Last year I had the opportunity to work with Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance to produce a photography program for area youth. The class was sponsored by Red Bull who provided cameras and materials for the course as well as access to Red Bull events for the class participants.
We focused on story telling and visual literacy combined with writing skills and creative expression as a means of communication. The kids learned about photography and techniques to express vision and emotion as well as writing/story telling skills. Everyone has a story to tell and a voice to contribute and we wanted to focus on the empowerment that comes from a creative process and sharing your own story.
We talked a lot of future dreams and current issues faced by youth today. It was great to see the growth of ideas, the growth of confidence that dreams can be achieved and the pride the kids developed in their work.
Inspiring.
Sunset Junction Neighborhood alliance runs many youth programs that have included soccer teams, acting classes and work programs. They have put on a street festival in the Silverlake neighborhood that has grown into one of the largest music festivals in Los Angeles and is coming up next weekend (August 22nd and 23rd). This will be the 29th annual festival. They also host the neighborhood's weekly farmer's market and run Tsunami Coffee House. The small team that produces all of this is headed by Michael McKinnley. Edwin, Sam and Esser all came through the youth programs and are now handling all of the very complex logistical and political issues involved in producing these events and running a business.
There is an amazing line up of musicians performing at this years event including Arrested Development, Spencer the Gardener, Les Nubians and Warpaint- as well as all sorts of other entertainment. There will be a show up of the work from the Youth Photography Program at Undeafeted on Sunset (close to Hyperion). Information regarding tickets, entertainment line-ups and transportation can be found on their site:
http://www.sunsetjunction.org/streetfair_schedule.html
If you are attending the festival, be sure to stop by Undefeated and check out the show. The festival after party will also be held here with music and more fun....
Posts
