Vision for 2010

The Dare to Dream Project is a dynamic media arts initiative provided by the media and arts organization Voices of New York. It is a program for New York City youth, which provides hands-on professional and artistic training in technology, film and media. The program addresses the widening skills gap among low-income people and communities, left behind in the increasingly global marketplace. With a growing demand for specialized skills in media and technology-based jobs ,the program is a critical step towards meeting one of education's biggest challenges; graduating the labor force of the 21st century.

The three to six-month program is an exploration of media in young people's lives and the technology that fuels their curiosity. Incorporating analysis and hands-on instruction to the curriculum, The Dare to Dream Project develops the participant's point of view, engaging them in civics and social issues that affect them as individuals. Focused on students that are of a critical age in their adolescences, many of the middle and high school students in the program are at-risk of experiencing violence, dropping out of school and underemployment in their near future. Media becomes an outlet for these students, who are mentored and encouraged to think outside of the box. Their experiences are captured on video, culminating in a special screening of student films and multimedia projects for others to learn from.

2010 Vision

After 3 years and successful partnerships/collaborations with The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, The Fund for New York, The Queens Museum of Art, The Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center/African Diaspora Institute and The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center; the expectation and goals for 2010 are high. They include expanding the program to meet the needs of young women (12-18), working together with faith-based organizations that serve youth, media exchange with students in Los Angeles, California and professional internships with reputable companies in the fields of art, media, design and technology.

Topics Include:
Women and the Entertainment Industry
Women's Role in the Media
Domestic Violence
Teen Pregnancy
College and Beyond
Youth Employment