Hannah Hammond-Hagman is an artist residing in Valparaiso after years on the East and West coasts. In her work over the past twenty years in arts education and arts and cultural non-profits, she has had the privilege to work with students from kindergarten to college age in the classroom and out in the community. She remains committed to producing and designing creative curriculum and events that promote creative economic development and placemaking from the neighborhood level to the state level. She believes in the power of the arts to transform lives and communities, and nourishes this in her pedagogical practice, her studio practice, and her personal life.
Hannah earned her Masters of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA from Indiana University, Bloomington.
"I'm thrilled to become a part of the amazing work LCA does," states Hammond-Hagman, "and I am deeply committed to continuing to build upon our foundation of creative community outreach and educational programming. My prior experience as a teaching artist with LCA taught me first-hand the level of excellence and breadth of programming provided, and I am dedicated to upholding and expanding the work we do with our various community partners in our school programs, community events, and our classes and workshops. I am specifically invested in broadening our programming for families and teens with new interpretive programs and initiatives. I feel very welcome, and I am so grateful for this opportunity to do the work I love."
The LCA has provided arts experiences for the public, enhancing education, economic development, and quality of life throughout the region for more than 35 years. Adjacent to Michigan City's lakefront, the LCA welcomes members and guests to experience art through an eclectic mix of exhibitions, classes, cultural performances, and memorable after-hours events. In addition to a full schedule of contemporary art exhibitions, the LCA is home to permanent and outdoor art collections along with a Gallery Shop featuring hand-crafted artisan items.
The 2017 Rotary Club of Michigan City Foundation Scholarship winners are:
Rhiggs Thomas – $2000 School: Michigan City High School Parents: Tom & Stephanie Thomas Clubs/Service: Varsity Soccer – 4 years, 2 years Captain; NASA CELERI research project winner – one of two from Indiana selected for NASA’s experiment; Mathletes – tied for state leading scorer 2015/2016; Quiz Bowl Team (helping the team achieve two state berths in the past two years); Tutor; CISV President – Michigan City Lakeshore Junior Board, and CISV Volunteer Activities Leader College: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana – Major: Aerospace Engineering
Jenna Szaday - $2,000 School: Marquette Catholic High School Parents: Alicia & Josef Szaday Clubs/Service: National Honor Society-president, Science Olympiad, International Student Advisory Committee, Varsity Cheerleader, two gold Presidential Service Awards, Drama Club-president, Academic Quiz Bowl, LRCA Children’s Adventure Camp Staff Leader, Reins of Life Volunteer College: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana – Major: Psychology
Sarah Smith – $1,000 School: Michigan City High School Parents: Nancy & Tim Smith Clubs/Service: Student Council President; Class of 2017 Vice President; Editor in Chief Cityzen Newspaper; Varsity Swim Captain; Varsity Soccer Captain College: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana – Major: International Studies
Emma Zaknoun – $1,000 School: Michigan City High School Parents: Rana Hannoun; John Zaknoun Clubs/Service: National Honor Society; Foreign Language National Honor Society; French Club – President; LaPorte County Leadership Program – Leader; Volleyball Team – Captain College: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana - Major: Psychiatry
Congratulations to the winners and their families.
The following letter was sent to District 6540 Governor Rtn Ranjan Kini regarding our joint project with the Schererville club:
Greetings from Rotary Club Chikmagalur !
We are very happy to inform you that the Global Grant Project of our Club for the upgradation of our Rotary Eye Hospital, taken up by your invaluable support and guidance is going to be fully implemented shortly.
The entire Grant amount was credited to our Global Grant Bank account recently. Immediately, we had placed the orders with the various vendors. The Equipment have arrived and are currently being installed.
In this regards, we are having the Inauguration program on 22nd of June 2017 at Rotary Eye Hospital, Jeevan Sandhya Premises, Chikmagalur.
Our District Governor Rtn Ravi would be inaugurating the new equipment and soon after that they all would be available for the service of the needy people of Chikmagalur and surrounding villages and towns.
As the Rotary year was coming to and end in June, we wanted to complete the project implementation in this Rotary year itself. That has been made possible by your kind support. We invite you goodselves to visit us at anytime when you are next in India or even you can schedule a trip for the visit. It would be our proud privilege to take you to the facility whenever you are here.
I have herewith attached the invitation of the Program. With all your wishes and support the program should go on well and moreover, lots and lots of needy people should be benefitted by the latest ophthalmic equipment which have just come-in with all your support.
Kindly convey our good wishes to your team and the President and members of Schererville and the President and members of Michigan City Club.
Hoping to have continued support and co-operation from you and your Rotary friends in the coming years too.
Thanking you Your's in Rotary
Rtn M S Sudhir President, RC Chikmagalur +91 9844263663
With polio on the brink of eradication, nations from around the world and key donors pledged more than $1 billion on Monday to energize the global fight to end the paralyzing disease.
Bill Gates, co-chair of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and RI President John Germ share the recent news about their partnership in the fight to eradicate polio.
The historic pledges of new funds at the Rotary Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, will go toward drastically shrinking the $1.5 billion gap in the funding that the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative say is needed to reduce polio cases to zero worldwide. Just five cases have been reported this year, the lowest number in history.
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said ending polio would be one of the world’s greatest achievements.
"Polio is the thing I spend the most time on. Everyday I look at my email to see if we have a new case," Gates said. "I'm very inspired to be part of this. I'm also very humbled."
Rotary International President John F. Germ announced that Rotary would increase its commitment and raise $50 million per year over the next three years. Rotary has raised more than $1.7 billion to fight the disease since 1985.
“Right now, every time a new case is identified, it really could be the last one the world ever sees,” Germ said.
Gates told the crowd of nearly 24,000 that, starting 1 July, his foundation will extend its 2-to-1 match to cover up to $50 million in donations to Rotary for each of the next three years. The match and donations to Rotary would add up to $150 million per year over the next three years, which will add up to $450 million to the fight.
The new funding will go toward polio eradication efforts such as disease surveillance, responses to any outbreaks, and the vaccination of more than 400 million children annually.
Actor and philanthropist Ashton Kutcher and Rotary addressed a major human rights issue at the convention: human trafficking and modern-day slavery. U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee discussed the legislative framework that allows traffickers to thrive in plain sight.
Kutcher, who rose to fame in the early 2000s with a series of hit film and television roles, is co-founder of Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, an organization that combats human trafficking and the conditions that enable it. Trafficking in humans takes many forms but includes forced labor and sex slavery. It is among the world’s largest illicit trades, with many of the transactions happening online.
“As a young man coming up in the public school system in the United States, I thought slavery was done, a thing of the past," Kutcher said. "When I realized this was happening – happening even right here in Atlanta, a hotbed for trafficking as a travel hub – I was floored, and set out to learn as much as I could about it.”
Thorn specifically works to address sexual exploitation and the proliferation of child pornography online. By exploring and supporting new digital strategies for identifying victims, deterring predators, and disrupting platforms, Thorn helps lead the global conversation on trafficking – a conversation that’s continuing at Rotary’s annual convention.
More than 40,000 people, including Rotary members, partners, and friends from 175 countries and territories, have gathered in Atlanta this week to exchange ideas on how they can work together to improve lives in their communities.
Kutcher joined other prominent voices for a panel discussion on trafficking and how communities can combat it. Gary Haugen spoke about his work as CEO of International Justice Mission, a nonprofit that aims to strengthen local law enforcement and support survivors of trafficking.
Also at the panel, U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee discussed the legislative framework that allows traffickers to thrive in plain sight, and survivor Rebecca Bender offered moving testimony about the abuse she endured in the United States.
Recognizing the role that vast global networks like Rotary play in sustainable social change, Kutcher encouraged attendees to join the fight.
“There’s an inbound pipeline to trafficking," Kutcher said, "and that is vulnerability and poverty,” two issues that Rotary addresses through humanitarian projects and partnerships. Kutcher cited the example of the foster care system in the U.S. “Kids going into this system don’t have someone in their lives that loves them, which makes them vulnerable to someone who reaches out and shows them that attention. That’s how traffickers get in.”
Haugen pointed out that Rotary is already connecting with vulnerable groups, building relationships, and improving lives.
“What’s clear is this issue is everywhere around the world,” Haugen said. “There are survivors like Rebecca back home in your neighborhood and your country. Educate, serve survivors, and encourage local law enforcement, and Rotary can change this in our lifetimes.”
Click below to enter a tax deductible donation to the Rotary Club of Michigan City Foundation to help us provide Service Above Self for our community and world.
Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Education Director
Actor and philanthropist Ashton Kutcher and Rotary addressed a major human rights issue at the convention: human trafficking and modern-day slavery. U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee discussed the legislative framework that allows traffickers to thrive in plain sight.
