Urban Arts Partnership (http://www.urbanarts.org/) serves students in Title I (high-poverty) public schools across all five boroughs of New York City. Of the 1.3 million students in the NYC public school system, nearly 15% drop out, only roughly 60% go on to eventually graduate, and within this pool, multiple studies and personal accounts suggest that graduates are not prepared for the rigors of post-secondary education and competitive career paths. The MediaLab program provides advanced media training to low-income high school students from districts across New York City. In addition to having little opportunity to receive this kind of intensive training, students in these high-poverty schools have few chances to raise their awareness of serious and immediate social concerns and to develop action plans to respond to them. During the summer months, these students also have limited options for structured, constructive programming to fill their free time.

Based out of Urban Arts Partnership’s state-of-the-art media lab, the summer media activist project connects students to vital social issues through advanced training in filmmaking, digital editing and professional-level production and promotion. Funds raised will ensure that students will work with experienced and dedicated teaching artists and professional equipment.

This MediaLab Summer 2011 project will impact the lives of 4 students from 5 high-poverty schools across the city, in addition to those of their families, friends, and communities.

In New York City, the income level of a school is identified by the percentage of the school’s students who are eligible for reduced/free lunch. At a Title I school, 75% or more of the students fall into this demographic. 100% of Urban Arts Partnership’s schools are Title I and as many as 15% of the youth we serve have inconsistent home and family life. The youth that Urban Arts serves are in need of support, services and opportunities that will help them overcome the significant challenges they face to become empowered citizens and lifelong learners.

The digital age represents an exciting time in history, in part because it has given voice to under represented and disenfranchised communities. Urban Arts is devoting much of its future programming to expansion within digital media, including the MediaLab program, principally because of the lack of accessibility for cultural expression among our underserved constituents, and the opportunity to empower youth as emerging citizens, budding scholars and producers of their own heritage. In this way, they will begin to make sense of a difficult world, and define and direct their place in it.

Community member details not available yet.

Direct Impact of Your Project

4 students in the MediaLab program will:
• Advance their artistic skills by engaging in hands-on media-making projects.
• Improve their academic performance and achievement.
• Become responsible and active citizens of their communities.

Extended Impact on Your Partner Community

• At least 10 presentations and screenings of the documentary will take place throughout the year.
• At least 5 community-based organizations and cultural institutions will collaborate with the student team.
• 1,500 additional students will be reached through screenings and peer-to-peer trainings, gaining knowledge of key social and community issues and their solutions.
• 3,000+ audience members will be informed of key social and community issues through online dissemination of projects and film screenings.