Project Description

“In today’s hyper-mediated consumer culture, we (young people especially) are constantly bombarded with information, images, and messages that influence our behavior, and serve to construct our sense of reality. Mass media is a very powerful communication tool because it informs us about ourselves, our society, and how we fit in and interact with the world around us. It is therefore important to actively engage with media by understanding how it is created and how it functions; the best way to do this is by making media of our own while critically examining the media we receive everyday through our phones, televisions, computers, and other devices. Learning to creatively express ourselves through video, music, writing, and art is not only fun and therapeutic, it allows us to take an active role in the creation of our sense of self and community. Learning to create and analyze media also teaches problem-solving skills, promotes collaboration and self-confidence, and gives young people opportunities to be leaders on their own terms.” – Kiran Vedula, head of our Media Based Mentorship program.

Update: “Those Hip-Hop Guys” picked up the story here: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/267602031.html