Day 1: Cleveland

DANNY:  Going to the airport, I didn't know what to expect. Landing in an open field with no concrete buildings was refreshing. We weren't really sure what we were going to do since everything was so last minute, and we weren't able to secure a screening as early as today. But we made good use of the day by our grassroots efforts to spread our movie and message to two community colleges in Berea and Cleveland. At Baldwin Wallace Community College, we found the Student Activities representative who is going to give copies of our DVD to the head of their Political Science department and to the political student groups on campus. The second college was Tri-C (Cyahoga Community College). The Director of Student Support Services was really receptive to our message and helping us pass out our film. She took five copies for the newly elected Senator of Ohio State University, Poli Sci professors and student government reps. We were also able to connect to another group called REAL MEN, a group similar to CUNY's Black Male Initiative.

SHON:  It was a good day today. I wasn't too sure about how many screenings we were going to get, but things turned out better than I thought. I know today that we made a success, and I know we will do even more on the other days. Mom, I love you.

TIDIANE:  Waking up early and coming to the airport was kind of interesting. I haven't done that for a long time. Knowing that I was getting on a plane to Ohio, so far the trip was going well. After going to different colleges and meeting different peoples, I'm realizing more and more that not everything is the same - colleges in New York City are different than those here. And even the ones we saw today in Ohio were so different. I'm very excited to be here and thanks to EVC for giving the opportunity to be here.

Journeys Through the Red, White & Blue

Members of the Educational Video Center (EVC) will be traveling to Ohio this week to screen the latest YO-TV release on youth voter participation. Please stay tuned for posts from three of the six producers of this film: Danny, Shon and Tidiane. A synopsis of the film is below and more information can be found on the website.

http://www.evc.org/news-flash/journeys-through-red-white-blue-brings-youth-polls

Journeys Through the Red, White, & Blue, a documentary produced by a team of New York City youth of color, is specifically designed to address the interests and concerns of their peers. Blending humor, plainspoken language, civics lessons, and interviews with friends, family members, local political leaders and community activists, this engaging documentary puts a face on “the youth vote.” Following the stories of Brian, Shon, and Tidiane, the film offers three unique explorations into the voting process: on the balance between local and national politics, on the legacy of African American voting rights, and on the rights and possibilities for immigrant participation.

Each story honestly struggles to answer the question “What is the value of my vote?” Because the stories are not adult-driven or preachy but are earnest inquires profiling these young men of color who were unsure of why they should get involved, this documentary is uniquely positioned to open up dialogue among youth audiences, who like the producers, have been confused and turned off to politics in the past, but may become informed, inspired, and galvanized to take action now.