Media Making Change
3836 N Haight, Portland, OR 97227 (503) 975-4545
Each summer, the Northwest Institute sponsors 12 students from the nation’s top colleges and universities. Students are chosen for their smarts, ambition and optimism. This past summer we had students from Princeton, Boston University, Reed College and the University of Washington. It was an amazing group—diverse in background but similar in their desires to make a difference with their skills and careers.
Although the students worked in classrooms and pounded the pavement for their projects, they also had plenty of opportunities for summertime fun—playing on an epic 200 foot long slip-n-slide at camp; softball games (where Portland’s mayor threw out the first pitch); campfires; surfing and hanging out with new friends. View a gallery of photos.
The Northwest Institute for Social Change admits students and hires faculty of all races, colors, national origins, and ethnic origins, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and all other school-administered programs.
What the students learned in the classroom they applied immediately to their projects. With mentorship from local filmmakers, some students produced video documentaries:
Other students worked with microphones and tape recorders (okay, well, digital recorders). Working with a community blog, 24/7 Townhall, the students produced from start to finish short radio documentaries. Devoted to the idea of civic journalism, these stories helped capture the voices of people directly affected by social policies—of immigrants, homeless, racial minorities.
Katerina Margolin is a senior at Lewis & Clark College. An immigrant herself, she decided to interview Somalian and Ethiopian refuges to find out what barriers they face for receiving social services. Listen to an exerpt (MP3) of her radio documentary:
Portland Public Schools has been struggling to hold onto students. Jackie Kennedy, a junior at Mills College, profiled various programs that are trying to draw students back into their communities. Listen to an exerpt (MP3) of her radio documentary:
The City of Portland recently passed a sit-lie ordinance that bars people from loitering on the streets. Alisha Adams from Azusa Pacific College found out more about how the policy will affect homeless men and women. Listen to an exerpt (MP3) of her radio documentary:
In the short time since the summer, many of the 2007 Fellows have continued working to build their skills and experiences in making media that will have a positive impact.
Here are a few examples:
Meg Nanson is interning with Danielle Lurie, a filmmaker that met with NWISC Fellows. She is helping on documentary projects that explore humanitarian and environmental issues. She has also passed-on her new found skills in film editing, while teaching film to high school students.
Claire Fox has created a new arts magazine called "Nudge" at the University of Washington to bring together a community of writers.
Kasey Wickman is currently writing for the Boston Globe.
Josh Gross is currently producing feature spots for the 2008 broadcast of the Gorge Games.
Download our application » (pdf, 108KB)
©2006 Northwest Institute for Social Change.