“The Free Spirit Media Effect” was created in conjunction with Free Spirit Media’s InPathways Cohort, Youth Council and our amazing partners and staff. It premiered on May 30, 2019 at FOCUS 2019.

When Annetta Wilson went to Ghana, she didn’t know that listening to elders talk about a mythical bird would change her and her North Lawndale community.

“Sankofa— [it means] you have to look back, know where you came from to know where you’re going. So this mythical bird that we adopted, it looks back and goes forward,” said Wilson, who was a pregnant and parenting ward of the state for Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) at that time.

By Free Spirit PRO.

For more information, visit: www.woodsfund.org www.healourcommunities.org

This video is presented in collaboration with Art Design Chicago, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art exploring Chicago’s art and design legacy through more than 30 exhibitions, as well as hundreds of talks, tours and special events in 2018.

This video is presented in collaboration with Art Design Chicago, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art exploring Chicago’s art and design legacy through more than 30 exhibitions, as well as hundreds of talks, tours and special events in 2018.

Community groups in the greater Chinatown area announced a series of candidate forums Jan. 18 and encouraged community members to vote in the 2019 municipal election. Along with 13 other community groups, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, revealed their strategy for cultivating an informed and engaged electorate for the 2019 election.

CPS plan to close top performing, majority black school is halted by courts, and later dropped altogether

Advocates and community members from southwest Chicago gathered at the City Hall Nov. 14 to urge officials to support a $25 million budget amendment for long-term mental health services and push for the reopening of several public mental health clinics that were closed in 2012.

Corliss vs. Simeon HoopsHIGH Game at Red South Conference

Orr vs. Marshall JV HoopsHIGH Game

HoopsHIGH Orr Vs. Marshall Varsity Game

NLCP vs. Crane Playoff

Jones vs. Collins with Charish Patterson of HoopsHIGH reporting.

Orr vs. Bogan Varsity Game as part of the Chicago Public Schools 2019 Playoffs.

Corliss vs. Brooks game with Mandel Thompson and Darrion Matthews of HoopsHIGH reporting.

Jimmy Sanders/Shawn Harrington Hoops for Peace Shootout Game between Crame Medical Prep and Hope Academy

PSA focusing on the effects of how familial stress can impact schoolwork and mental health.

NLCP vs. Westinghouse game!

The 2019 Toyota National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament was held at the Broadway Armory Park. Free Spirit Media HoopsHIGH crew member Jaquan Collier interviewed Chicago Park District Program and Event Facilitator Dan Ferreira. Take a look!

Jimmy Sanders/Shawn Harrington Hoops for Peace Shootout game between Farragut Academy and Theodore Roosevelt High School (Gary, IN).

Jimmy Sanders/Shawn Harrington Hoops for Peace Shootout game between Collins Academy and Uplift

This video is a snippet of After School Matters-DJ Class at Collins Academy/North Lawndale Campus. Instructor Duke Shin from Style Masters DJs guides youth who are interested in the art of DJing.

In a red, brick building in Pilsen, about 75 attendees squeezed into ISA Studios, a multidisciplinary arts and community space where roughly twenty storytellers took the stage to deliver their stories in the form of spoken word, music, and performances.

Anthony Holmes still has nightmares — one of the long-term effects of torture.

Holmes is one of the 125 or so Black Chicagoans who suffered under the hand of former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge. In 1973, according to Holmes’s testimony, police arrested him on suspicion of murder. They wanted him to name an accomplish. When he refused, the officer kept him in handcuffs and called in Burge, who entered the interrogation room with a box — known by the detectives as the “nigga box” — featuring a hand crank on one side and alligator clamps on the other.

This video is presented in collaboration with Art Design Chicago, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art exploring Chicago’s art and design legacy through more than 30 exhibitions, as well as hundreds of talks, tours and special events in 2018.

Profile by The Real Chi’s Alex Y. Ding on the unveiling of new design memorializing the Burge torture survivors.

The heavy presence of Chicago police officers in City Hall early Wednesday morning was a precursor for what #NoCopAcademy activists would face before the City Council’s 38-8 vote to approve the construction of a controversial police and fire training academy in West Garfield Park.

In celebration of Black History Month, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. donated $1.6 million money to 32 Historically Black Colleges and Universities on the last day of February 2019. AKA’s Educational Advancement Foundation presented each school with the first installment of a $100,000 endowment at a ceremony with HBCU presidents and representatives present. The money comes from the new AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund which, according to the sorority, was “created on behalf of the nation's oldest historically African-American sorority in an effort to assist in the financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” As part of International AKA President Glenda Glover’s platform, the sorority will be donating $10 million in funds over the next four years to 96 accredited HBCU’s. According to the sorority, the 32 schools selected for this first round of endowments were ones that had a greater financial need. One of the schools was Bennett College, an all-female HBCU that recently made headlines when news of its loss of accreditation spread. AKA International President says HBCUs with bigger existing endowments and lesser financial need will be in the last round of endowments.

In December 2018, the organization Austin Coming Together hosted a summit introducing its Austin Quality of Life Plan to the west-side Chicago community. During the last 20 months over 400 community residents and stakeholders as well as more than 50 organizations discussed ways to improve Austin, one of the largest communities in Chicago, culminating in the Quality of Life Plan. The 70-page document details how ACT hopes to change the narrative about Austin and enact a number of changes it hopes will improve the lives of those who call Austin home. Beginning in March and continuing over the next five years ACT hopes work with residents and community organizations to create change and increase invest in Austin, a community ACT organizers feel lacks invest and support and is plagued with a image of crime and violence. Central Avenue in Austin is a street that the plan focuses in multiple aspects. Several of the proposed changes in the plan are placed along Central Avenue or just off it. ACT Executive Director Darnell Shields went into detail about what makes Austin special, what the plan hopes to accomplish and how in particular Central Avenue is key to shaping a new future for Austin.

North Lawndale Sesquicentennial | 150 Years www.nlspirit150.org

FSM West Crew Members cover several topics including; gentrification, animal abuse, the pink tax, a profile on local restaurant Mi Tierra, and a parody of a late night show.

Alvin Ailey believed that dance is for everybody. AileyCamp represents a vital component of Alvin Ailey’s vision: using the power of dance to enrich and positively impact the lives of children. Video support provided by ABC7 Chicago and Free Spirit Media.

Navigating the "sea of goodwill" can be a challenge for service members, veterans, and their families (SVMF) in need. Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) connects the SVMF community to resources and services throughout the State of Illinois. Meet Rich Malone who reached out to IJF when he needed help. Video support provided by Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Public Narrative, and Free Spirit Media.

Women's History Month Celebration | A Storytelling Event at Mount Sinai Hospital North Lawndale Sesquicentennial | 150 Years

The Center’s mission is to provide a range of support services to empower student veterans with disabilities to realize their potential through a world-class educational experience that prepares them to lead fulfilling, meaningful, and maximally independent lives. Through educational innovations, research breakthroughs, and a dedicated staff of counselors and specialists, the Center supports student veterans’ health and full participation in society. Video support provided by Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Public Narrative, and Free Spirit Media.

To enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

Students are helping voters take the wheel of Chicago’s local election by driving around in a school bus they designed and refurbished.

The National Gathering of American Indian Veterans is a yearly event held in the summer at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois. This three day weekend event honors veterans and military personnel of all cultures, eras, and branches in a Native American style. Guests can come to participate in special panels lead by veterans and veterans service providers on topics ranging from traditional health and wellness, working with the VA, jobs and economic development for veterans after service, and more. Each year features unique performances and entertainment, as well as cultural vendors and artists. This event is free and open to the public, and to anyone who would like to join us in honoring all those in the United States military. National Gathering 2018 Report Online: http://online.fliphtml5.com/vtib/qxbg... Trickster’s newest documentary, “Forward, Together” – Stories from the National Gathering of American Indian Veterans has been honored with an Award of Excellence from the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards. Here is the link to view the documentary as it aired on WTTW. https://schedule.wttw.com/episodes/46... Video support provided by Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Public Narrative, and Free Spirit Media.

Free Spirit Media journalism students at the Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago creates a Saturday Night Live Parody. Directed By: Justin Patterson, Gabriel Fields, Diana Tassy, Nyah Washington. Fall 2018.”

Free Spirit Media journalism students at the Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago films a Christmas rap battle. Directed By: Diana Tassy. Fall 2018.”

Free Spirit Media journalism students at the Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago creates their own Christmas Clapbacks. Directed By: Nyah Washington. Fall 2018.”

Mikva Challenge Youth Advocates invited all 2019 Chicago Mayoral Candidates to have a conversation about issues that matter to young people. They asked candidates 5 questions submitted by young Chicagoans from all over the city.

Free Spirit Media journalism students at the Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago creates a parody of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Directed By: Gabriel Fields Fall 2018.”

HoopsHIGH’s take on Peer Pressure.

Group 3 Documentary News West Adv Spring 2019 On Nichols Tower

Group 2 Documentary News West Adv Spring 2019 Documentary on Nichols Tower located in North Lawndale!

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Group 1 Documentary News West Adv Spring 2019 on Nichols Tower

A fun UNO game goes wrong in this short horror film from FSM News West.

Hostile is a short horror film produced by FSM News West. Be careful out there!

A brother saves the day in this FSM News West short narrative piece.

Sophomore in-school participants offer their thoughts on bullying.

In response to the Mercy Hospital Shooting in November 2018. In-School participants advocate against gun violence.

Get some noodles ready with Aniya, one of our NLCP In-School Senior Participants!

FSM News West explore how LGBTQIA individuals use various art mediums for self-expression. This video was created in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.