How To Participate...


Beginning the Work
If you would like to join in discussions related to the Tales, please go to the Tales Blog.

Constitutional Tales also could use your help. We need talented people, funds and other resources, and collaborative relationships with like-minded organizations to move the project forward. Here is just a sampling of the ways in which you could participate. Please contact Ann McColl if you are interested in becoming a part of the project.


Talent
The Constitutional Tales project makes use of a wide range of skills and knowledge. So far, the project has relied on people generously contributing their talent. We are seeking funding to allow us to pay for some of these services. Graduate students are encouraged to consider a thesis or dissertation topic related to Constitutional Tales. Ann McColl has served on numerous dissertation committees as associate professor at UNC Charlotte and can work with students in defining and supervising their research.

Presentations:

• Actors
• Playwrights and directors
• Photographers
• Videoraphers

Development of the website for instructional purposes:

• Curriculum specialists (including familiarity with the NC Standard Course of Study)
• Web-based instructional designers
• Digital production specialists

Research and Publications:

• Researchers of law and history
• Manuscript reviewers
• Editors

Project Development:

• Writers and communication specialists
• Fundraisers, grant writers

Funding and Needed Resources

Constitutional Tales began as a project at the School of Government in 2007-2008. Since then, its only source of funds has been speaker fees for Constitutional Tales presentations. This is not nearly enough to move the project forward. Funding is needed for each element of Constitutional Tales –

1. presentations,
2. web site development for resources and interactive engagement, and
3. continued research and publication of the Tales in written form.

Constitutional Tales is a sponsored project of the nonprofit organization, RCWMS, and can accept tax-deductible donations. Click here to go to the donation page in order to make an online donation. To learn more about the Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South, go to our Collaborators page or their website. Please contact Ann McColl if you have questions about making donations.

Here are some of the specific funding needs:

Presentations

• costs related to continued development of the presentations, including photography, videography, graphic design, audio recordings with actors, and reproductions of original documents.
• costs for giving presentations to groups who cannot afford the speaker fees.
• equipment for delivering presentations, including overhead projector, speakers, and screen

Website

• Maintenance of website on server
• Digitizing documents and photographs
• Development of online curriculum for public schools and higher education
• Development of more resources and interaction on the website

Research and Publications

• Costs related to conducting research, including purchase of archival documents and photographs; and travel to libraries
• Costs for professional time for researching, writing, layout and design, and editing

Organizational Partnerships

The Constitutional Tales project actively seeks relationships with organizations that have a shared purpose, including nonprofit organizations, government agencies and higher education. For example, there may be a mutually beneficial relationship with your organization if it has any of the following as its goals:

• Producing scholarship on the North Carolina Constitution that meets rigorous academic standards while remaining accessible to a wide range of audiences
• Promoting dialogue and improved understanding of race relations in North Carolina
• Furthering the use of digitized primary sources in the teaching and learning of North Carolina history
• Using multimedia approaches and technology to engage audiences in significant issues related to our history, our constitution and our public schools
• Improving access to a wide range of resources to enable scholars, government officials, and the broader community to explore significant issues affecting North Carolina.

Constitutional Tales has already benefited from organizations relationships as described in Collaborators. Relationships could range from the Tales being a sponsored project for the purpose of seeking grant funding to an active partnership with shared resources and produced services. Please contact Ann McColl if you would like to explore relationships or know of other organizations that might be a good partner.