A Field Trip to Gente Fina

Photo Credit: Mariah

This last weekend, our mentees went on a field trip to Gente Fina, where they got the opportunity to ask the co-founders, Manny & Abraham, different questions about the creative field. They learned so many new things about creating a brand and what it takes to start. Niches, vendors, manufacturers, money, ideas, and networking were all mentioned throughout this dialogue. We cannot wait to partner with them again soon!

After we got back to the firehouse, Sandra, our Mentorship Coordinator, assisted our mentees in digitizing their work into Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator is a very long process to learn but in the end it is all worth it. It is an amazing skillset to have and we love having Sandra to be able to pass on her knowledge to our mentees about this amazing software.

Photo Credit: Mariah

Sony Film Project Is Live!

We are so excited to share our Sony Create Action Film is live!

In Oct. 2021, we were selected to be the grant recipients of The Create Action Grant Program in which we were given $50,000 in cash to continue and expand our work, this Sony-produced short film sharing our story and $50,000 in Sony Electronics products to support our action plan. Jake from Sony Alpha came to the firehouse last month to film TFD during our mentorship program.

Over the past year, TFD has put in so much work and has grown tremendously. It is truly amazing to see it all come together the way it has and to be selected for this grant. Now being in partnership with Sony, we have even more opportunity to provide our young adults with access to the latest tech and equipment.

We are so excited to see what the future brings for TFD and how we can grow and expand to reach even more creative young adults of color.

In case you are interested in learning more, the Create Action Grant Program is open through March 29, 2022 and will provide grants to 10 different organizations total, with one new grant awarded each month.

To learn more go to: alphauniverse.com/createaction.

Spoken Word

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Our mentees learned about writing and theatre from Clarybelle for the second half of Saturday’s workshop. They began with some exercises that are done before a show, like “I am, I like, I do”, walking around the space at different speeds, mirroring a partner, and heads up, heads down. The goal of these particular exercises is to connect and work as a team collectively. Once they were connected, the mentees starting working on short pieces of writing about objects around the room to practice being descriptive and depth, as well as stories about moments in their lives that are significant. Clarybelle also taught them that simply writing something down can help it to feel more real or can help to release it from their thoughts. The mentees had a lot of fun interacting and learning new things during this workshop! We can’t wait to see Clarybelle again!

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Social Media

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Today, Lu’Cretia from Girl Behind The Hustle, led a workshop for our mentees about social media. She discussed the logistics of running social media accounts for a brand and how to make it easier with other apps to schedule posts and help with the editing process. She also advised our mentees that video is a main way to connect with your audience. Our mentees got to do some research for their own brands and learned how the process of creating a business goes when it comes to social media. LC had a lot of great advice to give our young adults and was very helpful in showing them creative ways to elevate their own brands. Our mentees learned a lot and we hope to work with Lu’Cretia again soon!

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

Healthy Relationships

Photo Credit: Mya Rose

What is a healthy relationship to you? Erika Perez led a workshop on this topic for our mentees today. They discussed how a relationship is not limited to a romantic relationship but can also apply to family, friends, etc. It is important to know the signs of a healthy vs. unhealthy relationship so we don’t end up in a bad situation but rather a healthy growing relationship that has a positive impact on a person’s life. In relationships, it is essential to take things step by step. Making sure to be there to listen to the other person’s boundaries, wants, and needs will help to evolve the relationship and make sure that everyone is comfortable. Trust is also a big need when it comes to relationships because without trust you cannot truly connect with someone. Mariah made a TikTok to ask our mentees before and after what their thoughts were on a healthy relationship so check that out to hear what they said!

Photo Credit: Mya Rose