I was a youth participant from 2015-2017 and grew immensely as a person and creative from my participation. The main takeaway I still heed today is the importance of creating unbiased media and how that helps move social justice movements forward instead of harming them. Additionally, due to the success of our summer documentary, I traveled to multiple places for film festivals to accept awards. Overall I am extremely grateful to have participated in Action Youth Media and I wish thaat all young people had this opportunity!
My friend works here and has told me how Action Youth Media served hundreds of youth last year alone. As a professional in the media industry, I'm cheering this organization's commitment to elevating the voices of underrepresented communities.
It's so moving to see an organization that is working to provide skills and support to kids and teens who might not have access to it otherwise, and with teachers and mentors who have active experience in their fields. This kind of program would have been life-changing for me at that age, and I'm so glad it's here now.
AYM is a long-serving organization that is a pillar of expression and first-person communication for young people in Maryland. With its committed leadership and enthusiastic students, AYM is a vital service that will help kids who want to become professional visual storyteller and those who just want to be sophisticated consumers of our world, which is becoming more visual every day.
Action Youth Media is a fantastic organization that not only fosters an opportunity for self-expression through film, but also equips young people with valuable skills. They create a space for collaboration, allowing youth to connect with other youth they may never have met. This organization enhances their creativity but also builds confidence and teamwork that are essential for future employment.
As someone who deeply understands how media shapes the ways we view our world, I deeply appreciate what Action Youth Media is doing. It's so important that future media professionals come from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds.
I worked with AYM back in the early days and can't say enough wonderful things about the heart and spirit at the core of the organization. It was powerful to see the impact on the group of students--how when given the tools, autonomy and voice they really became impassioned members of their communities. It is so rare these days to have environments where youth truly feel listened to and supported by adults.
I worked with Action Youth Media as an instructor earlier this year and was blown away by this scrappy non-profit: they do so much with so little. They truly stretch each dollar and resource for the benefit of their students AND they do so while honoring their staff and contractors. I hope to work with them again and I have formed strong bonds with my students and several staff members.
Gandhi Brigade has given me the opportunity to have a leadership role in nonprofit development, which I knew nothing about 3 months ago. I've become an integral part of lifting the Youth Media Festival off the ground, having coordinated the donations of $2,000 in free food, discounted products, and services for the Youth Media Festival (and counting). Several weeks ago, I applied for a Development Intern position with a very well-known nonprofit, Casa de Maryland. I've just completed my first week, and have already used connections I developed the past 3 months. Who knows, Gandhi Brigade might have helped establish my career path.
Since I began serving on the board, I have assisted Gandhi Brigade (GB) in the organization of their Freedom School each week. Through this experience, I've been able to connect, learn and grow with an amazing group of young people and a highly motivated staff. Not only do I feel more encouraged and energized each time I set foot in their space, but I also feel blessed to serve a group so dedicated to social justice and legitimate change.