holding two identical sessions, so you can pick morning or afternoon.

I don't want to make this email any longer, so I will just provide you with a hyper-link so that you can read an abstract of my proposal, or perhaps even the entire outline of how my logic plays out in creating a completely new view in how inner-city programs for the poor and marginalized can be funded and administered. It is a program that I hope to implement with the help of Mickey Rowe under the program name Media Omniverse. (If the hyper-link is not live in your email the URL is http://mediaomniverse.org/broward-county-round-table ).

Please understand that a person does not have to be in a leadership role in order to attend and participate in either of the two January 20^th round table discussions. Your opinion as an individual is as important to me as if you were the executive director of a large nonprofit organization or social services agency. What is important to me in my research is that you have ideas on how to end the marginalization of minorities and the inner-city poor.

Please get involved.

Sincerely,

Lester Leavitt

Reserve your seat today. Please RSVP to lester@mediaomniverse.org or by calling 954-290-1771.

The Broward County Inner-City Round Table Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:39:00 +0000

Click on the image for a high resolution version.
Full details of the event, complete with Abstract and Executive Summary, are available at the Media Omniverse site.

Lester's Day of Silence Statement

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:50:00 +0000

This is the flyer that I will be handing out to classmates this week leading up to the National Day of Silence.

Click on the image to enlarge it.

An Institute for Social Justice at FAU

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:32:00 +0000

The attached flyer outlines my intent to proceed with the idea of creating an "Institute for Social Justice" at Florida Atlantic University. Click on image to enlarge.

Also, please plan on attending the presentation of my paper at the Comparative Studies Student Conference, Friday, April 16th. My block goes from 11:10am to 12:10pm. The conference is being held in the Grand Palm Room of the Student Building.

"Facing East" Reading at Florida Atlantic University - Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:12:00 +0000

For Immediate Release

Boca Raton, Fla. – Carol Lynn Pearson has had the unfortunate calling in life to endure, first hand, the painful accounts of suicide of gay young adults. In 1986, after nursing her divorced husband as he died of AIDS, she published her acclaimed book, “Goodbye, I Love You.” Because she had never condemned her husband for being authentic to himself, Pearson immediately became the “go to” person if you were gay and Mormon, and needed a sympathetic ear.

With her unexpected exposure came the unavoidable burden of receiving letters from gay teens and youth as they reached out for help. Try as she might, she couldn’t help them all. Some would never escape the despair that came with the rejection by parents, siblings and church. In 2006, and after 20 years of painful letters, nothing had changed. Utah still led the nation in the suicide deaths of teenage boys, and fully 50% of the homeless teens in Salt Lake City were gay.

To draw attention once again to the terrible price that is paid when gay teens are rejected by religious families, Carol Lynn Pearson once again turned to her love of writing. Not only did she write a follow-up book, “No More Goodbyes,” but she also wrote a powerful one-act play, “Facing East,” that is a scathing indictment against the Mormon Church and their backwards views on a problem that has a very easy solution. Pearson would prefer that the church see it as an invitation for dialog.

“Facing East” is a hard-hitting play about a fiercely religious couple who have just lost a son to suicide. Because the story deals with the silence surrounding the true nature of the life and death of this young man, the play was selected by the Florida Atlantic University gay student group, Lambda United, for their “Break the Silence” event. The reading of the play will mark the end of FAU’s commemoration of National Day of Silence, where participating students pledge to be “silent in protest” over the damage that is done when people refuse to talk about issues surrounding gay and lesbian students.

The production is free, and open to the general public. It will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15^th, in Room SO-250 of the Social Sciences Building at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Campus. For parking and directions to the building, email LLeavitt@fau.edu.

Lester Leavitt

Lambda United Gay-Straight Alliance

Public Relations Board Member

LLeavitt@fau.edu

Phone: 954-290-1771

Breaking the Silence Event - April 15th, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:41:00 +0000

FAU Gay Prom - April 24th, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:45:00 +0000

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

FAU "The Price of Silence" Guest Speaker - Rand Hoch

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:36:00 +0000

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Day of Silence - "Break the Silence" Event

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:35:00 +0000

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Diversity Events - April 12th to 16th

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:46:00 +0000

Following is a template of the events that are possibly going to be held the week of April 12th to 16th as part of Diversity Week at Florida Atlantic University.

Monday - April 12th
Event: Holocaust Remembrance Day
Sponsors: Jewish Student Union
Location: (tentative) Alumni Plaza
Event Description: (tentative) Possible march around the plaze and elsewhere on campus. Invited to march would be the Jewish Student Union and allies, disabled students and allies, Lambda United Gay-Straight Alliance and allies.

Tuesday - April 13th
Event:
Sponsors:
Location:
Event Description:

Wednesday - April 14th
Event: Day of Silence Launch
Sponsors: Lambda United Gay-Straight Alliance
Location: KH-102 Lecture Hall, Barry Kaye Hall (seating for 200+)
Time: 7:00 PM

Event Description: Keynote Speaker - Rand Hoch. A local lawyer who is well informed about equal rights issues for the GLBT Community.

Thursday - April 15th
Event: Day of Silence - All FAU Campuses
Time: all day

Sponsors: Lambda United Gay-Straight Alliance
Location: Individual Students - All FAU Campuses
Event Description: Students will be in a silent protest to demonstrate the plight of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people who cannot live authentically because there is little or no protection for them. Started by GLSEN, the National Day of Silence is primarily focused on the school environment of America. Students will wear a badge or button that explains their silence. Instructors will be made aware of the need to respect students who are not speaking and, where possible, work around that need.

Event: Reading of Play - "Facing East" (Author: Carol Lynn Pearson)

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: SO-250 Social Sciences Building (large semi-circular lecture hall, 2nd floor over walkway)

A play about the need for families to talk about homosexuality when religious fundamentalism and traditions are oppressive to gays and lesbians. The play focuses on a husband and wife discussing their son's suicide after he was rejected by their church, his parents and the culture that he grew up in.

Event: Breaking the Silence - a Social Event
Sponsors: Lambda United Gay-Straight Alliance
Location: SO-250 lecture hall after the play, "Facing East"
Event Description: Students will be encouraged to write down their own experiences with oppression, persecution, and loss that came as a result of being (or knowing someone) who is gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender. These pieces of paper will be shredded or otherwise destroyed to signal the freedom from that event in their past, and in solidarity for those who still are not free.

FAU Diversity Week - Friday Planning Workshops

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Click on Image to Enlarge and Read

Click on Image to Enlarge and Read!

The Lambda United GSA Club at FAU

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:38:00 +0000

Click on images below to enlarge and read the fine print.

Click on image to enlarge and read the fine print.

When 1 + 1 no longer equals 2.

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Mickey (my husband) and I just finished watching the new documentary, "In the Shadow of the Temple." We expected it to be difficult for me, but as it turned out it was Mickey who ended up with the tears in his eyes.

To hear others repeat almost word-for-word what he has heard me saying for almost three years now was tough for him. Most difficult was when he heard the one lady say that she had struggled too hard to heal from the wounds of the temple in her own life to go and wait outside for her daughter to be married in the temple. Mickey had not fully understood why I would not go out to be at Peter's wedding in San Diego in August, although he fully supported my decision as mine alone to make.

The documentary is hard-hitting because it opens with the "absolute" doctrine of the Mormon Church...where if any shred of it is false, then by extension, the whole church is an enormous fraud. I taught that on my mission, and it truly sets the Mormons apart from other religions.

I guess that is why Christian fundamentalists in general, and the Mormons specifically, have to spend their last dollar and last breath fighting gay marriage.

It is the equivalent of somebody threatening the mathematical universe with the notion that 1 + 1 no longer equals 2.

In a talk on Sunday morning at the anti-heterosexism conference in West Palm Beach it was Rev. Deborah Johnson who explained this so well (follow this link to watch video.) She said if we fully understood the impact that it would have on them to be forced to admit that there is no such thing as absolute male and absolute female, then we would be more sympathetic with these religious extremists. It truly will be the end of their universe.

Can you just take a moment and imagine how hard it will be for them when their house of cards comes crashing down? At the end of the day, some of the fundamentalists may survive, but it will be the end of Mormonism. When you bet the farm on a crap shoot, you had better be able to consistently throw 7's and 11's.

This is what male and female currently look like to the religious fundamentalists. In their world, if anything happens to this model then it is the end of their religion. For whatever reason, if you eat steak on Friday or don't get a circumcision, their world remains intact, but if you allow a man to fall in love with a man then 1 + 1 no longer equals 2. Never mind that it only ever happens to less than 4% of the human race and there will always be a source of babies from the other 96%.

So, what happens if instead, sexuality is on a continuum where that .01% of our DNA that makes a male different from a female is not absolute, and if while the fetus is in utero that some variables can affect the outcomes?

Well, if you are a progressive religion, nothing happens. God has allowed for mankind to have an expanding knowledge, but the fundamentalists didn't get that memo.

They truly have staked their entire existence on an absolute of the Bible being the only word of God, the last word of God, and in the case of the Mormons, even their version of heaven cannot exist if it is possible for a homosexual to exist.

Oh well, homosexuals were here long before the Mormons, and we will still be here when Mormons are no longer relevant.

Poster Making Day - November 19th, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Two days before the Nov 21st, 2009 NARTH Protest the students from Lynn University and Florida Atlantic University gathered to make a bunch of hand-lettered posters.

"Violence Against the Institution of Marriage"

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Breaking News (Nov 10th, 2009): "The [LDS] church supports these [equal housing and employment] ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage," Michael Otterson, the director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said.

As the youngest of six kids, my five siblings were a bit shocked when I came "out" in 2005 after a 24 year marriage with four grown kids. When I told them that in my relationship with Mickey (my current husband who I met in April 2007) I have found in 2 1/2 years what I could have never had with my wife, they were confused, but willing to "go along."

When I asked my siblings if, when we visited, Mickey and I would enjoy the same welcome that my ex-wife and I had, they hesitated. What I meant by the question was, could Mickey and I stay in the guest bedroom with the queen-sized bed. They slowly and reluctantly agreed. It was a major victory for my personal family unity within the Mormon Church. This was truly progress on their part.

That was May 2008, and on June 28th the Mormon Church destroyed my family with the famous "Letter from the Pulpit." That letter ordered every Mormon to contribute of their "time and means" to pass Prop 8. When I asked my siblings in July 2008 how they were going to vote on Prop 8, I had my real answer from my family. To a one, they all said they had no choice. The prophet had spoken. They had to vote against me and support a law that would marginalize me.

The only "violent act" against relationships (marriage) has been done by the Mormon Church.

Prop 8 had only one purpose: to invalidate the relationship I have with my husband.

Now, who really is the victim of violence here? My siblings and I have not spoken since September 2008. How does the Mormon Church support their "Proclamation on the Family" with actions such as this?

Florida Atlantic University - the incubator for NARTH action.

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Florida Atlantic University,where the anti-NARTH protest movement is building within the GSA Club, Lambda United. Devin Reaves and his GSA Club from Lynn University started organizing and were put into contact with Carly Cass and the Lambda United Club soon after.

Britni and Jarrett - just getting home!

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:18:00 +0000

This is Britni H. and Jarrett T. who drove to Orlando and caught the Florida buses with us. Forgive the bad hair...but we have been on the road for more than 16 hours and we have been 24 hours since we saw a bar of soap or a comb.

noreply@blogger.com (Leland James Media) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Dustin Lance Black

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