FY09 Newsletter and Annual Report

Wide Angle Youth Media
NewFY09
Ann slette
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The Big Move by Jessica Young
When anyone is up for a visit to Wide Angle Youth Media
be sure to park on Howard St. and not Charles St. because
we’ve moved. Wide Angle now occupies a space in the newly
renovated Miller’s Court, which used to be the old census
building in the nineties and the even older H.F. Miller and Son
Tin Box and Can Manufacturing Plant in early 20th century. We
share the building with other education-based non-profits and
BCPSS, Baltimore City Public School System, teachers.
Seawall Development, headed by the father and son team—
Donald and Thibault Manekin, renovated Miller’s Court, a
“socially conscious” piece of real estate. Donald Manekin
explains it best:
“Our goal was is to develop projects that make a difference
in the communities so it wasn’t just building another
building. It was really about what role what the building has
as a ripple effect in terms of community revitalization and
economic development.”
Miller’s Court has been able to bring together Baltimore Urban
Debate League (BUDL), Sports for Kids, Teach for America, and
Experience Coorps in addition to Wide Angle. All these nonprofits were once scattered all over Baltimore City. Because
they are now all under the same roof—sharing the same
hallway—, it is easier to collaborate, share new ideas, and get
to know one another in the shared amenities, which includes
training rooms, a kitchen, and a beautiful courtyard, the space
has to offer.
A sneak peek inside our new office.
The newly renovated Miller’s Court and its courtyard.
The building as a whole provides many new opportunities
for Wide Angle to evolve, but the office we occupy brings
even more. Long gone are the steps and many closed doors
that most people are used to; only a half wall separates the
students from instructors, which saves time from having to
find one another in an entire building. I’ve had the pleasure to
work with Wide Angle in the new office for almost a month.
At first, it took some getting used to, but I will admit there’s
a new feeling. Knowing both buildings (as a student in Old
Goucher and an intern/trainee (?) in Miller’s Court), it is much
easier to get the help I needed from anyone. The spacious,
open office space is more unified and efficient because
all students, instructors, and Gin and Sue are all working
together in one main area.
Wide Angle is excited to be a part of the new building
that was once an eye sore to both Charles Village and
Remmington communities to something better that serves
the communities. Donald Manekin gives his ideas on this:
“[this building] has a lot to do with community
revitalization and just lifting everybody’s energy up
because they’re now excited about having, not only a
building that’s been rebuilt as beautifully as this one’s been
rebuilt, but the young people that are in here now…bring
a whole vitality and energy to this and roughly 75 teachers
majority which are new to Baltimore as their first-time
home.”
Old Goucher has served Wide Angle Youth Media for many
great years, and now, Miller’ Court will do the same for many
more.
BSO: A History by Sarah Milinski, BSO Coordinator
In 2001, Wide Angle Youth Media began an after
school program held in Baltimore City’s Enoch
Pratt Free Library designed to teach middle
school students video production, critical
thinking, team work, and public speaking skills.
In 2003, this program earned the name Baltimore
Speaks Out!(BSO for short). For almost nine years
BSO has helped hundreds of students discover
the world of digital based media, make new
friends, become better acquainted with their
local library, earn valuable community service
learning hours, and make media that matters to
themselves and their community. Kirk Edmunds,
a BSO student, tells why he comes to BSO:
Caption
“Before joining BSO, I had no technological
information. Now I have learned about
camera work. I enjoyed being behind the
scences at the radio stations, and working
with people I already knew and getting
closer to people I didn’t know.”
the community of Baltimore.
Students involved in the BSO program meet twice
weekly for a two-hour class for nine weeks. By
the end of the course, students have covered an
array of topics and themes, employing slapstick,
animation and documentary style production
techniques to talk about subject matter ranging
from teenage romance to Youth Gangs in
Baltimore City. This spring, students in BSO
forwent a more conventional style of filmmaking
to become the Baltimore Speaks Out! News Cast.
The youth reported on the state of schools in
Baltimore City and the effects of the Recession on
“I enjoyed recording and was given
the opportunity to get over my public
speaking fears.”
Caption
The project allowed students to utilize their
knowledge of video production, learn more about
issues that affect them directly as well as flex
theiracting talents as youth newscasters. Ebony
Howard reflects on her favorite part of BSO :
I began teaching
Baltimore Speaks
Out! in the winter
of 2007, and I
have been in awe
of the power and
possibility of media
Caption
based education
ever since. When you teach a young person the
basics of video production, you are in effect
giving them an exciting and relevant means
to explore the world they live in and the tools
needed to express their own ideas. Regardless
of the EPFL Library Branch that Baltimore Speaks
Out! takes place in—and there have been many;
from Orleans in the east, Penn North in the west,
Reisterstown in the north and Cherry Hill to the
south—the program creates a unique learning
space for young people, a space that can’t always
be found at school or at home.
MVP Title by Siobhan Marie, MVP Coordinator
The Mentoring Video Project is a Wide Angle Youth Media high school program where
youth learn video technology, in addition to public speaking and critical thinking
skills. MVP has two semesters to create a film about issues that affect them in their
communities. In the past, MVP youth producers have created videos about issues such as
schooling by stereotypes, the impact of the Baltimore Algebra Project, teen relationships,
Baltimore youth giving “the talk” to adults, environmentalism in urban areas, and the
latest, teens and finances entitled Reality Check.
Chaya Barrett and Douglass Moffatt
Reality Check is an 18-minute film about teens and finances that focus on the current
filming in Seattle.
recession, which is on everyone’s heart and mind. Because of the current economic state,
jobs are lost at record numbers and are affecting our youth. MVP producers created three segments, Race and Money, the
Past of Poverty, and Teen Gambling, concerning their thoughts about the current recession. Youth producers also created
four 30-second animations about key financial concepts such as savings and compound interest.
In addition to the amazing Reality Check episode, MVP youth did more traveling in 20082009 than they have in the nine years Wide Angle has existed. Gerald Pittman, the award
recipient for Best Technical went to Durham, North Carolina to present to principals,
teachers, administrators, and high school students from STEM schools on how to integrate
media into the general curriculum and how this media can facilitate the learning process.
Donasiah Clapperton, recipient of the MVP Most Improved Producer award, will be
traveling to the windy city of Chicago in October to be a youth representative for the
peer-to-peer model. Companies will be meeting to discuss the peer-to-peer model and
Donasiah will be presenting, giving examples, and networking. Lastly, Chaya Barrett and
MVP students filming for an episode.
Douglas Moffatt, Jr. went to Seattle, Washington to participate in a 36-hour film project.
They stayed on the Squaxin Tribe Reservation on Squaxin Island and worked with 50 other high school students from various
reservations in Washington as well as all over the country. Their objective was to make 4 films in 36 hours: an animation,
music video, horror, and alternate ending. These films were then submitted in the Seattle International Film Festival 2009.
This year has been a whirlwind of creativity, fun, travel, and enriching life-changing experiences. I am so proud of all my
students who worked hard and persevered throughout the year. Their hard work and dedication is to be celebrated and
remembered by their Wide Angle family for years to come!
Wide Angle’s Annual Top Producer Awards
Each year, Wide Angle Youth Media celebrates the accomplishments of our youth
producers. All participants recieve certificates in recognition of their hard work, and a few producers
recieve superlative awards for their extra effort. This spring our Wide Angle Video Extravaganza
(WAVE), held at Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Library gave all our youth, their families, friends, and
supporters, the chance to see their videos and applaud their successes!
Michael Williams is the winner of the April Montebon Award for Most
Innovative Producer in Older Youth Programs for 2008. Even though it was
his first year in the Mentoring Video Project, he has learned many skills from
working on the “Reality Check”, which can applied to his future in the media
industry as a directer or music producer. “I enjoy working with Wide
Angle because they have given me the skills to open my mind and
express myself creatively.”
Kirk Edmunds is the winner of the James Lance Award for the Most
Innovative Producer in Baltimore Speaks Out! Program for 2008. While
being a part of BSOP Orleans Street, he brought his positive attitude, humor,
excellent work ethic, and ability to work well with others every single
class. “I always was taught to give encouragement and positive
renforcement to my fellow team members. Next year, I want to
continue to help my teammates and give give 100% by doing my
best and being positive.”
Check out more awardees on Page 6!
Private Foundations and Funds:
The Angelica Peale Allan and Warde B. Allan Fund of the
Baltimore Community Foundation
The William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund
Baltimore Community Foundation
Baltimore Community Foundation, Youth Path
Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation
The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation – Matching
Gifts Program
The Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation
Citi Foundation
Donald and Brigitte Manekin Family Fund
Open Society Institute
The Renewal Fund of the Baltimore Community
Foundation
The Jim and Patty Rouse Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Target
Susan A. and Paul C. Wolman Jr. Fund of the Baltimore
Community Foundation.
Youth As Resources
Executive Producers Circle
($5,000 - $35,000)
Jane Brown
Goucher College
M&T Bank
Provident Bank
Public Agencies
The A-Teams Fund of the Family League of
Baltimore City, Inc.
The Maryland State Arts Council
Mayor Sheila Dixon and the Baltimore Office
of Promotion and the Arts
Non-Profit Grants
Learning Matters – Assessment Learning
Community
National Association of Media Arts and
Culture – Professional Development Fund
National Association of Media Arts and
Culture –Capacity Building Support Grant
funded by
The Nathan Cummings Foundation, The
Fledgling Fund, and The William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation.
Directors Circle ($1,000 - $4,999)
Richard and Valerie Ferrara
Municipal Employees Credit Union
Global Design Interactive
of Baltimore, Inc.
Phil Gibbs
Seawall Development Hamel Builders
Donald and Brigitte Manekin
Media Sponsors
Baltimore City Public School System’s
Education Channel 77
Citypaper
Urbanite
WYPR
Leadership Media Sponsor
Comcast
Designers Circle ($500 - $999)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Eye Byte Solutions, LLC
Howard Bank
Gallagher Evelius & Jones LLP.
Camera Club ($100 - $499)
Anonymous Donor
Miriam Arenberg and Charles
Shafer
Neil Bergsman and Valerie
Devaris
Lee Boot and Stacy Arnold
Michael and Nancy Bryant
Causey Family
Mary Claire Chesshire
George Ciscle
Garfield and Dona Clapperton
Suzanne Cohen
Paul J. Daniel and Linda
DePalma
John Dean and Ellen Burchenal
Oletha Devane
John and Anita Durel
Gabriel Goodenough
Nanette M. Greif and Irvin
Greif, Jr.
Lara Hall
Sooz Laugen
Ken Lundeen
Marks, Thomas Architects
Marshfield Associates
Mechanical Engineering and
Construction, Corp. (MEC2)
Harris and Renée Hayman
Melissa and Richard Houghton
Kiyoshi Ikeda
International Decision
Systems, Inc in honor of
Mohannad Jishi
Housing and Dining Services
at Johns Hopkins University
Rosalie and Tyrone Johnson
Jill Jonnes and Christopher A.
Ross
Pablo Jusem
Sharon Kroupa
Kathleen V. Latta and Paul I.
Latta, Jr.
Lepetri Family
Doris Lyles
Don Macaulay
Amy Macht and George Grose
Thibault Manekin
Manekin, LLC.
George Mitchell
Karen Olson
Reznick Group, P.C.
Genevieve Roanhouse
Heather Rosenbloom
Alyce Myatt
Renee Levine Packer and
Arnold Packer
Pat Parrilla
Annie Patillo
Michael and Ruth Pepper
Joann Robinson
Juliana Reese Schamp and
Homer W. Schamp, Jr.
Joseph and Michelle
Schwarzman
David Shapiro and Andrea Ruff
Mark and Gayle Sloan
Special Gathering
Jill Warzer
Ira Weinstein and Angela M.
Natale
Anjanette Wiggins
Ziger/Snead Architects
Crew Members Club (up to $99)
Joan Allan Aleshire
Ameena Batada
Jeffrey Bernfeld
Kristina Berdan
Diana Braunstein
Justin Brown
Michele Bruggeman
Mary Pat Brygger
Winona Caesar
Melissa Chaney
Laura Coleson-Schreur
Lisa Dietrich
Mark Alice Durant and Beatriz
Bufrahi
David Feltenberger and Marianna
Shvartsbeyn
Jessica Fischer Lutzow and
Christopher Luztow
Terry Fitzgerald
and Gwen Dubois
Sharon Flynn and Martin Hilliard
Stanley and Marilyn Gabor
Leonard and Carolyn Gresham
Joan Guberman
Kyle Halle-Erby
Patricia Halle
Vanessa Harnik and Leon Powell
Jane Harrison
Stephen Hecht
Katurah Hutcheson
Elizabeth Johnson
Reverend Bernette L. Jones
Jenika Kaul
Mike Kefer
Frank Lee and Libby Baker
Adam Levner
James Manni
Susan M. McEntire
Heather McPeters
Rachel Ndungu
William Miller
Shirley Parry
Karen Poggi
Kate Reckner
Michael and Theresa Roanhouse
Jann Rosen-Queralt and Phillip Campbell
Diana Savage and John Molinaro
Catherine Smith
Tom Templin
Tesseract
Sheila Wells
Duncan Wray Keir
YMFTitle by David Sloan, Festival Instructor
This year marked the 4th “Who Are You?” Youth Media Festival, Wide Angle’s annual youthcurated exhibition of art and media from young people all over Baltimore. With each year the
Festival’s events grow larger, the entries more numerous, and the youth more committed. Gerald
Pittman, a returning member of the Festival Committee, the core group of youth who plan
every aspect of the Festival, explained why he was motivated to be a part of the program: “The
Festival gives an image to the unseen and a microphone to the unheard. There’s nothing like the
experience of helping other youth bring their art to others. It makes you feel like you are giving
back to yourself.”
Over 250 youth submitted artwork ranging from poems and drawings to videos and original
songs. In addition to the live artwork presented on the main Performance Day, 2-d artwork was
displayed as part of a month-long exhibition at Centerstage, young poets performed at our
“Thinking Out Loud” poetry slam, and seasoned members of Wide Angle’s programs turned the Wombwork performing at
tables and taught Baltimore City public school teachers about Centerstage
Awards Continued from Page 3
media literacy at our “Youth Voice
in the Classroom” workshop. This year’s entries displayed a
Baltimore Speaks Out!
variety of responses to the question, “Who Are You?”, but it
Orleans Street EPFL Site:
is best to understand the themes of the Festival through the
Most Dedicated:
lens of the best artworks that were submitted this year.
Terrell Parham
Best Cameraman:
Travis Benjamin
Most Improved:
Sterling Willis
While many of this year’s artists made work detailing
their identity, Jasmyn Piazza, the winner for “Best Poem,”
challenged the very notion of what identity is. In her poem,
“Am I a Book?,” she writes, “I guess I’m a diary for all eyes;
where each one can write down their thoughts or just a
place where I can store them.” Jasmyn’s use of a diary as a
metaphor explores the way in which her identity is actively
written by many people, not just herself.
Herring Run EPFL Site:
Most Dedicated:
Ebony Howard
Most Improved Producer:
Odell Richardson
Best Cameraman:
Jeffery Hughes
Mentoring Video Project
April Montebon Award:
Michael Williams
Best Technical:
Gerald Pittman
Most Improved Producer:
Donasiah Clapperton
Most Dedicated Producer:
Azariah Simon
Festival Committee
Best Public Speaking:
Douglass Moffatt
Most Improved Public Speaking:
Jake Goldman
Most Dedicated:
Chaya Barrett
In-Kind Supporters ($1,000$10,000 approximated value)
Azafran
Brady Multimedia
CENTERSTAGE
John Dean Photography
The Enoch Pratt Free Library
Global Design Interactive
Goucher College
Renegade Studios
In-Kind Contributors ($500-$950
approximated value)
Carma’s Café
Richard Houghton
Iggie’s Pizza
John Dean and the Big Hearts Jazz
Quartet
Edward Kane Jr., General Counsel
Work Printing and Graphics
The winner of Best Visual Art:
“New year, New Me” by students
from St. Elizabeth School.
The award for “Best Visual Art” went to Julia Ewers, Catie
Fulton, Rickell Goodwin, Brittany Janson, Chelsey MayzekJohnson, and Rachel Sayler—all students at St. Elizabeth
School. Their series of drawings, made in an art therapy program, showed gallery
visitors some of the challenges and anxieties that young people face. The fact that these
drawings appeared at first glance to be bright, colored pencil drawings underscored the
way in which we sometimes misperceived childhood as a simple and carefree time.
An entire 8th grade class from Northeast
Middle School won the award for
“Best Performance” for their highlychoreographed song “I’m An Achiever.”
As they stomped, clapped, and danced
around the stage, the students sang
about how their class has succeeded in
achieving high grades and test scores,
despite the many negative stereotypes
that people often have of Baltimore’s
youth.
But probably the best way to understand
In-Kind Donors ($50-$450
approximated value)
American Visionary Art Museum
Arhaus
Baba’s Kitchen
Balance the Salon
The Baltimore Museum of Industry
Baltimore Women’s Film Festival
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Big Huge Games
Blowndeadline Productions
William Franklin Caesar
Café Hon
The Charles
Chesapeake Wine Company
LaTonya Christian
Creatively Yours
Daedalus Books
Double Tree Inn at the Colonnade
Dolcefine Gelato
Northeast Middle School students perform
Jennifer Downs
Acupuncture
Evolve Well Healing Arts
Studio
Eyre Tours
Fluid Movement
Renée and Harris Hayman
HBO: The Wire
Randy G. Herbert
Kids on the Hill
Lieryoja Creations
Little Havana
Doris Lyles
Lyric Opera House
Maryland Film Office
Maryland Science Center
Maven’s Kitchen
Rocket to Venus
Ray Schamp
Studio C Jewelry and Gifts
Kimberly McKnight
Megaphone Project
Mela Sera
Mission Media
Moon Myth Publishers
Pat Paluzzi and Sooz
Laugen
Darlene Patterson
Pivec Advertising
Point Well Taken
Acupuncture
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Joyce Richardson
Genevieve Roanhouse
Studio Unknown
Urban Pirates
Sascha’s
Joyce J. Scott
Rebecca Trapp
Tia Tyree
Wash the Wag
Whole Foods: Harbor East
Whiskey Island Pirate Shop
Wholly Terra
Tim Windsor
The Wine Source
Women in Film and Video of
Maryland
Women in Film and Video of
Washington, DC.
Youthlight
92Q Jams
Bring Wide Angle to Your Community! Introduce you to media making, public
speaking, and teamwork. Students learn these skills while creating their own stories and artwork.
BeMore TV Live (1 hour)
50-100 Attendees, Cost: $250
Youth media makers present inspiring BeMore
TV episodes for your assembly. Skills Learned:
media interpretation and critique. Topics
include: Young Love, Hip Hop, Urban Green,
Education, & Identity
The Good, Bad, and Useful of Social
Networking (2 hours)
15-20 Attendees, Cost: $250
Online networks are a growing part of our
lives. Participants will learn how to use these
tools for self-expression while being aware of
the risks and benefits.
Design Workshop (12 hours)
8-10 Attendees, Cost: Call for Pricing
Students will craft a message aimed to
change their audiences thinking or behavior.
Skills Learned: basic graphic design, graphics
software, and message creation.
Talk the Talk! (12 hours)
8-10 Attendees, Cost: Call for Pricing
Kiss stage fright goodbye! Through interactive
activites and practive, students will learn to
speak confidently and present to an audience.
Staff Members
Gin Ferrara, Executive Director
Susan Hayman, Managing and Development Director
Michael Karelis, Assistant Media Instructor
Siobhan Marie, Older Youth Coordinator
Sarah Milinski, Middle School Coordinator
Benajmin O’Brien, Assistant Media Instructor
David Sloan, Outreach Coordinator &
Festival Instructor
Sarah Weissman, Festival Intern
Photocomics Stories (6 hours)
12 Attendees, Cost: $750
Students will learn basic photography
and sequential storytelling skills to create
captivating visual stories about their lives.
Workshops and pesentations are
recommended for ages 11 and up.
Call us at NEW NUMBER to schedule or
tailor a workshop to your needs. Other
workshops include media literacy,
videography, interview technique, and
more.
Board Members
John Dean, President
Lee Boot, Vice President
Genevieve Roanhouse, Treasurer
Valerie K. Young, Secretary
Jewel Baker
Dani Johnson
Sooz Laugen
Heather Rosenbloom
Join the Team!
I want to make a personal investment to help more young people have opportunities to tell their own stories, learn
technical skills, and become involved in their community.
Executive Producers Circle ($5,000-$20,000)
Every gift of $10,000 supports a Baltimore Speaks Out! Workshop for 15
youth
Directors Circle ($1,000-$4,999)
I would like to: (check off all that apply)
Give a gift of stock (call for details)
Find out how my business, employer, or faith
community can sponsor a student or program
Every gift of $1,000 sponsors an MVP member for one year
Assist with fundraising efforts
Designers Circle ($500-$999)
Serve on an event committee
Every gift of $500 sponsors a Youth Festival Committee Member for one year
Camera Club ($100-$499)
Every gift of $250 provides dinner for 25 at Family Night Workshop
Crew Members (up to $99)
Donate snacks or in-kind supplies
Assist with recruitment of youth
Other:______________________________________
Your gift provides program supplies for our media workshops
NAME _______________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________
CITY _______________________________________ STATE ___________________
ZIP CODE ________________
EMAIL _____________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER ______________________________
Return this card to: Wide Angle Youth Media 2601 N. Howard St. Suite #160 Baltimore, MD 21218
For more information please call our office at (443) 759-6700 or visit www.wideanglemedia.org
www.WideAngleMedia.org
www.youtube.com/BeMoreTV21
Wide Angle Youth Media
2601 North Howard Street
Baltimore, Maryland
21218
• Wide Angle Youth Media has moved to a new
Reality Check
Synopsis and run time.
Young Love?
Synopsis and run time.
BSO News
Synopsis and run time.
Personal Copies shipped
to your door for $15.
Screening copies for $50.
Proceeds cover DVD duplication and support for our youth
media programs. Contact: info@wideanglemedia.org
Indigo Sanders and Douglass Moffatt film
an interview for BeMore TV.
building! We are now located inside Miller’s
Court on 2601 North Howard Street.
• Highlight
• Highlight