July 20th, 2011
A 90-year old Egyptian rebel leader sat beside me at a workshop, banging on drums. I saw the strength in his weathered hands and the lifetime of smile lines that pulled back to make way for the joyous noises he sang. He still had so much to do, he said. So do we.
We made music with 30 people organically, communally. My words became theirs and their ambition, the changes others wanted to make at home merged with my hopes for SPARK.
We flash mobbed the lobby with our display of solidarity. Several individuals with different goals, from different organizations showed we shared the ideal of justice. In that moment, everyone affected everyone. That’s how interconnected I want SPARK’s FYRE program to be.
The skill shares, workshops and curriculum swapped at the Allied Media Conference will impact the FYRE program many ways. Dancing makes it easier for some youth to retain information. It is also an art to consider adding to our FYRE Media Camp.
Hard copies of media curriculum from other organizations aid in creating accompanying discussion guides for our films. Tactics shared during the AMC can also be used to brainstorm new techniques for this year’s media camp.
Collaborating with the Global Action Project based in New York and having the opportunity to connect with Reel Grrls of Seattle will help us to make this year’s camp truly innovative. The art and self-expression we witnessed during the Allied Media Conference is what the FYRE program is all about and what we dream of for our future Summit.
This transplant from the University of Florida joined the justice fight on behalf of a close friend in high school. Now years into the fray, Bianca has worked on political, union, and LGBTQ efforts. Most importantly, she now calls SPARK and Atlanta home. The FYRE Media Camp introduced her to activists who have permanently shaped her life for the better. She hopes her film will in turn draw other queer youths of color to express themselves and create the images they seek.
