CREATEConnectopod Network
Connectopod has worked with youth in neighborhoods across Los Angeles, telling the stories of communities one neighborhood at a time. We want to scaffold Connectopod youth participants through the next phases of their educational and professional journeys by formalizing our network. We are seeking support for the Connectopod Network, enabling youth participants to connect with jobs, internships, and other networking opportunities to continue to grow and expand their media arts skills.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Access to tech and creative industry employment
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
San Fernando Valley
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
It is urgent that we amplifying youth voices on social issues surrounding LA, and create access for young people in media arts fields. Histories have been from the internet, government webpages, and textbooks. It is book burning on a digital scale. Those perceived to be without meaningful contributions to culture are far easier to dehumanize and eradicate.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
The Connectopod Network is our initiative to continue serving our youth participants as they transition into their next phase of life. Youth participants hone important skills in Connectopod programs. We want Connectopod Mentors to have increased and continued access to tech and creative industry employment. The Connectopod Network will include opportunities for Mentors to connect with professional media artists and media companies that are seeking interns or hiring. Those who intern with our partner locations will gain experience, professional job references, and important networking connections that they would not otherwise have access to. The Network will also include continued professional development opportunities.
Everyone, and Transitional Age Youth especially, is need of a network of people that support you in your career, celebrate your accomplishments, and support you in taking the next steps professionally or academically. getting into the media arts field can be bolstered by strategic connections, which our youth participants often lack. And, if an unpaid internship in media arts does present itself, our youth participants often have to pass it up because they need a paying job to survive. We seek to aid all three of these barriers by offering a professional support network for students with whom we have already built a rapport; offering networking opportunities in the media arts fields; and offering stipends to youth who wish to compete for unpaid internships.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
We document and preserve the histories and cultures of neighborhoods in Los Angeles undergoing gentrification. Angelinos deserve to contribute to, know, understand, and build upon our collective history. We increase access to the media arts field while amplifying youth voices.
Former youth participants ("Mentors") work with us on new projects. They acquired skills with Connectopod (audio recording, editing, sound design, show hosting, writing, journalism, graphic design, photography) and teach those skills to new students. Some Mentors independently produce shows (Mind Matters hosted by Nysha Prasad, restrictED by Melissa Peruch, and Changing the Narrative: Unhoused Youth Season 2 by Gaye Alvarez). These home grown storytellers are equiped with the technical and creative skills to be an asset to media arts compaines.
Each Connectopod project has a unique sound, voice, and style reflecting the producer. Our audience hears a wide range of perspectives.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 12
Indirect Impact: 200