free spirit media

Free Spirit Media cultivates youth and young adult voices to transform media and society. Since 2001, Free Spirit Media has provided more than 6000 youth and young adults on Chicago’s South and West sides with a comprehensive foundation in media literacy and hands-on media production experience. Producing over 700 compelling media pieces each year, Free Spirit Media participants use the documentaries, PSAs, news packages, audio stories, and narrative films they create as a means of developing their own authentic voice while actively participating in their community’s growth.

Free Spirit Media offers an incremental line up of opportunities for young people with entry points at every level of experience. School-Based Media Arts Education: 1. Free Spirit Media teaches digital literacy and video production courses to nearly 250 students each year in classrooms at North Lawndale College Prep High School campuses. The youth-centered digital media arts courses focus on media literacy, community building, communication, teamwork, and media production, with emphasis on transferable skills that can be used in other classes, college, and career. After School and Community-Based Programs: 2. HoopsHIGH is an after school program based at North Lawndale College Prep’s Collins Campus in which students produce full coverage of Chicago high school sporting events for CAN TV, as well as enhance their teamwork and communication abilities, and use the platform to promote community consciousness. 3. FSM News is an after-school and summer program in which student reporters produce unique news packages and public service announcements for broadcast on CAN TV and ABC 7. FSM News West is based at our Nichols Tower studio in North Lawndale and FSM News South is based at the Gary Comer Youth Center in Greater Grand Crossing. 4. Real Chi Youth, our civic journalism program based at the Nichols Tower studio, offers youth reporters new media platforms to engage Chicago teens about local and national issues while practicing solutions-oriented journalism and documentaries. Career and Industry Pathways: 5. The Chicago Track offers free professional development and networking series for young creatives who are interested in learning about the film and music industries. The program is a collaboration between Free Spirit Media, Young Chicago Authors, and the Department for Cultural Affairs and Special Events. 6. Industry Pathways Certification opportunity builds on the professional skills and networks introduced in The Chicago Track for a cohort of 8-10 emerging media makers. Through intensive training, participants receive the knowledge and credibility to begin successful careers in the film industry. 7. Flash Forward is Free Spirit Media's summer internship program that gives advanced youth the opportunity to work in major production houses and other media sites in Chicago. Placement partners have included ABC7, Illinois Film Office, WBEZ, and WTTW. 8. Free Spirit PRO, our social enterprise, employs advanced youth and alumni to produce full-scale production for high profile clients. Past clients have included Career Builder, Chicago Urban League, Nike, Lollapalooza, Polk Bros. Foundation, Redmoon Theatre, The Chicago Park District, and The Chicago Public Schools. Learn more about what we do at www.freespiritmedia.org