AFL-CIO to Launch "Turn Around America" Online Video Competition

Media Advisory for Thurs., Apr. 10
Contact: Alison Omens 202-637-5018

AFL-CIO to Launch Turn Around America Online Video Competition
Contest to Run Nationally and in a Dozen Cities
www.turnaroundvideocontest.com

On Thursday, April 10, the AFL-CIO will launch its first-ever online
video  contest - - the Turn Around America online video competition - -
with  national winners as well as city and youth winners. The contest is
the kick  off of a national AFL-CIO initiative to “Turn Around
America” which will go  through the summer and culminate with massive
rallies around economic  issues. Participants will be invited to submit
online videos in any creative  form that will answer the question of how
to turn around America. The  contest will run April 10 through May 20.
Winners will be announced in  early June. 

"Working families are excited and ready to turn around America,” said
AFL- CIO Exec. Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. “The video contest
will engage  people in a new way that will channel creativity and energy
into a national  discussion on what is necessary to get America back on
track."

The national winner will receive $2,000 and the chance for the video to
run  on TV stations.  City winners will win $1,000 and may be featured
at AFL-CIO  rallies and on local television. A “young activist”
category will also be  awarded to the best video made by someone between
the ages of 14 and 25.  Judges will represent the arts and music
industry as well as Americans  working to “turn around America,”
including retired steelworker Steve Skvara  who famously asked
presidential candidates in Chicago last August, “What’s  wrong with
America and what will you do to change it?”

Winners will be announced in Philadelphia, Pa.; Pittsburgh, Pa.;

Columbus,  Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Denver, Colo.;
Detroit, Mich.;  Portland, Ore.; Maine; New Hampshire; St.
Paul/Minneapolis/Rochester, Minn.;  St. Louis, Mo. and Chicago, Ill.

The contest can be accessed at www.turnaroundvideocontest.com.

What:    Turn Around America Video Contest
When:    Competition Launches on Thursday, April 10 and runs 
                through May 20
Where:   www.turnaroundvideocontest.com

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