CityParks Productions, a program of City Parks Foundation, is giving teenagers from low-income communities a chance to learn skills in video and audio production, graphics, animation and photography.
The program, which is offering career exploration through documentary filmmaking and workplace visits, involves more than 300 minority teenagers from all five boroughs focusing on work study skills with programs strategically located in under-utilized recreation centers.
The Queens program, which takes place at the Lost Battalion Recreation Center in Rego Park, offers video production, media literacy, new media, academic support and life skills training after school and in the summer. Students are trained year-round on state-of-the-art video equipment and production software and learn to work in a variety of technical and creative fields.
“CityParks Productions engages teenagers, especially young men from low-income neighborhoods, in a wide range of career-based training opportunities,” said Jaime Zelaya, Director of City Parks Foundation’s Out of School Programs. “Our program prepares inner-city youth for internships in multimedia fields, while giving them the personal satisfaction of artistic expression and producing original films.”
The program is designed to help young people discover their talents while mastering valuable technology skills and exploring careers and workplaces. Participants gain knowledge in a broad range of standard and specialized industry software for video and sound editing. Teens develop leadership abilities, create a group identity, share their projects and serve their community.
“Young men in these under-served neighborhoods develop the skills necessary to become filmmakers and multimedia professionals,” Zelaya said. “In addition to technical skills and creative expression, we want our young people to focus on original thinking, self-motivation and the ability to feel confident when speaking with adults. Whatever careers they pursue in the future, these are vital skills that will serve them well.”
