youth

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Meet Isaac Vergun and Alexia Henderson

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Meet Isaac Vergun and Alexia Henderson

Spend a little more time with two of our guests from our March film festival screening of “YOUTH v GOV.” Please meet these dynamic young people who are speaking up about climate change and urging federal, state and local governments to do better in protecting their future, as well as the future of all people.

A freshman at Howard University, Isaac Vergun is a litigant in the Juliana v United States of America lawsuit, which was featured in the film, “YOUTH v GOV.” Brandon Pineda, our intern from Urban Alliance, interviewed him about why he got involved in the lawsuit, how climate change has already affected his health, and more. Check out the video or read the interview.

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Filmmaker Q&A with Director Christi Cooper and Producer Olivia Ahnemann

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Filmmaker Q&A with Director Christi Cooper and Producer Olivia Ahnemann

Q: How did the young plaintiffs deal with the intersection between their passionate activism and the sometimes-inscrutable procedures of the legal system?

Christi: . . . They have a deep understanding of their claims, and which of their constitutional rights have been violated. They understand that this case is not about government inaction on climate change; it’s about actions the government has actually taken. Our government has known about the dangers of climate change for more than fifty years. And despite that, it has pursued reckless and dangerous fossil fuel development, harming the health of our communities and threatening our futures.

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'Austin Grown' Plows Ahead Despite Pandemic

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'Austin Grown' Plows Ahead Despite Pandemic

Following up on last year’s successful Austin Grown summer youth leadership program—but adding in a pandemic—proved . . . challenging. Last year, youth worked at BUILD Chicago’s Iris Farm and Peace Garden. They had their hands in the dirt. But during the first week of June, and with the program scheduled to begin on July 6, word came in that all youth programs through After School Matters and One Summer Chicago (of which Austin Grown is a part) had to be 100% virtual.

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Young Filmmakers Contest Winners Will Premiere March 7

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Young Filmmakers Contest Winners Will Premiere March 7

Recently, South Korean filmmaker, Bong Joon Ho, swept the 92nd Academy Awards, opening the door for a cross-cultural vision in cinema. Meanwhile, the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest had a parallel surprise. Suzie Kang took the top prize at the post grad level for her animated film "Vandals." From South Korea originally, she graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts last spring.

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Young Filmmakers Workshops Expand Outreach

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Young Filmmakers Workshops Expand Outreach

Six One Earth Young Filmmakers Workshops started in the heat of summer, on August 11, and finished up amid a winter chill on December 9. Recent art school graduates and accomplished, award-winning film directors taught the content, which ranged from stop-motion to live action.