Happy 40th Anniversary AML!

On Sunday April 28, 2019, the Association for Media Literacy celebrated its 40th anniversary with a social at Hart House. Technically, 2018 was the 40th anniversary, but as someone who threw my mother a 75th birthday party when she turned 76, this still works. Sometimes it takes a whole year to get it ready!

What's a party without a cake? Happy anniversary AML!

I am relatively new to the organization, only having joined the board as one of the executive directors last year. I felt very privileged to be surrounded by some of the top "media minds"; many of these individuals I had only heard of via their reputation, their accomplishments admired by my own "media mentors".

View of the Hart House Music room

There were just a few speeches. Neil Andersen, current AML president, made the introductory remarks. Carolyn Wilson, one of the former AML presidents, spoke about the history and importance of the organization. Chelsea Attwell, Michelle Solomon, and I were asked to speak about the future of AML, and Carol Arcus, current vice-president of AML, concluded the event with a call to action.

Neil Andersen addresses the attendees

Michelle, Diana, and Chelsea speak as one

Chelsea, Michelle and I created a "spoken word poem/speech". This is what we said:

All: We are the face of AML today. We are

M: Michelle

C: Chelsea

D: Diana

All: And we have been part of the AML executive

M: since 2011

C: since 2011

D: since 2018

All: We are busy educators

M: teaching library at Northern Secondary

C: teaching kindergarteners at HJ Alexander CS

D: teaching library and media at Agnes Macphail Public School

All: With busy lives as people and parents

M: to two pre-teens

C: to one pre-schooler

D: to two older teens

All: But we make the time for AML because

MC: this work is important

CD: and it still matters

DM: every day

MC: in our schools and in our lives

M: It matters because the key concepts of media literacy are the foundations of critical thinking both for me and my students. Media literacy is, to quote Neil, “the most essential skill” in the 21st century. It affords us the possibility of being active participants in our heavily mediated culture, rather than passive observers. Our media literate students have more agency.

C: It matters because Media Literacy has reframed the way I think about teaching and learning. It brings excitement and challenges to my teaching. Media Literacy has also helped me on the road to teacher leadership. I will always be grateful for what I learned but mostly the guidance and mentoring that current and past members of the AML have provided.

D: It matters because media is all around us and awareness and critical thinking are key. The opportunity to talk with media-savvy educators at AML salons, or to consider thought-provoking concepts from the weekly podcasts on VoicEd Radio, or to discover great lesson idea prompts from the AML website are needed now more than ever. My students are examining stereotypes associated with hair and thinking about those Grammerly ads as part of their YouTube Club chats because they have a teacher who cares about, and knows about, media literacy. In classrooms bursting with demands to cover curriculum, media literacy covers life in ways that attract and engage students where they are at.

All: What is the future of AML?

M: It’s you.

C: It’s you.

D: It’s you.

All: It’s all of us.

M: In this room

C: In this city

D: In this province

All: Working together, in whatever ways we can

M: For resources

C: For support

D: For advocacy

All: Alongside AML, to make media learning a priority

Because if we won’t

M: Then

C: Who

D: Will?

Carol with a photo of Barry Duncan (RIP)

We tried to keep it short but to the point. I felt like a baby compared to all the media experts in the room, but as Carolyn said in her speech, AML is good about inviting people to the "table". Yes, there were people like John Pungente, SJ who is considered an international "Grandparent of Media Literacy" but there were also wonderful people like Michelle Girardin and Michilin NiThreasaigh, who are currently taking the Media AQ course. I was delighted to meet and speak with everyone I had the chance to interact with.

What I took away today: #medialiteracy matters more than ever! I was inspired today to meet so many past and current members of @A_M_L_ TY for the mentoring, teaching & learning @msolomonteacher @mediasee @arc3 @MzMollyTL #k12media pic.twitter.com/ID5GDphZsq

— Chelsea (@ccatwell) April 29, 2019

Thank you to everyone for all their work putting together this celebration, especially Nina Silver and Carol Arcus. Thank you to Chelsea Attwell for live-tweeting the event. Thank you to all the people that attended the anniversary. Special thanks to all of those who may have been inspired by Carol's words, to help AML out with your contacts and expertise. AML needs you.