CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Students in the EnVision Me arts education program visited Spectrum Center as part of their semester-long curriculum. Envision Me will exhibit the students’ short documentaries May 9 at the Gantt Center.

High school students are going behind the camera to tell their stories to the world.

EnVision Me, an arts education program hosted by the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, will exhibit student-produced short documentaries May 9 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

At Central Piedmont Early College and iMeck Academy, there is direct engagement between teachers and students where EnVision Me opens opportunities to share stories and develop digital media skills. Students learn about a range of subjects over a semester, including editing, photography and video production through field trips to Loyd Studios and the Gantt Center, as well as collaborating with studios like Silent Images.  

“We wanted our students to really see themselves in the community as storytellers, as well as learn from creatives, filmmakers and people that create documentaries,” Gantt Center educational initiatives manager Nicole Beverly said. “A lot of students find connections in some of the creators that they meet, as well as finding that they actually have stories to tell.”

Beverly said the semester’s theme is “Into My Lens,” with curriculum that teaches them their stories are important. Students choose their own topic.

Beverly said EnVision Me focuses on Title I schools, which usually lack resources and opportunity compared to public or private schools in more affluent communities. The goal is to close the gap by providing professional equipment for students to use, including new cameras, computers and microphones.

“A lot of the barriers are the lack of equipment and a lack of experiences that are given to them within the school and in the district,” she said.

Ashley Turcios, a junior at iMeck Academy, said EnVision Me enhanced her skills in digital design, as she had already been taking that class as well.

Turcios created a documentary on mental health and young people, particularly exhaustion caused by school, and how adults sometimes misunderstand lack of energy for laziness.

“I want to try to make a change in that, because I feel that at least some schools, don’t have enough resources to help students with their mental health,” she said. “And now, in May, we’re in Mental Health Awareness Month, and I know that school and bullying has caused a lot of things, so I wanted to show everyone that school isn’t just about going for learning.”

As Turcios went through the process of interviewing teachers, friends and her counselor, she used the equipment and curriculum to match the story’s tone through questions, photos and videos. Turcios said the time and effort that went into the project showed her a new potential interest, as she aims to become an engineer.

CPEC freshman Shia Nichols said the program sparked new interest and helped with creativity that encouraged him to think about what he can do.






CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Students in the Envision Me program sit in a classroom as part of the semester-long curriculum.

“I get to think on what my career should really be like, so this introduces me to something that I already had prior knowledge of, but now I have even more knowledge of, so I get to use that and kind of think on my career choices in the future,” he said. Nichols made a documentary on EnVision Me itself, showing new skills learned as well as teachers throughout the semester. The experience also got him out of his comfort zone in the process with classmates.

CPEC freshman Yakieta Leake said she liked the opportunities and freedom that came with the initiative, including the field trips to meet with professionals and the ability to record whatever she decided was best for her project, which focused on the life of a student at early college. The program helped her realize she likely needs to shift her career focus.

“I would say it kind of reinforced how I viewed making art, because I’m too aware of how much time and effort has to go into making art,” Leake said. “This program forced me to do it, which I’m happy I got to experience because I realized that this might not be something I want to like fully to.”

iMeck digital arts teacher and graphic designer Simon Howard has a similar story. He didn’t become a teacher until he was 30, which shows that not everyone finds their career path early on.
Howard, who majored in graphic design at Francis Marion University in South Carolina, said the partnership and EnVision Me has furthered his goal of motivating and mentoring students, whether it involves digital arts or not.

Howard not only brought digital arts and graphic design courses to iMeck but also teaches along with Beverly and others several times a week. 

 “I’m honored that I get to usher this program into our school and help our babies who may be disadvantaged socioeconomically, or who may be the children of immigrant parents who may not speak English,” Howard said. “But now, these babies have another means of making sure that there’s extra food on the table, and another means or another way to help their family in the future.”

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