Renowned Artist/Activist Mel Chin and the Fundred Armored Truck Visit to PS 119 to Collect Fundred “Stimulus Package” from Brooklyn Students
June 03, 2010
BRIC’s Contemporary Art Education Program Proactively Addresses Threat of Lead Poisoning through the Fundred Dollar Bill Project, a Nationwide Social Art Action Project
Brooklyn, NY— BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn and partner school P.S. 119 the Magnet School of Global and Ethical Studies are pleased to be one of the final collection points in the Fundred Dollar Project’s nationwide initiative in support of a solution to the hidden lead problem in New Orleans. To collect student-made Fundred Dollar Bills, an armored truck powered by used vegetable oil from partner school cafeterias has been traveling 20,000 miles across the country since January, 2010. The truck will come to Brooklyn Tuesday, June 8 at 9am at Amersfort Park by P.S. 119. Fundred creator, renowned artist and activist Mel Chin, will be at the event. The collected Fundreds will be presented to the U.S. Congress with a request for real funding to make safe lead-polluted soils in New Orleans.
WHEN Tuesday June 8, 9 am
WHERE
Amersfort Park, Midwood Brooklyn
Ave J between E 38th and E 39th St
WHO Interview opportunities include:
Mel Chin, Artist/Activist and founder of the Fundred Dollar Bill Project
Tory, Driver of the Fundred Sous Terre Armored Truck
Lisa Fernandez, Principal, P.S. 119
Barbara Snow, Assistant Principal, P.S. 119
Hawley Hussey, Director of Contemporary Art Education, BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn
WHAT
The event will feature an exchange of Fundreds between the Armored Truck Driver with Mel Chin and P.S. 119 students.
P.S. 119 students will be performing at the event, including the P.S. 119 Steppers who will be performing their signature P.S. 119 school step, and the P.S. 119 Rhythm Group who will be playing global celebration music.
The Fundred Dollar Bill Project is raising nationwide awareness of the environmental threat of lead contamination and lead-poisoning by collecting the funds necessary for a model remediation effort in New Orleans. New Orleans is the initial focus of this ambitious project as 30-50% of inner city children are affected by elevated blood lead levels and at risk for severe learning disabilities and behavioral problems. In New Orleans, an estimated 86,000 properties with soil lead levels above 400 ppm was mapped pre-Katrina, an issue that has severely escalated since the hurricane. Mel Chin explains "there was a disaster before the disaster." The Fundred Dollar Bill Project is a way for citizens nationwide to engage in the creation of a safer environment for future generations.
More information about PS 119 and the Fundred Dollar Bill Project
Full Press Release (PDF)