PROGRAMS
by Karon Hamlet
"Peace Day" at Kenwood Academy
Visions Blu held our Peace Day event at Kenwood Academy. Students voiced their stances on youth violence, politices and how girls interact with boys socially. It was extremely engaging as students expressed what they want to see in the media.
One Block, One Peace Project
The Visions Blu "One Block, One Peace" summer program delivered a more news educated and community oriented population of youth. This program, addressed the need for youth to be informed about the concerns that affect their respective communities along with the ability to create quality content to help positively influence those around them. Visions Blu assisted our participating youth in becoming one step closer to appreciating the power of media and their own voice.
Check out the behind the scenes action:
One Block One Peace project students learn photo journalism and copy editing from Bravetta Hassell and Professor Deas from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. (top left to right)
In the bottom two photos, students prepare to interview others with instruction from Clark Jones and practicing with each other.
by Nathan Anderson, Justin Byars, Jeremiah Mitchell, Nia Pruitt and Isaiah James
"Spread Peace, In Memory of Emmett Till and Derrion Albert"
Violence is in the media, at home and school. Everyone is saying "Stop the Violence", but no one is taking action. When are we going to stop talking, and start taking action? When are we going to show perpetrators that we are sick and tired? Until we do so, things will remain the same in our communities and people will just continue to sit and watch. It is up to us as a nation, as a people to help each other to find a cure to this epidemic that is sweeping our communities!
When comparing violence of the past to that of the present amongst young African Americans, there seems to be two national media cases that stand out. The violence that took the life of Emmett Till; a 14 year old tragically killed for whistling at a white woman verses the life of Derrion Albert: an innocent victim walking home from school when individuals stomped, punched and struck to death. Except in the case of Derrion Albert the perpetrators were black, not white. While both of these tragedies have strikingly different characteristics, there is one thing that can be discerned by looking at the two cases: both have helped draw attention to the changes in the types of violence that African American youth experience over the years. Working together, we can form "One Block, One Peace".
Click to view a trailer of our short "Death of the Innocent... Must Stop"
by Nathan Anderson
"The Wrap Up"
Initially, I was a bit nervous about heading to Kenwood Academy to meet Ms. Karon Hamlet and the others with whom I would spend the next five weeks. But after walking into the classroom, the anxiety I felt while driving to school quickly faded away: Ms. Hamlet's easy-going character and the openness of the students made it easier for me to adapt.
Over the course of five weeks, I learned from a handful of teachers the fundamentals of journalism (ethics, writing style, film techniques, the occasional not-this-but-that), something that is sure to benefit me when I enter Columbia College this fall and major in journalism. While I do appreciate what Ms. Lowe, Mr. Deas, Mr. Jones and Ms. Hassell taught, the most helpful information that I learned, came from Ms. Hamlet, because this bit was about me. Toward the end of the program, Ms. Hamlet said that because she'd been able to observe us, she wanted to give some constructive criticism that would inspire more productive habits, academic and social, within us. The "One Block, One Peace" program was somewhat of a lifesaver for me. For if I hadn't participated, I would have spent five weeks of the summer at home, allowing time to pass by without doing anything productive. . I would suggest the program to anyone who is interested in a challenging but enjoyable introduction to journalism.
