The Environmental Justice Arts-based Storytelling activity is a paid apprenticeship program targeted at San Diego transborder youth. A group of 13 youth will participate in a 35 hour paid internship over the course of two months to gain skills in digital photography, videography, advocacy and storytelling with a focus on environmental concerns in the border region. Their work will be showcased at two community events and will also be used as a tool for Casa Familiar’s advocacy efforts. 

Ages: Between 14 and 24 years of age.

The project will take place in District 8th neighborhood of San Ysidro. All project activities will be situated at Casa Familiar’s community spaces: The Front Arte y cultura, The San Ysidro Recreation Center and El Salon Theatre.

Goals:

• Raise awareness of the public’s understanding of the importance of the environment as it relates to mental, physical and emotional health. We want to inspire our community to act and connect at a personal level with nature. 
• Support participating youth by enhancing their art and storytelling skills. We want to increase their awareness of environmental issues, aiding their career growth, teaching them digital photography, and providing tools like resume building to help them secure entry-level jobs in the arts and culture sector.  

The enrolled youth will engage in a sequence of learning programs, totaling 35 hours of instruction (4 hours/wk for 2 months), The series will blend art instruction focused on digital photography and videography and visual storytelling paired with presentations to learn about environmental issues facing our region, where youth will explore through a final project and presentation.

The final phase of the proposed activity will culminate in organizing two community events showcasing the youth’s projects.

This activity will address these core focus areas:

• Climate and sustainability
• Health and Wellbeing
• Education and Youth

This program will focus on transborder youth (14-24) to provide education and awareness on climate and sistainability issues in our border region. They will be teamed up with our Casa Verde Environmental Justice staff to learn about the relationship between health & wellbeing and our environment. Our border region particularly the community of San Ysidro, faces disproportionate negative impacts due to the pollution created by the vehicles crossing the border on a daily basis. Youth will learn and explore these types of local environmental challenges. They will also be asked to brainstorm solutions and approaches to our environmental challenges. The youth will also be teamed up with artists, filmmakers, creatives and storytellers to take what they have learned and turn it into a video of photo project. Through arts & culture, the will learns introductory multimedia skills and the power of storytelling. 

Requirements: 

No experience required.

Stipend per student:

$1,000 usd per student