Young people celebrate their creative work to end youth violence
Summer 612, a summer-long youth violence prevention campaign, will conclude with an event showcasing all the creative work that Minneapolis-youth did over the summer to raise awareness of youth violence in the community and how it can be prevented. The event is happening Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6-8 p.m. at the Minneapolis Central Library.
Summer 612 is a new campaign within the City of Minneapolis’
Blueprint for Action that takes a public health approach to youth violence prevention. Summer 612 is a micro-grant program addressing the
Blueprint for Action goal # 4: recognize that violence is learned and can be unlearned by reducing the impact of violent messages in our media, culture and entertainment.
The goal for Summer 612 is to directly engage at least 1,000 Minneapolis youth through several youth-led micro-grant projects. In addition to raising awareness of youth violence, this grant program enables youth to develop unique job skills while interacting with professionals in a specific industry.
A total of eight groups worked on projects in four categories: documentary film, visual arts, performance and basketball. Each project allows youth to reflect on their personal efforts to address the culture of violence and share it with friends, family, and other peers in their neighborhoods to make an impact in the fight to end youth violence. Funding support for Summer 612 is made possible by a grant from The Minneapolis Foundation. The following groups received a micro-grant for their project:
- Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota – A video depicting positive things going on with youth to promote peace and unlearn the culture of violence in the Somali community.
- Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota – A video project utilizing on-the-street interviews and video booth ideas to collect youth’s opinions on how they see violence in their lives and how to stop youth violence in north Minneapolis.
- TVbyGIRLS – Movie and public service announcement about the process of learning about domestic and dating violence and talking to girls about what they do to make a difference in their relationships.
- Youth Education Justice Initiative – film exploring a key contributor to the culture of violence in schools: the treatment of students as numbers. Film will also highlight the efforts of youth to unlearn this culture of violence.
- Pillsbury United Communities Waite House, Hope Community, Little Earth and Main Street Project– "Build Bridges, Not Fences" community mural collaboration promotes mural painting as a vehicle to teach and deliver community-building skills while connecting youth with a larger community network through neighborhood engagement.
- YMCA of Metropolitan Minneapolis Y- ReConnect – through "Remix Your Kicks," youth transitioning back home from residential correctional placement will design and paint a pair of tennis shoes representing how they see peace and a non-violent neighborhood in Minneapolis.
- Pillsbury House Theater: Them Elements Dance Crew – a performance piece incorporating dance, spoken word, theater and video, reflecting on the causes and effects of violence.
- Above the E.D.G.E Global Basketball League – A youth sports program that develops and strengthens the positive character, social and physical qualities of each participant, while cultivating a healthy spirit of fun for each participant.
All of the projects listed above will be featured during the final showcase event on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6-8 p.m at the Minneapolis Central Library which will also include city leaders, youth and the community. This event is free and open to the public. Folks interested in attending can register through Eventbrite.
For more information about the Blueprint for Action and youth violence prevention in Minneapolis visit Youth Violence Prevention.
Published Sep. 19, 2011