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- EIN 27-1374945
- info@icmediacenter.org
- (773) 528-6854
- 2208 Washington Dr Northbrook IL 60062 USA
- www.icmediacenter.org
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- ICMediaCenter
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Arts & Culture, Arts, Culture & Humanities, Children & Youth, Education, Educational Services, Media & Communications, Youth Development Programs
Mission: To accelerate learning and close the achievement gap by using healthy tech habits and brain-body exercises as an antidote to sedentary learning The International Children’s Media Center (ICMC) is a nimble nonprofit with a big idea for 21st century learning: transforming the way children and youth use and engage electronic screens. In just ten years, the ICMC has created an astonishing range of arts, education and social justice programs that use neuroscience-based approaches to improve the lives of children in impoverished schools and inspire individuals who have experienced trauma. The Challenges of Digital Devices Children spend 1600+ hours a year with screens, making digital devices the most influential forces in their lives. Yet thousands of studies detail screen-related dangers including ADD/ADHD, literacy loss, bullying and depression. In ICMC programs these concerns are resolved by “priming” young minds and hearts for optimal outcomes before turning on digital devices. The results are exponential gains in empathy and learning.
Results: The Screen Smart® Approach – Be the Change in 21st Century Learning Instead of focusing on “what, when and how much” media children watch, the ICMC focuses on how youth engage and use screens. This evidence-based approach activates “human technology” to boost literacy, emotional intelligence and academic success. Screen Smart programs train children and adults to be self-aware and intentional during tech use. By making healthy tech habits fun and easy-to-learn, we can stop screen addiction before it starts. We have reached more than 500,000 children and youth, boosting literacy, empathy and self-regulation
Target demographics: accelerate learning and close the achievement gap by teaching healthy tech habits, brain-body movements and arts engagement in early childhood under-resourced schools
Direct beneficiaries per year: 6000 children, 800 traumatized youth, and 360 individuals in custody, as well as 220 teachers
Geographic areas served: Chicago, New York, California and Florida, soon expanding to national programming in schools, detention and community centers, libraries, arts centers and theaters
Programs: Workshops, festivals and educational programs that model “whole brain” techniques for engaging electronic screens and ensure access to top tier, culturally diverse media. 1. Screen Smart® is a 12-week accelerative learning program that closes the achievement gap for at-risk children by improving literacy, SEL and self-regulation in just half an hour once a week. This child-centered approach helps kids build “media filters” and gives parents new ways to interact with their children around screens at home. 2. ICFilmFest – The ICMC takes festivals “where no festival has gone before” with programs of award-winning international and multi-cultural films. The ICFilmFest introduces families to global culture and opens their minds to new perspectives, defusing racial, gender and religious bias. 3. Global Girls, Women’s View & WorldScene – These therapeutic arts residency programs boost prosocial behaviors, reduce aggression and serve as job training for marginalized and abused youth in detention centers, jails and homeless shelters. Using the ICMC’s inclusive approaches, the young people curate a festival and make their own films. 4. THE UPSIDE OF DIGITAL DEVICES– How to Make Your Child More Screen Smart®, Literate and Emotionally Intelligent. Published in May, 2018 by HCI Books), UPSIDE received the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval. 5. Instant RECESS! and Mindful Viewing® Workshops, Keynotes Seminars - ICMC workshops for teachers, parents, pediatricians, corporations have been presented at hundreds of conferences, including NAEYC, NCEA, the Novus Summit at the UN, TEDx Chicago and EY’s Disruptive Technologies Conference.