Community Partner: New Lens Intern: Jesse Chen Site Supervisors: Rebecca Yenawine
What is New Lens? New Lens is a youth driven social justice organization that makes art and media about issues where a youth perspective can inspire change. We work on a variety of social issues including employment, justice, health and education issues. We produce art and media on commission, teach youth in schools and communities and advocate for issues that impact young peoples lives. We employ youth as leaders and through their efforts we impact over 200 youth throughout the year
Tasks:
• Created promotional materials for clients including videos and posters
• Assisted in shooting and editing, and producing the third episode in adocumentary series called " Blackonomics
• Led fundraising campaign by designing and editing solicitation letter to distribute among community members and assisting in writing grant applications and reports for community organizations
• Taught and mentored 10 Baltimore City youth( age 14‐20) in shooting, editing, producing videos
Working at New Lens was an invaluable experience. My summer there as part of CIIP helped me grow and learn as a teacher, mentor, leader, and Baltimore City resident. I developed my own filmmaking skills while teaching students the basics of shooting, editing, producing, and advocacy. In assisting with our youth program, I expanded my own knowledge of the issues facing Baltimore City, and particularly the black community, and what people are doing to fix them. I also learned more about non profit management and development, and how many small things go into making a non profit run smoothly. Overall I had a fantastic, educational and fun summer working with CIIP and learning from and with my coworkers and students. ‐Jesse