Student Debt Crisis Video Challenge
Dear Friends and Supporters:
The movement has just begun!
ForgiveStudentLoanDebt is re-branding as “Student Debt Crisis” to reflect the fact that the reforms we seek are not limited to just forgiveness of loans, but a whole host of other steps that chip away at the status quo.
As you know, we’ve already delivered more than ONE MILLION signatures in support of H.R. 4170, The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012, to Rep. Hansen Clarke who, in turn, delivered them to Chairman John Kline of the House Education and Workforce Committee.
Two weeks later, we trended nationally on Twitter, using the hashtag #ListenToTheMillion, targeting every member of the Education Committee.
We’ve sent letters, emails and tweets, and we’ve personally visited Congressional Offices, placed phone calls and done everything in our power to make some noise. Now, it’s on to the next project. . .
I’m writing today to ask each of you to participate in our very first video submission contest wherein we’re asking you to create your own short video that we can use to spread our message in favor of fundamental reforms to the way in which higher education is paid for in this country.
To participate, please follow these instructions:
1. Record your own video focusing on your own student debt experience:
Please use the phrases “I majored in Debt” or “Listen to the Million,” depending on your message.
Explain how much you borrowed to go to school vs. how much you now owe.
Tell the world about your employment situation and how you’d probably be better off financially had you never gone to school at all.
Be yourself, use humor or gut-wrenching honesty, but make it powerful so that we can put human faces on the crisis.
2. Upload your video to YouTube, or Vimeo, then grab the embed code for your video;
3. Click here to go to the video submission page (don’t worry: instructions are listed there, too);
4. Copy and paste the embed code for your video from YouTube or Vimeo to the video submission form at the bottom of this page. Please submit no later than August 31, 2012.
That’s it!
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and participation. Without you, this budding movement would never have gotten off the ground! Let’s keep the momentum going!
Sincerely,
Robert Applebaum
Founder, StudentDebtCrisis.com (formerly ForgiveStudentLoanDebt.com)
Follow us on twitter: @DebtCrisisOrg
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StudentDebtCrisis1
Category: CAMPAIGNS
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I have a daughter who has accumulated over $30,000 in student loan debt. She has an associates degree and has not been able to get more than a part time job, has been laid off several times, etc., etc. Something needs to be done. The interest keeps accumulating and she is not making enough to pay her bills, support her family as a single mother, and pay her loan debt. It has caused her to be depressed when the phone keeps ringing for repayment and there is nothing to repay with!
I agree. I graduated this week with a Master’s and I can’t get a job. I owe $130,000 and the loan company is calling for their money. I keep explaining I don’t have a job or money to pay the rent, car, or any other bill. They offered to defer for 3 months, if I pay them $150 now. If I had $150, I would not be behind. I am 42 years old and scared silly. I was an Admin Asst 3 and decided I needed a college degree. Now I can’t get a job with a Master’s degree. The sad part, I own nothing. The most expensive thing I have is two sheets of paper. I will never own a house. Where is my American Dream?? I think someone else is enjoying my piece of the pie.
I went back to school to try to get a better job at 49 years old. I have $63,000. in student loan debt and can’t find a job after a year and a half of looking. I am 56 yrs old now and need to get a job to start paying off loan debt, as well as try to start a retirement savings. I am a single mom with an autistic son to care for. I get so depressed some days all I think about is wishing I would die.But my son needs me. Life is miserable and I fight depression every day. I don’t want to lose our little town home, but lost all my equity which I once had in it due to the current recession. I don’t know how I am going to live and handle this situation. I raised 2 kids alone with no help working as a realtor and never made enough to save any money. Now this. God help me, please. I need to find good work with good pay.