As a mother, I feel that one of the best gifts I can give my children is a lesson in sharing. That’s why, this holiday season, I am setting aside time with my children to look through DonorsChoose.org, and together we will make a donation to a classroom in need.

Adobe Youth Voices has partnered with DonorsChoose.org to highlight classrooms and youth programs in underserved communities, where the everyday items we take for granted: printer paper, ink cartridges, a digital camera, are cost prohibitive luxuries. The items on these wish lists will not only allow students to complete a creative project, but gain hands-on 21st century skills, and build a portfolio of work to carry them into the future.

If you would like to join us in making a donation of any size, I invite you to browse through the Adobe Youth Voices Giving Page on DonorsChoose.org. A gift of any size is a great help to our students!

Holiday cheers!

Stacey Long,
Program Manager
Adobe Youth Voices

19-year-old Diana López always aspired to be a pilot, and since the Kelly Air Force base is in her neighborhood, she was convinced that joining the Air Force was the best way to reach her goal.

After high school graduation, she had one last summer in San Antonio, and she dedicated her vacation to an internship at a local environmental justice organization. During the course of the summer, Diana learned that her neighborhood, Leon Creek, is part of the “Toxic Triangle”: since World War II the Kelly Air Force Base had been dumping jet fuel, cleaning solvents that have trichloralethylene (TCE), and other toxins into the ground.

Watch Diana’s story to find out how she took action in her community, and the choices she made for her future.

Health and sanitation are a gift many of us take for granted.

16 year-old David Were lives in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum on the outskirts of Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.  Basic facilities like the bathroom become an enormous chore as the family uses buckets and plastic bags to dispose of human waste.

The bags, or “flying toilets,” are not just a problems for David’s family, but have become an ecological obstacle for the entire community who toss bags from the window, afraid to leave their homes at night.

For David and his friends, their work to provide security, latrines and clean up projects for the flying toilets, is more than a struggle for a healthier environment. This is the inspirational story of what motivates David to give back, and what his hopes are for the future of his community – after you watch the film, help David share his story by passing it on!

Guest post by Cherie Kabba

“Ms. Chillin’”, he said “… I just came to say goodbye. I’m leaving for bootcamp tomorrow. I’ve joined the Marines and (shaking his head, he said) yeah … I’m going to be somebody and do something with my life.”

My eyes welled with tears. Victor was one of the first teens I met when I came to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. He sat at the computer, in the corner, near my office creating beats. He sat quietly everyday, with a set of headphones on his head – one ear uncovered, so he could chime in on my lessons at any given moment.

Every now and then, he’d ask, “Hey … when are we going to get a new music studio?” My response was always “Soon, Victor … soon.” He’s shake his head, “Okay.”

One day I was talking to a group of youth about Chicago, my home town. I shared with them details about my childhood, the neighborhood I hailed from and the truth about poverty. “You do not know you are poor, until someone tells you are poor… Poverty is a state of mind and education is the key to wealth.” This was taught to me and a young age and I felt obligated to share.

Victor was not apart of that group I was talking to, but he was in his spot, right there at the computer, in his corner, near my office creating beats. He sat quietly, with a set of headphones on his head – one ear uncovered.

The next day, Victor did not show up. A week passed, no Victor. I asked some of the teens about him, no one had seen Victor. Eleven months later … Victor stopped by to visit. He gave me a hug and quickly walked to take a peek in studio. Laughing he said, “Ms. Chillin, you said soon.” He began to share with me the details of the last eleven months. He transferred to a new school and graduated. His time was spent working to help care for his siblings and was saving some money to help his mother. “I got big plans … and my family will not be poor for long…” he said. I began to remind him that “Poverty was a state of mind …” Victor interrupted me, “I have a diploma now and I will have wealth.” We both smiled. He promised to come in and show some of the new teens how to create beats, but he never did.

About three weeks passed and last Friday Victor came to see me. “Ms. Chillin’”, he said “… I just came to say goodbye. I’m leaving for bootcamp tomorrow. I’ve joined the Marines and yeah … I’m going to be somebody and do something with my life. I received a 300 … maximum points allowed … on my PFT (Physical Fitness Test) and I got a lot of goals.”  Thanks for staying. He elaborated. “Some adults don’t stay. They come in and out of my life and I just knew when I came back, you wouldn’t be here. But you are here and the new studio is here for the other kids. I’ll see you later Ms. Chillin’”

I yelled, “Victor … keep in touch with me … find me on Facebook.” “For sure…” he said, “… and I’ll be back, I’ll see you Ms. Chillin’.” I watched him disappear down the hallway, wiped my tears and continued to do what I was destined to do … stay.

This time of year is the time that we give thanks. I am thankful that Victor allowed me to share his space and be a part of his life. It’s the little things we do as educators that go a long way in the lives of the youth.

There are times our actions are being watched, mimicked and/or emulated in some way, form or fashion. We have chosen careers where we are automatically on the list as role models. Without notification, we are given added responsibilities. When working with the youth there is a level of expectation where we are required to give good advice, make good decisions and always … do the right thing.

As much as I love what I do, I know … this is a gift from the Most High.

“… when the Most High has given you the gift to work with babies
There is no time for complacency
you better bring you A game to the table with lots of energy
No clock to punch
cuz a 9 – 5 is unheard of when paid by salary
if the truth was told
No dollar amount or silver and gold could compensate me for compentency
I don’t do this for the money …
And I don’t do this just to be doing something … See
as a matter of fact
I don’t have just one, but I have 2 Master Degrees
Humbly
I share my story
to explain … what I do … ain’t for everybody
At a young age my purpose was spelled out for me
Combining technology with spoken word is why I am here see…”

Cherie Kabba
Adobe Youth Voices Master Educator

Guest post by Kate Busby

Larry Achiampong (born 1984) is a British Ghanian artist living and working in London. Larry studied a BA in Mixed Media Art at the University of Westminster, London (2002-2005) followed by MA in Sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art, London (2006-2008). He has worked as an Adobe Youth Voices Educator at Kids Company for two years and has now started collaborating with a group of young people at the Peckham Settlement in south London.

During Larry’s two years of working for charity Kids Company, he worked on Adobe Youth Voices with colleagues Josh King Farlow (the previous music production tutor) and Chris Lewis (DJ-ing tutor) in the media department.

He explains: “Most of the young people I worked with either had little or no qualifications as well as family-related problems. So it would be understandable if one were to wonder what making films was going to do for a young person without qualifications, financial support or even a roof over one’s head (not to mention the constant peer pressure from others)?

“I believe the answer is simple. Having the opportunity to sit down, to discuss and process one’s ideas and to then express them via a medium such as film gives the young person freedom and the power of personal independence. For those who were able to withstand the pressures such struggles, the rewards have certainly validated their decisions to put time-honored effort into their chosen projects.”

Larry is currently on sabbatical in New York where he is gathering footage and making music, with the intention to bring his work back to London and inspire his new intake of students at The Peckham Settlement.

“I firmly believe that to be the best you can be in whatever you do you must constantly challenge yourself and try new things so that you keep a fresh way of approaching things. Although I have left Kids Company I am still working on the Adobe Youth Voices program because I truly believe in the positive change that it can potentially initiate in a young person’s life, as well as the Educator, having been a witness to this.”

Kate Busby
Adobe Youth Voices Master Educator

It’s hard to believe that November is here already, but we are looking forward to a month of focusing on a central theme for Adobe Youth Voices: giving back. Our students have a deep heart for serving their communities and the world, and we have selected ten great films to feature in our youth media gallery that showcase what it really means to Create With Purpose!

In the spotlight today is the heartfelt music video created early this year by students at the Adobe Youth Voices Peapod Academy in Redwood City, California: Stand Up For Haiti. As the recent outbreak of Cholera in Haiti goes to show, it is a long road to recovery for the nation, and by sharing this video again today, we hope to keep public dialogue alive.

As we enter a season of giving thanks, let us not forget that one key aspect of gratitude is remembering our neighbors, on a local or global scale, and to continue giving back to our families, our communities, and to the world.

Stacey Long
Program Manager
Adobe Youth Voices