ABOUT AMPLIFx
Amplifx is...
Amplifx is a community organization that operates under a simple assumption: positive social change is possible, especially when that change starts at the local level. We function under direct democracy to build coalitions, connect resources, and work in solidarity with sister organizations and affiliates. Our first project is a bi-monthly magazine that is designed to be a mouthpiece for the Greater Lansing communities. We believe that social change requires a culture of change that embraces diversity of expression and creativity. We believe in challenging oppressions, empowering people to change the world around them, promoting inclusiveness and encouraging social awareness and community responsibility. We hope to be a clearinghouse and resource for members and groups of the community that are focused on positive social progress, and look forward to working on diverse community empowerment projects. For more information, stop by our Sunday meetings at 3pm at Gone Wired Cafe on Michigan and Fairview, e-mail us, or sign up for our e-mail list.Amplifx Magazine...
Amplifx Magazine will feature candid and critical discussions of socio-political, cultural and environmental justice issues, such as LGBT rights, affirmative action, climate change, local activism, anti-war efforts, international affairs, foreign policy, health care reform, racial equality, women’s and minority rights, and more. The magazine will be bi-lingual, featuring articles in both English and Spanish, and will be published bi-monthly. It will not include only journalistic coverage, but rather rely on its community to submit content of all types, including, articles, poetry, fiction, photography, graphic design, opinion pieces, mixed media, and more. You can submit content, comments and ideas to us at submit@amplifx.org.We Hope to...
Organize public talks and events to build critical connections, develop political thinking, and strengthen movement building efforts. Bridge cultural, generational and economic gaps between community members through skills shares, community dialogues, resource shares, and more. Provide a transparent, accessible, independent media source. Encourage community cultural production, graphic art and writing, and local businesses.
OUR HISTORY
In the past few years, conservative agendas have flushed Lansing and East Lansing and
effectively rolled back several years of progress. A few examples of this include Proposal
2, the undermining of state-wide educational programs, the presence of racist and
discriminatory organizations and budgetary cuts for minority programs. Additionally,
there is a noted lack of media that works to respectably discuss, augment, magnify and
unite progressive efforts in these communities. Amplifx, a brand new progressive publication
for the MSU and Greater Lansing community, was founded in response to this void. This magazine
is set to launch this January, and it will be published monthly on recycled paper with
soy ink from a local printer.
Amplifx is intended to be a central clearinghouse for progressive voices and a mouthpiece for our community. It will feature candid discussions on socio-political, cultural and environmental issues that affect our community, as well as critical and creative treatment of issues such as LGBT rights, affirmative action, climate change, ecological footprints, local activist campaigns, anti-war efforts, international affairs and foreign policy, health care reform, people of color issues, women’s equality and so on.
Amplifx will work to bring together progressive voices that are currently on divergent and/or tangential tracks, allowing the progressive community to work synergistically, communicate effectively and cooperatively and propel forward in their efforts. The magazine staff understands that socio-political change can only happen as a result of open, active and self-conscious channels for communication, and as a result, Amplifx will be working to constantly amplify discourses that have been pushed aside and ignored. In order to remain closely connected to the pulse of the community, the majority of the content will be generated through submissions by community members.
Work featured in Amplifx will range from a variety of written to visual forms. People are encouraged to submit poetry, creative writing, opinion pieces, letters to the editors, investigative journalism, artwork, photography, poetry, short fiction and non-fiction, graphic design or anything else printable. Amplifx is funded by Campus Progress, which is backed by the Center for American Progress.
If you want more information, have a concern to voice, or just want to submit something you’ve written or created that pertains to a progressive issue, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@amplifx.org. The Amplifx staff hopes you will capitalize on this opportunity to get involved with our community and plug into progress.