Focus on Winsted

WINSTED — Armed with video cameras and microphones, fifth- through eighth-graders hit the streets this week to capture what they love about Winsted — or something they think needs attention. As part of Focus on Winsted, a summer program put on by the Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest, the young filmmakers will produce short spots for Channel 13 that focus on community in town.

“The goal is to get students thinking civically about Winsted,†said Ben Drendel, a community organizer with the Nader Trust. “Maybe littering is a problem they identify. So we’ll make a film about it, a public service announcement to be aired on Channel 13.â€

Students will spend Monday and Thursday afternoons at the television station learning to use the equipment and edit their videos. They will also spend time in town, shooting on location.

Drendel said about five students have signed up for the program and that he had four high schoolers to help out. Focus on Winsted runs through July 23.

Another program, Paint the Town, starts up Aug. 3. In Paint the Town, students will use art to express their civic spirit. Merchants along Main Street have agreed to post the finished products in their windows. Local artists will help guide the creative process.

Drendel has been working with the trust for four months and has plans for the next year. He hopes to hold a lecture series in the fall and spring.

“The goal of the lecture series will be to spark community involvement and inspire people to do something with what they hear at the lecture,†he said.

Drendel said he also has plans to be involved with the schools.

“One thing we really want to do is a get out the vote drive and get students to register voters,†he said. “We want to do things to help increase voter turn out and get people to the polls.â€

The workshops cost $5. For more information, to register or to become a high school volunteer for Paint the Town, contact Drendel at 860-738-3138 or bfdrendel@gmail.com. Registration will be accepted until the first meeting on Aug. 3.

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