Have a look over at our information sheet and read up on how Free Spirit Media has impacted our youth and helped make their voices heard.
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Free Spirit Media highly values the process of exploration that guides young people towards bright futures. FSM demonstrates this by building strong relationships with youth to provide a continuum of support long after they graduate high school. As such, we are proud to share a few of their stories with you.
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Twenty Free Spirit Media students took advantage of the Civic Innovation Summer, a pilot program serving youth from Mikva Challenge and Free Spirit Media, sponsored by the Smart Chicago Collaborative with additional support from the Department of Family and Social Services.
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Journalists from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting mentored an FSM summer crew, in which youth created personal and engaging documentaries
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Free Spirit Media, as a member of the Chicago Youth Voices Network, is working to advance the field of youth media in Chicago.
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WGN News has recognized Jeff McCarter, FSM’s Founder and Executive Director, as Chicago’s Very Own.
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This summer marks the second year of collaboration between Free Spirit Media and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. As in recent years, international journalists from the Pulitzer Center mentored small groups of FSM documentary filmmakers to create unique pieces of media.
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Free Spirit Media was honored to receive the Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for Public Service Announcement at the 2010 NATAS Chicago / Midwest Emmy Awards held at the Park West on November 6, 2010
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Twelve of our most advanced youth pursued their filmmaking dreams this summer by working on the set of Transformers 3 while it was filming in Chicago. Free Spirit Media youth worked as interns in key departments, including production, camera, grip, hair and makeup, wardrobe, locations, and publicity.
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This August, two Free Spirit Media (FSM) students traveled to the Democratic National Convention in Denver on a mission to produce a documentary film framed by the question, “What are the grounds for hope in America?”
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When FSM students graduate from high school, they often ask how they can stay involved with the organization. The answers usually have been “come to the reunion,” “visit our classes,” and “open some doors for the next kid.” All good answers, but this past summer, FSM went further.
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From the newsrooms of NBC Channel 5, ABC Channel 7, and WGN Channel 9 to WTTW Channel 11, Harpo Studios, and media outlets throughout the Chicago area, Free Spirit Media students are climbing their way up in the media world.
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The winter of 2006 has been a special time for both FSM and me personally. On February 20, my wife delivered a baby boy – Roland Henry McCarter. The Free Spirit Media family is growing as well.
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Vernita Brown, a senior at North Lawndale College Prep, wrote her personal statement for college on what she learned through taking the FSM at NLCP “Designing Documentary” class last year.
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Students at North Lawndale College Prep recently took a break from their usual video production activities to spend a week studying sound design.
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