We’re sprucing up our approach to Members’ Meetups. Many of our producers don’t take advantage of attending the members’ meetups. Let’s face it, it can be boring to simply sit around a table and force conversation. I get it. I do. So, I’m going to start including fun activities as part of the members’ meetups. At our next meetup, on April 26th, 2025, we will walk the greenways that connect with Calvert Street. Who knew that the greenways were located so close to the Access 21 building(s)?
Another concern I’ve heard is that the meetups need to be scheduled on the weekends. Many people work full-time jobs, and can’t attend a meetup on a weekday before 5 PM. So, I’m experimenting with moving the members’ meetups to a Saturday. Hopefully, this will drum up attendance.
In other news, I have started my behind-the-scenes social media series. I’m capturing video and film of Access 21 members before and after they film a TV production, or record a podcast here. In the interim, I’m also learning how to edit video professionally. For this purpose, the studio coordinators at Access 21 are a goldmine of knowledge. Keep an eye out for more of these behind-the-scenes pictures and videos as they are posted to Access 21 social media accounts.
Tabling season has begun…it started in March. So far, we have had a vendor’s booth at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market on March 29th, 2025. We are also currently in the process of applying to other festivals for vendor booths there. Also, as part of our new Access 21 Ambassadors program, we have been recruiting members to volunteer to assist with these festivals, among other volunteer opportunities.
We have also expanded the CMPAC Spotlight show, the one where we have shone a light on our TV producers, to include our podcasters and our outstanding volunteers. Hopefully, this will provide a way for more diverse stories to be told.
Also, the Access 21 building is turning 100 years old this year. Can you believe this?
These are some of the things that we have been doing at Access 21. Stay tuned as we return next month with the latest news.