About
The festival is a premiere regional youth festival that took place Saturday May 26th, 2012 in Silver Spring, Maryland at the Silver Spring Civic Building (One Veterans Place) and Veterans Plaza. The event’s activities included an awards ceremony & film screening, free workshops, live outdoor entertainment, and a 4-hour film competition. We will continue to update this page with content from the 2012 Youth Media Festival while we begin to prepare for next year’s festival.
Winners
Elle performing on the outdoor stage
Video
College: Marley Moynahan- Building a Home
High School: Radio Rootz- DC News Hour
Middle School: Wide Angle Youth Media- Utopia
Photography
College: Ari Melenciano- Untitled
High School: Gandhi Brigade Promoters- My Drug Free Life
Middle School: Karina Chavez- Untitled
Visual Art
College: Brendon Flowers- Woman Who Became a Rabbi
High School: Prusse Kakpovi, Olami Babarinde, Mario Moreno, Daniela Osorio- Support, Don’t Deport
Middle School: Bisrat Arega- Power to the Youth
Performance
College: Real J- Stand Up
High School: Long Live the Riot- Stop at Nothing
4 Hour Film Competition Playlist
Stories
Photobooth: Setting up the photo booth was really fun, because while we were waiting for other people to come and try it out, we tried on almost every hat on the table, swapping around to see who looked funniest in each hat, what the different styles were, and how many ridiculous combinations of hats we could come up with. It was really fun to just joke around and take pictures, and we ended up taking a lot of random photo booth pictures of all of us. When other people did come to the photo booth, we would “advise” them on what hats they should wear, what the best outfit they could make was, and how many different faces they could make in one set of pictures.
CASA Workshop: I ended up spending a good amount of time in the Casa workshop, where they had presentations on the DREAM act for Maryland, pictures you could take supporting the DREAM act, and personal stories of immigration/overcoming boundaries. It was really emotional to hear some of the stories, and it brought personal faces to the DREAM act, explaining why it’s important legislation. The workshop was so incredibly powerful, as one by one students (one girl got up who I had sat next to almost all year in Spanish class) got up to tell their personal stories of why they need the dream act to be passed, stories that were very emotional. This was a really cool workshop (even though it was one of the more serious ones) because it brought up an issue that is really relevant, but that people don’t really know a lot about, and brought personal testimony and examples to the issue.
Festival Workshops
Pan Workshop
Pan Workshop: This workshop is designed to expose our children to new and creative ways to share the culture of Trinidad and Tobago through the steel drums. This workshop, open to both children and youth, will be conducted by the Lara family and Friends.
I Define My Dream: CASA de Maryland will give an overview of the Maryland Dream Act, showcasing photography and video testimony produced with the theme in mind. Afterwards, participants will interact with the public by engaging them to show support by signing petitions and participating in the photo-essay/collage.
Don’t Box Me In: An Exploration of Identity through Spoken Word: This workshop is designed to explore identity- Participants are asked to think about ways in which they have felt judged, stereotyped, categorized, labeled, or teased in the past. Join the DC Youth Slam Team in this workshop of exploration and creativity.
Life Through Your Eyes: Presented by the House Studio, this workshop is a basic introduction to recording. We will use flip cams and Iphones to demonstrate basic recording techniques. We offer classes at the studio that youth and adults can take if they desire a career in video/editing.
The Teen Exchange Presents: Social Justice through Movement: The Teen Exchange, along with Youth Coordinator Wayles Haynes, would like to present a workshop about social justice. Participants will discuss the meaning of social justice to them and what motivates them to pursue social jusitce in their community and in themselves. This discussion will lead to the creation of group dances and exploration through movement.
Chalk Art: This workshop is geared towards young people who wish to use art as a medium for advocacy for different issues. What better way to advocate to a wide audience about a particular issue than on the sidewalk with chalk? Join us as we create a mural on the sidewalk in Downtown Silver Spring on a specific issue.
Meet the Judges
4 hr film competitio judges (left to right): Malaika Pettigrew, Ora Wiseman, Michael Wolcott
VIDEO
Aberham Berhanu
Title and Organization/Workplace: Youth Promoter at Gandhi Brigade
3 Line Bio: I am an amateur photographer/videographer. I am a senior in high school, I like mind-bending movies and also 90’s movies.
Social Justice Passion: Human Rights
Sam Hampton
Title and Organization/Workplace: Director, Docs in Progress, Independent Documentary Filmmaker
3 Line Bio: PhD in Urban Education, Works with nonprofits in Program Development, Visual Storyteller
Social Justice Passion: Equal opportunity for all/Equal access
PERFORMANCE
Noemi Sanchez
Title and Organization/Workplace: Intern, Peer Instructor and Promoter at Gandhi Brigade
3 Line Bio: I am a senior at Northwood High School. I have been with Gandhi Brigade for almost four years. It is a cool place where I can hang out and have more opportunities in my life.
Social Justice Passion: DREAM Act, Immigration, and non-violence
Crystal Adegbola
Title and Organization/Workplace: Elementary School Program Leader at Community Bridges
3 Line Bio: Crystal grew up performing traditional Nigerian dances in her native Columbus, OH and has grown to love many other dance forms from Africa and the Caribbean. She has been a member of Raices de Borinquen (Roots of Puerto Rico) of Washington, DC since 2006, showcasing the traditional music and dance of Puerto Rico.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Prusse Kakpovi
Title and Organization/Workplace: Promoter with the Gandhi Brigade
3 Line Bio: Prusse is a 12th grader at Montgomery Blair High School. She is a Promoter and Peer Instructor with GRRL Tech at Eastern Middle School.
Social Justice Passion: Immigration and Human Rights
Emma Scott
Title and Organization/Workplace: Americorps VISTA with Critical Exposure
3 Line Bio: Emma has been working with Critical Exposure in Washington, DC for almost 2 years as one of four program teachers. She is getting her Masters in New Media Photojournalism from the Cocoran College of Art & Design. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer and cooking.
Social Justice Passion: I am passionate about arts and education. More specifically, using art as a tool to advocate for equity in education.
VISUAL ART
Leonel Sanchez
Title and Organization/Workplace: Promoter with Gandhi Brigade
3 Line Bio: I go to Northwood High School. I am a photographer at events with the Gandhi Brigade. I am nice to people.
Social Justice Passion: I am passionate about bullying.
Colin Nchako
Title and Organization/Workplace: CEO of Sourei Animations
3 Line Bio: I am self-employed. I like to travel a lot, I’m very shy, and I’m nerdy J
Social Justice Passion: World hunger
4 Hour Film Competition
Malaika Pettigrew
Ora Wiseman
Michael Wolcott
