Growing up in Baltimore, Taqi Juba says, “it often feels like everyone I know has lost a friend or a family member to violence.”

In a city with six times the national average in violent crimes, most Baltimore youth often feel violence is the only resort when feeling threatened or disrespected. This cycle of violence inhibits the success of youth and sets the misconception that violence is an inevitable part of life.

But Taqi and his fellow classmates are using film to dispel this misconception.  They are working with Wide Angle Youth Media (WAYM) to produce a short film about breaking the cycle of violence in Baltimore City. In the film, Wide Angle student producers will interview young people who have personally experienced violence or have been caught in this cycle.

To help the students produce and distribute their film, WAYM has joined forces with GiveCorps.  The student producers’  goal is to host 10 screenings and reach more than 1,000 live audience members.

And they will use the finished product as a teaching tool to further advocate violence-prevention programs and to initiate an ongoing conversation among their peers about this dangerous cycle.

Your gift to Wide Angle Youth Media will provide intensive media-production education and leadership development experiences for the 6 youth who participate in this film production as part of Mentoring Video Project.  A donation of $40 provides two hours of filming, editing and mentoring with WAYM staff.

Let’s help Taqi and his peers end the cycle of violence with film.  Give today!