Cohort Member, Industry Pathways
a journalist, photographer, and aspiring Director/DP/Screenwriter.
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Cohort Member, Industry Pathways
Samantha is a community advocate who offers a unique educational experience on grassroot movements for legislative advocates.
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Cohort Member, Industry Pathways
I write scripts, I make music, sometimes I wear cool glasses and a mask. Here to make creative stuff with creative people.
Teen Program Manager
Danielshé (Shé) Rodgers started her filmmaking journey during her digital media class in North Lawndale College Prep on the west side of Chicago in 2013.
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Production Coordinator, Free Spirit West
I'm from the south side of Chicago. I'm a recent graduate from SIUC, where I graduated with a degree degree in Film/ Cinematography and minor in Criminal Justice.
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Arts and Culture Reporter, The Real Chi
My favorite artist Frida Kahlo once said, "It's not possible to present an accurate picture of our culture without all the voices of the people in the culture."
Community Organizer
Billy L. Brooks, Sr. is a lifelong social justice advocate dedicated to helping young people develop the social, cultural, and analytical skills necessary to approach life, current conditions, and issues of justice. He has spent most of his life as a social worker and mentor to Chicago’s youth supporting their empowerment, mental, and academic development.
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PRO Fellow
Justyn Stanford is an audio engineer, composer, and video editor from the Southside of Chicago.
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PRO Fellow
Lily Qi is a recent graduate from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University specializing in social justice and investigative reporting.
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Optimus
My relationship with Jeff and FSM started in 2009 when I was asked to be the contact between my studio, and Jeff to host the FOCUS event for that year.
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Independent Producer
I have served as a board member of Free Spirit Media since 2008 which is longer than I have served on any board or even volunteered for any one organization!
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Hootenanny
Growing up in downstate Illinois, I was a good student in high school but hadn’t figured out a solid career path that would direct me toward a particular college.
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Former Economic Justice Reporter, The Real Chi
Isi was a summer communications intern for 1590 WCGO during the summer of 2016. He worked as a staff sports reporter for The Flyer at Lewis University for five months.
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PRO Fellow
Alex Y. Ding is a documentary filmmaker, organizer, producer, and writer based in Chicago. She is a Fellow at Free Spirit PRO, an Associate Producer at Siskel/Jacobs Productions and Kindling Group, and a 2019 NeXtDoc Fellow.
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Production Crew, Free Spirit PRO
Simeon is the Founder of Visual Manifesto, LLC and works with Free Spirit PRO team.
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Production Crew, Free Spirit PRO; Alum, Industry Pathways
My name is Yarnome (rhymes with harmony..kind of). I’m a freelance Video Editor that aspires to be a Film/TV editor.
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Production Crew, Free Spirit PRO
Vashon Jordan Jr.started in the summer of 2017 through the Flash Forward Summer Internship & Fellowship Program.
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Alum, Arts and Culture Reporter, The Real Chi
Sam is a Chicago native from the Logan Square area. He graduated from Pomona College in 2018, where he majored in Media Studies and minored in Music, in addition to serving on the staff of both the Pomona Office of Communications and the campus radio station, KSPC 88.7 FM.
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Economic Justice Editor, The Real Chi
Briana is a 25 year-old from the south side of Chicago, who uses she/her/hers pronouns. She graduated from Illinois State University in 2013 with a BA degree in Journalism and a minor in sociology.
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