The staff and Board of Gandhi Brigade want to express our heartfelt gratitude for the community’s outpouring of kind words, support and loving tributes to our Founder and Executive Director, Richard Jaeggi. We are reeling from this loss as we continue the work of planning our 7th annual Youth Media Festival (YMF) in addition to our other programs. Gandhi Brigade was Richard’s vision and he was able to touch so many lives during the process of creating and developing the organization.

Many have asked how they could support us during this time. Over the years, our organization has had the good fortune to collaborate with other youth-serving organizations, including those who share Gandhi Brigade’s mission to help young people realize their inner and collective power to become the champions of the common good. As we move forward in organizing this year’s Youth Media Festival, we will are grateful for the partnerships we have built and the love and generosity of the community around us.

The Just Us Youth Media Festival is a mere four days away and it was Richard’s hope that the event would be well attended and a source of fun and inspiration for all. At the Festival, we will be celebrating Richard’s, legacy, all the while honoring the great media work of the young people who submitted videos, photographs, and both visual art and performance art projects.

There are many ways that the Gandhi Brigade community can help us achieve Richard’s hopes and honor his life.

1. Come to the Youth Media Festival! The event begins at noon on Saturday, May 31st at the Silver Spring Civic Building. There will be interactive workshops, media exhibitions, and fun for all!

2. Tell everyone you know about YMF! Please share the event on your social media, list serves and email distribution lists and post the flyer on community boards in places that you frequent.

3. Volunteer to help out at YMF on the day of the event and sign up for in-time contributions to share your expertise with Gandhi Brigade as we chart our course forward.

4. Donate to Gandhi Brigade at www.gandhibrigade.org/ so that Richard’s work can continue.

Words cannot convey how much each kind word, Facebook comment and real-live hug has meant to both Richard’s family and to the Gandhi Brigade family.

Valerie J. Graham
Program Director