YOUTH EXCEL PROJECT
Creative Visions is encouraging young people – particularly underrepresented youth – to believe in their potential to become creative activists and changemakers. Through storytelling, young people can create new narratives for their own lives, envision solutions and understand problems through diverse lenses and perspectives.
In 2021, we launched the Youth Excel Project to empower diverse high school students to use their talents and passions to create positive impact and change through the power of story and film. This accelerator and film lab delivers human rights education, storytelling and filmmaking skills, and provides access to leading industry professionals who provide mentorship and inspiration.
HUMAN RIGHTS & SDGs
Students select and research an issue that is important to them. They learn about social impact storytelling and how to craft their creative activist story to inspire others to learn about social issues and take action.
FILMMAKING
Students learn about the elements of filmmaking used to tell powerful narratives. They are then coached by experts in the field about other tools and techniques as they work to produce short impact films as part of the program.
MENTORSHIP
Industry professionals and cause area experts from our Creative Activist Network serve as mentors to the young filmmakers as they develop, produce and create powerful social impact short films focused on their selected human rights issue.
SHOWCASE
The program culminates with a community showcase featuring the short films created by the Youth Excel student filmmakers. Students are interviewed and have the opportunity to discuss their work with the community.
Check out some of the short films from our 2022 cohort of young creative activists
Feel Alive Again by Wesley L.
A film about Wesley’s journey with mental health.
Color Fidelity by Jahna L.
A film about the lack of representation of black women in the media and the harm it causes.
The True Tax by Sophie C.
A film about how basic products such as tampons and baby food are taxed at the expense of women, and the resulting implications.
Volver no es una opción (Return isn't an option) by Maryale B.
A film about the instibilities of Venezueala and the resulting challenges of having to leave one’s homeland.