Contact: Tiffany Lemieux-McKissic
Manager, Membership & Communications
Telephone: (517) 485-3588 x1941
Email: tiffany@cedam.info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2011 

CEDAM Announces TV Show Theme Song Contest

Lansing, MI – The Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) is pleased to announce a contest for a theme song. The song is for their monthly television show, The Bright Side, highlighting inspiring, interesting stories from across Michigan. The program features everything from a youth theater group in Detroit to a drop-in art center for the homeless in Grand Rapids and a dog sled race in Calumet.

The contest begins October 4, 2011 and is open to all musicians in any genre of music. The top three entries will be selected by committee after December 31, 2011, and the winner will be decided by a vote through social media. The winner will receive, in addition to having their song featured in each episode of the show, studio time in a Lansing recording studio and/or a music video produced by CEDAM.

“The Bright Side puts the focus on all of the great stuff happening in Michigan and tells the stories that don’t get enough attention in the traditional media,” says emmy-winning PBS television producer Cato Weatherspoon. “This show is interesting, timely, well produced and very important for Michigan.”

The show is made possible by a grant from the Lansing Office of Community Media. The Bright Side currently airs online at brightsidetv.com, on channel 12 Lansing CityTV and is expected to launch on Comcast Cable channel 16 soon. To find out more, enter the contest, become a sponsor or watch episodes, please visit brightsidetv.com.  Michigan TV stations interested in airing The Bright Side should contact Tiffany at CEDAM (517-485-3588). CEDAM releases a new 30 minute episode each month.

Theme Song Contest Specifics:

-Format: .mp3 or .wav
-Song length: 2:00 minute minimum – 3:30 minute maximum
-Genre of music:  Any

The strongest entries will stylistically fit the animated introduction and suit the positive tone of the show overall. Contestants can have lyrics in their song, but must also submit an instrumental version of the song. Entries should be submitted to courant@cedam.info and will be accepted until 5 pm EST, December 31, 2011.  

The Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM), a nonprofit organization, represents hundreds of organizations and individuals committed to rebuilding our neighborhoods and revitalizing communities throughout Michigan.  CEDAM is a membership association of primarily nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs), community action agencies, and other nonprofits that provide affordable and supportive housing to our most vulnerable citizens, encourage downtown and commercial corridor revitalization, provide workforce and entrepreneurship training, and help families develop and maintain assets. For more information about CEDAM, please visit www.cedam.info.

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One of the future Restoration Works houses.

CEDAM member Chippewa-Luce-Mackinac Community Action Agency is one of 14 recipients nation-wide of the 2010 National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award. The award, given by the National Community Action Partnership, recognizes CLMCAA’s use of community development to reduce poverty and increase economic security.

The IRS announced six Michigan organizations that will receive grant money to run free VITA tax preparation sites. Four of the six are CEDAM members: Accounting Aid Society, Community Action Agency of Jackson-Lenawee-Hillsdale, Community Action Agency of South Central Michigan, and Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency.

Northern Initiatives received a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Microentreprenuer Assistance Program. The grant money will help Northern Initiatives assist rural entrepreneurs in starting up their own small businesses in the U.P.

A new housing project in Lansing called Restoration Works will turn two derelict houses into living classrooms, and eventually livable homes. The Ingham County Land Bank, Allen Neighborhood Center, and Lansing Community College are working together to save the two houses while using a hands-on approach to teach LCC students about home restoration, energy efficiency, construction, electrical engineering, and other topics.

An Edible Avalon garden site.

A  news article last month celebrated Avalon Housing’s Edible Avalon program. The program coordinates community gardens for Avalon Housing residents, allowing them access to fresh and healthy produce. A video about Edible Avalon also went online last month.

Shop MI Downtown for the Holidays started last month and will continue through December. The campaign is backed by a number of CEDAM supporters and sponsors, and it seeks to challenge Michigan residents to shop at locally-owned stores in downtowns or Main Street districts for the holidays. People may also take pictures of downtown stores for the chance to win an overnight stay in one of five downtown Michigan establishments.

The first video features ANC’s various food programs (including ANC’s breadbasket day, farmer’s market, and greenhouse programs for children). Watch below or on YouTube.

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The second video is all about World Day, an event ANC coordinated with the Immigrant/Refugee Consortium. This video highlights a number of dance and music performances by refugee groups living in Lansing. Watch below or on YouTube.