Visions of Youth
Location
Our idea is to compile portraits and short statements from Pittsburgh youth and with their input, create a digital slideshow that will be projected on public buildings throughout Allegheny county. The student statements will focus on young people's ability to think globally and analyze their place and identity within their society, their school, their neighborhood, their state, their country, as well as, within the world.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
809 Saint James Apt. 2
Project City
Pittsburgh
Project Province/State
PA
Project Postal/Zip Code
15232
Project Country
United States
Your idea
Name Your Project
Visions of Youth
Describe Your Idea
Our idea is to compile portraits and short statements from Pittsburgh youth and with their input, create a digital slideshow that will be projected on public buildings throughout Allegheny county. The student statements will focus on young people's ability to think globally and analyze their place and identity within their society, their school, their neighborhood, their state, their country, as well as, within the world.
Innovation
What is your idea? What makes your project innovative? Why is it important?
The innovation of this project lies in the belief that youth view the world in a much more sincere and clear way than adults. It is common knowledge that as adults, we can not help but view the world through certain societal, cultural, religious, and economic filters. Since children have not experienced many of the life-changing events that begin to form our filters, it is our belief that their thoughts and feelings are more altruistic and pure, and command the attention and respect of adults.
Impact
What will be the impact of your idea?
It is our intention to show children that not only are their thoughts and feelings valid, but also that they can utilize art (both photography and writing) to express their sentiments to their peers, their families, their neighborhoods, and indeed, the world. It is our hope that this project will instill in children the ideal that many adults know to be true, that is, that that youth are the future of our societies.
We need to engage adults in the Pittsburgh area in a socio-communal dialogue that will address the issues facing the youth of today. By confronting the general public with these portraits and statements addressing youth issues, we hope to enliven the community's interest and activism in these aforementioned issues.
What will it take to launch your idea? How will you secure community support and youth participation?
In order to launch this project, we will need a team of eight qualified, motivated people willing to dedicate approximately 20 hours per week for approximately 3 months to meet with school officials, execute photo-shoots with students, document student's statements, compile and archive all files and resources, produce a digital slideshow and functional website. This team of people must have a passion for working with youth, as well as, a sincere desire to have a hand in creating social change. This project will require $25,000 in labor and resources, as outlined in our completed budget (available upon request.)
Our team will garner community support by contacting and engaging approximately 24 schools across 7 school districts throughout allegheny county. The schools that we have chosen were based on a combination of PSSA 2008 math and verbal scores, geographic location, tax brackets, gender ratios, as well as, ethnic make up in order to address as many varied issues from as diverse a student body as is possible within allegheny county. We intend to partner with the administration and faculty of these schools so as to reach the maximum number of interested students.
This Entry is about (Issues)
- Arts & culture
- At risk youth
- Behavioral issues
- Citizen participation
- Civil rights
- Communications
- Conflict resolution
- Education
- Gay and lesbian issues
- Gender equity
- Intercultural relations
- Intergenerational relations
- Journalism
- Media
- Mentorship
- Racial equality
- Recreation
- Rural
- Rural development
- Technology
- Tolerance
- Urban
- Youth development
- Youth leadership
Sustainability
We are looking for ideas from people who can make them happen. Tell us about yourself or your team.
As the team leader for this project, I bring many years of youth leadership and school administration familiarity to the table. In 2003 I founded the first GSA(Gay Straight Alliance) in a public school in the state of Pennsylvania to be recognized by GLSEN(the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) and the HRC (the Human Rights Campaign.) In the past, I have been a guest panelist at the True Colors Conference, a national LGBT youth leadership conference, and I was a finalist for the position of State Representative for GLSEN's annual Day of Silence.
Over the last ten years I have been heavily involved in all levels of theatrical production. My time with different theater groups has taught me how to be highly effective, how to inspire and motivate others in my team, and how to accomplish our goals in a timely fashion.
Recently, I founded the photographic club, Lightworks, at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Through teamwork we held an excellent exhibition of student work, ventured into fundraising, and garnered support from our faculty and the student body.
I have chosen several members of my team, but more are needed. I intend to hold open interviews for individuals who are
 | Stewart A. Phot... submitted this idea. - 984 days ago |
- Arts & culture
- At risk youth
- Behavioral issues
- Citizen participation
- Civil rights
- Communications
- Conflict resolution
- Education
- Gay and lesbian issues
- Gender equity
- Intercultural relations
- Intergenerational relations
- Journalism
- Media
- Mentorship
- Racial equality
- Recreation
- Rural
- Rural development
- Technology
- Tolerance
- Urban
- Youth development
- Youth leadership
