There’s a new Kickstarter campaign that launched today for Something Better Change, a documentary about legendary band D.O.A., and Joe Keithley. The film will cover Keithley’s political pursuits which led to a campaign victory in 2018 in his hometown of Burnaby, and filmmakers will also follow him as he enters into the next election for his city councillor seat in 2022.

D.O.A./Joe Keithley Documentary Kickstarter

“I am always attracted to a good underdog story,” says Something Better Change director Scott Crawford. “Not only have I been a longtime fan of D.O.A., but Keithley’s David versus Goliath story of affecting change from within the political ecosystem is one that I think will resonate with audiences—especially given our current political climate.”

As an elected official, Joe Keithley continues to carry on the same battles and ideals he has always stood for in D.O.A.: the fight against racism, the fight for new climate-change policies and women’s rights issues.

While in office, Keithley has worked hard on securing affordable housing, daycare, helping the most vulnerable citizens in his hometown.

Directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Scott Crawford (Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC and CREEM: America’s Only Rock’n’Roll Magazine) and produced by Paul Rachman (director, American Hardcore, co-founder of Slamdance Film Festival) they’ve got a great team in place to share the story with the world.

Some of the Kickstarter pledge rewards include autographed LPs (by Joe Keithley), guitars, t-shirts, hoodies, patches and more. At the time of publishing the campaign was at $7,749 of the $37,855 goal.

The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV. The following post has been contributed by their team:

Looking Back with Gratitude

Looking back on 2020 it was a year with new and unique challenges, and these have been devastating times for so many youth in our community. 

But at Covenant House Vancouver we knew we were never alone and that our community was by our side. 

While CHV continues the fight to end youth homelessness, know we are so grateful to have the friendship of dedicated supporters, who walk alongside these vulnerable and courageous youth in their journeys to overcoming homelessness. 

The Covenant House Family has come together in the video below to show you our gratitude.

In the spring of 2020, the Vancouver Mural Festival (“VMF”) brightened streets and inspired hope with over sixty murals on boarded up storefronts for #MakeArtWhileApart. Then in the summer, VMF expanded beyond Mount Pleasant again to reach nine neighbourhoods, connecting people through public art at a time we were all apart.

This season, VMF Winter Arts will blur the line between the real and virtual world. Public space across Vancouver’s core will be transformed into an interactive, open-air gallery art (via Augmented Reality) by local and international artists. 

Vancouver Mural Festival Winter Arts

When: February 12 to 28, 2021
Where: Downtown Vancouver and East Van (View Map)

Winter Arts will feature international artists from Vienna, Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh, Dallas and 10 local artists from Vancouver, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh. BIPOC artists and curators make up over 50% of the 2021 roster.

“More than ever, we’ve seen the positive impact that public art and public space brings to communities. This has driven us to harness technology in a way which demonstrates the transformative power of art in our cities. Until we can reconvene, we will continue creating live experiences in public. We really hope this experiment brings joy and inspiration to everyone downtown and beyond.” – Andrea Curtis, VMF Executive Director (Interim)

With the help of VMF’s mobile app (available to download for free from the App Store and Google Play), Vancouverites can safely explore the city and find all AR locations while following COVID protocol. Alternatively, downloadable maps can be found on the VMF Winter Arts website.

When you’re near a Winter Arts installation, open the camera on your phone and hold it over the unique QR code found at that location. Select Instagram or Facebook, and watch the magic happen!

It’s the first-ever Win a BMW raffle in BC, and there’s only just over a week left to get tickets! You can enter to win a luxurious BMW 228i Gran Coupe — including your first year of automobile insurance courtesy of All West Insurance — from Brian Jessel BMW and Chabad Lubavitch BC.

Win a BMW Raffle for a Cause

Tickets: Available online now! 3-Ticket Pack $135; 5-Ticket Pack $180 (single tickets sold out). Final deadline 4:00pm, Sunday, January 31, 2021. The draw takes place at 6:00pm the same day.

By purchasing a Win a BMW ticket, you directly enable Chabad Lubavitch to enrich and positively impact countless families across BC who have and are being negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be dedicated to outreach, education, food, and helping the those in need. So far in 2020, Chabad Lubavitch has distributed over 2,000 food packages to vulnerable BC residents during COVID-19 and are planning their next winter camp for children in need of social support.

View full rules of play online and get your tickets before January 31 to enter to win!

Ensemble Theatre Company presents Us: A Black Peoples Month Festival, January 28 to February 25, 2021, as part of their commitment to anti-racism. Curated by Black artists Adrian Neblett and Mariam Barry, the free, all access festival features theatre, films, podcasts and staged readings from the diaspora.

Us: A Black Peoples Month Festival

When: January 28 to February 25, 2021, new releases on Thursdays
Where: Online via Ensemble Theatre
Tickets: Free to access through individual show pages, no tickets needed. Donations are optional.

“The theme of the festival is Belonging – a soft reminder that all black voices belong to the black community (queer voices, African voices, Afro-Caribbean voices, immigrant voices, refugee voices, female voices, biracial voices, etc.), and that Black folks belong in this world despite white supremacy’s aim to erase us.”

Program

3 Part Disharmony – a filmed play
Written by L. Trey Wilson, Directed by Omari Newton
Starting January 28th: Three disparate views on what is potentially the worst day in a black male’s life: a police encounter. In this socially relevant piece by playwright L. Trey Wilson, three black men wrestle with the question of how to survive.

BLKS – podcast
Written by Aziza Barnes
Starting February 4th: Black female friendships take centre stage in this coming of age play by Aziza Barnes. From queer love and entanglements to the pressures of adulting, BLKS is a laugh out loud comedy, and a toast to the sistas who hold you down. 

The Poet & The Patrician: Baldwin vs Buckley – podcast
Starting February 11th: The Poet & The Patrician: Baldwin vs Buckley is an audio recreation of the historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr. Listen to Baldwin (Adrian Neblett) and Buckley (Tariq Leslie) go head to head in this charged debate from February 18th 1965, in Cambridge, England, which is clearly still relevant today, 65 years after the event.

Legacy – short film
Written by Mariam Barry
Starting February 18th: Legacy is an international independent film created by Mariam Barry. Based on real events, Legacy explores the migrant crisis through the lens of modern African youth. Set between Norway and The Gambia, an African boy takes the backway route to Europe. As he journeys North, the consequences of his choices are felt across the ocean.  Legacy was filmed in collaboration with Iris Studios, a video production team founded by youth artists in The Gambia. In this cross-continental project Mariam pays homage to her African heritage as a biracial artist of Gambian and Norwegian descent.

Film Festival: A Drive-In Experience
Starting February 25th: Featuring local and international work, Us Film Festival is a celebration of Black talent from around the world.

The illustrations for the festival were created by Annabelle Irakiza.