On a cold January weekend, seven student reporters from Free Spirit Media's journalism programs traveled to Iowa to cover the presidential campaign. The group worked alongside nearly 200 young people from Mikva Challenge to find out what issues young people in America care about and how youth can be politically engaged even before they are eligible to vote.
Read MoreFree Spirit Media's summer programs wrapped up with a series of inspiring banquets last week. At the celebrations, participants presented the compelling works of media they produced this summer.
Read MoreFree Spirit PRO traveled to South Africa this summer with six Chicago students in The Peace Exchange. The crew was on a journey to study how people across the world practice peace in their communities.
Read MoreFree Spirit Media is proud to announce Voqal renewed its $50,000 grant to support FSM's youth media advocacy programming. For a second year, Voqal is investing in the civic journalism conducted by Free Spirit Media's FSM News and Real Chi Youth program participants.
Read MoreThanks to the Chicago Tribune for featuring our South Side FSM News program at the Gary Comer Youth Center.
Read MoreFree Spirit Media thanks Bank of America for renewing its support of our Pathways Portfolio. Bank of America's recent $12,000 grant to Free Spirit Media will help us enhance Real Chi Youth, Flash Forward, The Chicago Track and Free Spirit PRO over the next year.
Read MoreLast night, Chicago's WTTW Channel 11 aired The Peace Exchange documentary by Free Spirit PRO. Nielsen reports 15,000 people tuned in to see the film, which follows 11 young Chicagoans who traveled the world to study how people and communities recover from violence.
Read MoreIt’s been a few weeks getting back to normal since I had another amazing opportunity to film abroad with Free Spirit PRO, for The Peace Exchange. This is the 2nd documentary for The Peace Exchange crew, which this time took place in the beautiful Central American country of Nicaragua, with a new group of very much engaged, creative, and compassionate young people leading the way, traveling the world for the sole cause of peace.
Read MoreHave 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.
Read MoreFree 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.
Read MoreTwenty 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.
Read MoreJournalists from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting mentored an FSM summer crew, in which youth created personal and engaging documentaries
Read MoreFree Spirit Media, as a member of the Chicago Youth Voices Network, is working to advance the field of youth media in Chicago.
Read MoreWGN News has recognized Jeff McCarter, FSM’s Founder and Executive Director, as Chicago’s Very Own.
Read MoreThis 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.
Read MoreFree 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
Read MoreTwelve 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.
Read MoreThis 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?”
Read MoreWhen 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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