Videos take creative, edgy look at what's wrong with America and suggestions for change
www.turnaroundvideocontest.com

Today, the AFL-CIO announced the winners of the “Turn Around America” online video competition.

Winners include:

Grand Prize:   Michael Newman, 19, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Young Activist: Jean Carlo Penaloza, 22, Brandon, FL

The “Young Activist” was selected amongst participants ages 14-25.

Participants were asked to submit online videos in any form that answered the question of how to turn around America. Entries included poetry, original songs, cartoons and other creative formats. Michael Newman's grand prize winning video focused on the impact of the high price of fuel and the need to have more energy efficient automobiles. Jean Carlo Penaloza’s video, which is in Spanish and won the young activist award, focuses on how America draws in immigrants, who then find a nation of lost dreams, with high housing, food, and fuel prices.

Winning videos can be viewed online at the contest's website: www.turnaroundvideocontest.com.

Videos were reviewed by volunteer judges from the arts and music industry, as well as Americans working to “turn around America,” including retired steelworker Steve Skvara, who inspired the contest idea when he asked the presidential candidates a question at last summer's AFL-CIO presidential forum - “What's wrong with America and what will you do to change it?”

"Young people took up the union movement’s challenge to tell us not only why America isn't working the way it should, but also to give concrete ideas as to how this country can turn things around,” said AFL-CIO Exec. Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. “Our goal was to engage people in a new way that will channel creativity and energy into a national discussion on what is necessary to get America back on track. The winning videos are provocative and creative, and should do just that!”

The Grand Prize and Young Activist winners will each receive $2,000 and an edited version will be broadcast as part of a TV ad.

The video contest is part of a larger AFL-CIO initiative to “Turn Around America” which will run through the summer, featuring major events in battleground states to build grassroots momentum to elect leaders who will fight for health care, good jobs and an economy that works for all.

Contact: Alison Omens/Rachele Huennekens (202) 637-5018