The first annual telethon from the SMC, Speak Up, Somerville! SMC Fund, brought the best of the city’s creative community into the public eye, while raising much needed funds to keep operations rolling.

By Courtney Young

What can you do within a twelve-hour telethon? The Somerville Media Center sees no limits. With acts from performers ranging from cooking, fashion, comedy, story time, public information, live drawings, live music, and the Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers, and many, many more acts, the Somerville Media Center remained in full-swing for twelve hours on Sunday, June 10.

Speak Up, Somerville! SMC Fund, the first annual telethon from the SMC, has been in the works for many months. “We are fundraising for hyperlocal journalism, youth scholarship programs, and continued affordable access to media,” says Jesse Moos, president of the Board of Directors at the SMC. “We are supporting the mission of freedom of speech to the Somerville community at large, and encouraging membership here. 50-year-olds can come and make a radio show with a 4-year-old, be in a production, or work behind-the-scenes if they wish. Whatever they would like. That’s the initiative behind the SMC,” Moos states. “Creativity sees no limits.”

~Photos by Courtney Young

Brian Zipp, Executive Director of the SMC, Erica Jones, Director of Membership and Outreach, pop tirelessly in and out of rooms ensuring all performers receive the amount of support necessary to make the telethon as engaging and beneficial to the SMC as possible. “It’s important that people leave with a feeling of support and collaboration,” Jones says.

The telethon was a reflection of the diverse programming and outreach that the SMC does throughout the year. This event allowed the media center to further engage current relationships with those involved in the telecast, while also building new partnerships with performers, businesses and community organizations.

While some performers were represented, Jones and her team made efforts to sign up those who were not represented. “The message we wanted to portray was that SMC embraces and harnesses all sense and aspects of community, especially within our programming. We welcome the experimental, the educational, the bells and whistles and the simple,” Jones explains.

The electric assortment of performances will be online and on TV, in locations like the SMC’s Facebook page, Boston Free Radio, and somervillemediacenter.org so that performances can be shared with everyone.

The SMC thanks everyone who donated their time to make the day a success and they look forward to next year’s community building and spectacle for all to enjoy. For those who were not involved and that wish to be, the telethon was only the beginning of a year-long effort of fundraising.