UAA premiere of "Villagers in the City," a film by Isaiah Woods tonight

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m.
Native Student Services
Rasmuson Hall, Room 108

Four Students, One City, Many Buses, One University, and One Camera. Isaiah Woods grew up in Unalakleet, Alaska and began film making while he was still in middle school. "Villagers in the City" is an insightful and sometimes humorous look at four UAA students from Unalakleet as they transition to life at UAA and navigate in an urban environment.

Join us at Native Student Services in Rasmuson Hall, Room 108 at 6 p.m. for the premiere of "Villagers in the City," a potluck, and discussion after the film.

UAA professors Dr. Kerry Feldman and Dr. Phyllis Fast received a $10,000 grant from UAA to fund ten student projects through the "Diverse Voices of Anchorage" grant program. "Diverse Voices of Anchorage" was a collaboration between UAA, including the UAA Honors College headed by Dean Ron Spatz, the Municipality of Anchorage Mayor's Office of Equal Opportunity, Bridge Builders of Anchorage and Healing Racism in Anchorage. Professors Kerry Feldman, Phyllis Fast, Steve Aufrecht, Robert Crosman, Joy Mapaye, and Ron McGee served on the Diverse Voices of Anchorage committee, along with Associate Director Carl Hild of the UAA Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies. Celeste Hodge represented the Mayor's Office of Equal Opportunity and M.A. Higgins represented Bridge Builders of Anchorage. Several other faculty served as mentors for nine students in 2006 whose projects were featured at the 2007 Municipality of Anchorage Mayor's Office Diversity Week Dinner; other student projects were funded in 2007-08.

Isaiah's "Villagers in the City" was initiated as one of the student projects selected by the "Diverse Voices of Anchorage" grant program. Professor Joy Mapaye from the UAA Department of Journalism and Public Communication mentored Isaiah Woods on his film project. Dr. Feldman then advocated for Isaiah's film to be considered as a strategy for UAA to inform and assist Native and rural students in their transition to an urban University environment.