CMAP To Move into State-of-the-Art Community Media Center at CHS: Grand Opening on March 7th, 5-8pm

(Gilroy, CA) To celebrate a decade of serving the community, CMAP TV launches their state-of-the-art multimedia studio and training facilities at Christopher High School.

On March 7th, 2013, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting begins at 5pm with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, featuring live music, door prizes, cultural dances, and tours of the new facilities. Visitors can find CMAP’s new digs by driving around the back of the school, located at 850 Day Road in Gilroy. Parking is available next to the public pool complex.

“Ten years ago, we were founded by local entities to operate the public, educational and government access television station for the residents of Gilroy, San Juan Bautista and Hollister. Due to YouTube and other online video distribution methods, access to the media tools to create community stories has drastically changed,” said Kathy Bisbee, executive director at CMAP. She added that users can now receive high-level training, a brand new professional studio, and HD equipment to create quality videos at CMAP to put on YouTube or on the web, and submit their content to CMAP’s cable and online channels.

CMAP now operates more as a business model rather than a non-profit, with a new mission that “facilitates a community dialogue through media training and production, civic engagement, and access to media and technology tools.”  

CMAP will offer commercial video production services, and job training programs that help youth and adults keep their own media and tech skills relevant in today’s job market. The organization not only provides classes on high end video production, digital storytelling, citizen journalism, and creating online videos, it simultaneously streams all of its locally-produced content live, on the cable channels and online at www.cmap.tv.

Services at the CHS location will be available to students as well as to all residents of Gilroy, and San Benito County. Morgan Hill and non-local residents can use the facilities for a nominal fee. CMAP will provide low-cost digital media afterschool program for all GUSD students, discounted memberships for students and staff, coverage of CHS/GHS football and softball games, and selected swim meets, and offer community service volunteer hours for students.

“CMAP’s core value is to address the media and information needs of our community. This collaboration with Christopher High School and the Gilroy Unified School District is a perfect opportunity to merge digital literacy and job training programs with volunteerism, local educational goals, and access to news and information.” said Kathy Bisbee, executive director at CMAP. Content from students will air on CMAP’s channel 18 on Charter cable, and online at www.cmap.tv. Later this year AT&T will also cablecast CMAP’s channels over their U-Verse service.

CMAP hopes that students will create everything from videos for their bands, news segments about the school and their community, PSAs to influence their peers on social issues, for classroom projects, video resumes, and that student clubs will use the media center to get the word out to the community, and provide video coverage of their events.

Support for the new media center was provided through a generous donation from Don and Karen Christopher, and thanks to the support of hundreds of community members who have volunteered and become CMAP members over the past ten years. The organization will hold fundraisers to operate the CHS facilities, and provide fee-based video production services for local businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

CMAP’s new facilities at Christopher High School will be open to students and to the public on Wednesdays-Fridays, 12-8pm; and Saturdays 12-5pm. Parking is located behind the school, next to the public pool complex. To RSVP for the Grand Opening event, to volunteer at CMAP, or to sign up for an orientation or a class, visit www.cmap.tv, call 408.722.9144 or email info@cmap.tv.