For the past four years I have been working with Adobe on its Adobe Youth Voices program, a signature initiative that empowers young people from underserved communities around the globe to share their voices. I could not be more thrilled that the Black Eyed Peas have continued to add their voices to support and raise awareness of the power of young people.
I am completely inspired by these kids and it has become a personal passion of mine to expose people in my networks to their creations.
One young filmmaker I really admire is Maria Centeno from East Palo Alto, CA. Part hip-hop artist, part journalist, part poet, part graphic artist, her film What Has This World Come To? is a commentary about paying attention to what is going on around you, seen through Maria’s eyes. More than 25,000 people have viewed Maria’s work! Take a few minutes to watch it. I hope you agree it is really powerful. Pass it along to people you know.
Last week participants and supporters from all over the world came together to celebrate a series of milestones – the first Adobe Youth Voices Global Summit followed by Adobe Youth Voices Live!
Last night (Saturday, August 1) hundreds gathered in San Francisco for Adobe Youth Voices Live! to view some of the best youth work and dance in their seats while the Black Eyed Peas performed with teens from the area. Read more about how Adobe and the Peas are bringing multi-media and music together for youth.
This show opened the hearts and minds of movers and shakers from the Bay Area to understand more fully what teens struggle with in and out of school as they tackle the challenges of poverty, violence, racism and overall adversity.
In addition to last night’s show, 60 of these amazing AYV teens from more than 20 countries, along with their teachers, gathered in San Francisco for a three-day experience of further strengthening their digital media skills and sharing the stories of their lives. View the event announcement here. For many of them this was a life-changing trip and a chance for them to share their work before an international audience.
In a world where digital media is the primary way people get heard, Adobe Youth Voices gives kids the technology and training to “Create with Purpose” – helping them compose video, multimedia, digital art, web, animation, and audio tools that explore and comment on their world.
Again, you really have to see some of these pieces to appreciate how creative and insightful these kids are about social issues. These voices matter a lot to us at causenation. So, I’m going to continue to post films regularly, on a whole range of issues, and I hope you visit often to watch them and let us know what you think.