I Am

This July, The Denver Public Library's Office of Arts, Letters and Adult Education, Fresh City Life, will invite children and adults of the city of Denver to tell the world who they are during this historic election year by asking them to finish the sentence "I am" and record these responses on videotape. Inspired by Jesse Jackson's famous call and response oratory, I Am - Somebody, the final cinematic draft of this project entitled I Am - The Library will feature the faces and voices of the people of the city of Denver, the voice of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, original music by composer and multi-instrumentalist David Amram and video and photographic images by the Denver based production company Lockerpartners and photographer Ashley Vaughan. The responses will also be used for the lyrics of a new children's chorus and jazz chamber orchestra, I Am, composed by David Amram. Both will premiere on the eve of the 2008 Democratic National Convention at Outside of Convention, a special event featuring Jackson, Amram, political writer John Nichols, musicians and singers from the city of Denver and special surprise guests, co-sponsored by The Nation and Rocky Mountain PBS.

Attend one of the following events below and stop by our Fresh City Life booth to share and record your response to the phrase "I am…" or contact Dr. Audrey Sprenger at asprenger@denverlibrary.org for for more information on how to lend your face and voice to this diary. Deadline for participation is July 30.

Rocky Mountain PBS Kids Fun Fest

Saturday, July 19, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
1089 Bannock St.

It's the biggest free party for kids in Denver! Join in the fun with a bounce house, water slide and climbing wall and visit with your favorite PBS characters like Clifford, Word Girl, Super Why! and Big Green Rabbit.  Great food, fun games, music, magic and science. This summer tradition continues to grow every year – don’t miss out!

Special Presentation: The Wizard of Oz, 1939

Sunday, July 20, 2 - 4 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center

See the gorgeous Technicolor classic on a big screen. "The Wizard of Oz fills such a large space in our imagination. It somehow seems real and important in a way most movies don't. Is that because we see it first when we're young? Or simply because it is a wonderful movie? Or, because it sounds some buried universal note, some archetype or deeply felt myth?" Find out when Fresh City Life presents this silver screen masterpiece. – Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun Times. 101 min. Rated G.

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A sign language interpreter will be provided upon request with five business days notice. Call 720-913-8484 TTY or contact Lorrie.Kosinski@ci.denver.co.us.