The Multi-Media students created this effort which is based solely on their desire and their faith that they can learn with the students in the CarreFour Community in Port-au-Prince Haiti.
I teach students at both Overton Elementary and at Betty Shabazz International Charter School where we specifically create media and increase youth media awareness.
We have a young Haitian friend, Jemima Desir who was born in CarreFour and graduated from Catherine Flon Academy where the building collasped on Jan. 12 killing 251 students. Mama Jemima has invited us to help with the re-building of the school which she called "the heart of the community". This is a long-term project and we will encourage students and anyone who wants to help to give at least $1 per month until the school is re-built.
Another benefit for the youth of both Overton and Betty Shabazz is that the Desir family will give us first hand reports, letters and digital communications that we can share from the Catherine Flon students. We will be able to help the students establish what we hope will be lasting communication and a invaluable shared learning experience.
Our students have an opportunity to observe their power in action through the creation of media like the flyers, website, film projects, first-hand news reports. Many of the skills we have worked on thru the years will be put to work for the benefit of Afrikan people.
We invite you, your organization, church or school to share in this experience. Please, make a committment to give-- and make a committment to watch, observe and participate in this unified effort.
Well, you've heard the news about what young people are doing in Chicago right now, haven't you? I stand here to tell you that we have got to go beyond criminal news networks to see the outstanding work that many youth are engaged in here in Chicago and beyond! This endeavor is the perfect example! The youth conceived this project in reaction to the news about Ayiti from January 12's earthquake. But their interest and work goes far beyond reactionary. Many youth will tell you simply--they had never heard of Ayiti before the devastating earthquake in January 2010! Whose job was it that they should know about one of the greatest independence struggles? Well, anyway, as soon as they had the info, a few of students in my multi-media workshops began to devise a plan. So far, they have raised very little funds and we all want to have a kick-off event to really get the word out about this unique, family oriented approach. This is not the Red Cross, we have organized ourselves to make sure 100% of our donations get to use at Catherine Flon Academy and surrounding community! If you are in or around Chicago May 22nd, come and meet the dynamic woman, Jemima Desir, graduate of Catherine Flon and on-the-ground contact person for our relationship with the school...and stay tuned cause the Youth in Action are taking the struggle to another level...
