Vision for 2010

The Dare to Dream Project is a dynamic media arts initiative provided by the media and arts organization Voices of New York. It is a program for New York City youth, which provides hands-on professional and artistic training in technology, film and media. The program addresses the widening skills gap among low-income people and communities, left behind in the increasingly global marketplace. With a growing demand for specialized skills in media and technology-based jobs ,the program is a critical step towards meeting one of education's biggest challenges; graduating the labor force of the 21st century.

The three to six-month program is an exploration of media in young people's lives and the technology that fuels their curiosity. Incorporating analysis and hands-on instruction to the curriculum, The Dare to Dream Project develops the participant's point of view, engaging them in civics and social issues that affect them as individuals. Focused on students that are of a critical age in their adolescences, many of the middle and high school students in the program are at-risk of experiencing violence, dropping out of school and underemployment in their near future. Media becomes an outlet for these students, who are mentored and encouraged to think outside of the box. Their experiences are captured on video, culminating in a special screening of student films and multimedia projects for others to learn from.

2010 Vision

After 3 years and successful partnerships/collaborations with The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, The Fund for New York, The Queens Museum of Art, The Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute and The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center; the expectation and goals for 2010 are high. They include expanding the program to meet the needs of young women (12-18), working together with faith-based organizations that serve youth, media exchange with students in Los Angeles, California and professional internships with reputable companies in the fields of art, media, design and technology.

Topics Include:
Women and the Entertainment Industry
Women's Role in the Media
Domestic Violence
Teen Pregnancy
College and Beyond
Youth Employment

2009 Dare to Dream Media Arts Festival Schedule

2009 Dare to Dream Media and Arts Festival Schedule

On Exhibit

Stephanie Mathews -
Kablang!
acrylic on canvas
18" x 24"

"Kablang! is a visual translation of my jump from calmer origins into
the vibrant chaos that is New York City: colorful characters,
intriguing sights and smells, big dreams, 8 million stories & not a
minute to slow down. Drawing from the raw emotions evoked by my
experiences, I applied layer upon layer of shape, color & line to this
piece. Like the city, it remains unfinished & continues to evolve.

Stephanie Matthews is a self-taught visual artist whose highly
detailed paintings, illustrations & mixed media collages are inspired
by everything from vintage 70s album covers to printed fabric to
tropical plants. She invites those who experience her artwork to find
their own story within the the images."

Katie Yamasaki - Pintando Postales (Painting Postcards)

Flushing International High School- Ad Parody Project

5:00- 6:00pm Opening Reception

5:45-6:00
Stories in Movement (Slideshow)
http://storiesinmovement.ning.com/

6:00- 6:15
Title: Drug Abuse Awareness
Synopsis: "Drug Abuse Awareness" seeks to reveal the negative effects that drugs have on our Harlem community.
Dare to Dream Project

6:15-6:30
Title: Desconocido
Synopsis: The filmmaker, an undocumented immigrant, considers why he came to the U.S., what he misses back in Ecuador and what life holds for him in New York City.
New Children/New York

6:30-6:45
Title:Pintando Postales (Painting Postcards)
Running Time: 10 minutes
Synopsis: NYC-based Artist Katie Yamasaki uses her work to create a dialogue between kids in two different and misunderstood cities:Santiago de Cuba and New York. This short-documentary is a candid conversation with the artist, as she explains her motivation behind the project and shows us the hidden power of youth voices.
Katie Yamasaki /Things Are Changing Media

6:45-7:00
Title: Shame On You: That Can Be Reused!
Running Time: 12 minutes
Synopsis: Shame On You: That Can Be Reused! is a must-see intergenerational documentary that explores environmental justice and recycling in NYC’s urban communities with a focus on the South Bronx. Through interviews with experts, South Bronx residents and youth groups, EVC Youth Producers examine what environmental racism is, whom it affects and how we can make a change.
Education Video Center

7:00- 7:15
Title: Pedagogy of Photography**
Running Time: 10 minutes
Synopsis: Elementary school students do an excellent job of answering this question (?) as a Pedagogy of Photography project through personal props, creative writing, family interviews and art. Their teacher, Katie De La Vaughn says, "I am so proud of their ability to profoundly express their individual realities and interpretations of peace, here in the South Bronx." Pedagogy of Photography (POP) educates participants in reflective community service learning projects through the mediums of photography, technology and literacy.
Pedagogy of Photography


7:15-7:30
Title: Wrong Way
Running Time: 8:11 minutes
Synopsis: A teenaged girl needs to make money to pay for a school trip. When she takes a job at the local fast food restaurant "Wrong Way" and doesn't make minimum wage, she is inspired to join the labor rights movement and fight for worker justice.
New Children/New York


7:30-8:00
Closing Reception