RECAP: On August 7, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL-01), hosted a press conference and roundtable discussion on gun violence prevention at Gary Comer Youth Center, where our FSM News South programming is hosted.
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RECAP: For the past few years, WorldChicago, a nonprofit organization "dedicated to promoting citizen diplomacy through programs that connect the Chicago community with the world," has facilitated two visits to the FSM News West summer documentary program. This year, our teen participants welcomed around 10 visitors from Saudi Arabia on July 23rd and 11 British teens from the UK-US Youth Dialogue Programme on July 25th.
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PHOTOS: Free Spirit Media hosted a Mid-Summer Fun Fest to offer a space for new connections and friendships to be made across all of Free Spirit Media's different programs.
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RECAP: Chicago Community Trust President and CEO, Helene Gale, and COO, Andrea Sanchez, joined us at The Nichols Tower in Homan Square to have a conversation with local leaders about the North Lawndale community.
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This year has been a great one for Free Spirit Media. We've traveled all over from bustling cities like New York to marches in Washington D.C. to relaxing in rural farms in India. We've won awards, hosted parties, rebranded, and celebrated one another's work.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Free Spirit Media is so humbled and grateful to be a part of the MacArthur Foundation Jack Fuller Initiative. Jack Fuller, former Editor and Publisher of The Chicago Tribune and MacArthur Trustee, was a firm believer that good journalism and civic engagement are inextricably linked.
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We want to tell REAL stories about REAL people living the REAL realities of the various systemic inequalities plaguing black and brown communities in this city.
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RECAP: Free Spirit Media's annual fundraiser was truly a night to remember. We'd like to thank all of our sponsors, our dedicated board, our brilliant staff, our wonderful volunteers, and our community of supporters for showing up, sharing our work, and investing in our vision.
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PHOTOS: Last week the Industry Pathways Cohort hosted a wrap party to celebrate another cohort graduation!
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The McCormick Foundation generously extended a two-year grant to Free Spirit Media to continue our work supporting youth artists to tell authentic stories about Chicago, an especially urgent need in our current climate of increased distrust in the media.
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Free Spirit Media youth artists produced a video documenting the March For Our Lives and National School Walkouts. This guide is meant for educators and community members to help facilitate discussions and connect youth to more resources.
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CHICAGO — National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $80 million in grants as part of the NEA’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018.
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PHOTOS: This past weekend the Industry Pathways Cohort wrapped production on their short film, "Fuzzy Legs." On Friday, they shot at the DePaul stages at Cinespace using their home set and on Saturday they shot at Hales Franciscan.
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PHOTOS: On Saturday, April 21, Free Spirit Media and WTTW hosted a screening and panel discussion at the Chicago Cultural Center. The selected pieces were documentaries and one narrative film that cover youth responses to gun violence.
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PHOTOS: Our Youth Council gathered each FSM program in one theater to share and enjoy the films they've been working on this year! #FSMforever #FSMfam
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PODCAST: This week Free Spirit Media was asked to speak on the Teaching in the Arts Podcast!
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PHOTOS: On Thursday, March 15 at Stage 18 Chicago, six different Cohort members pitched their 15-page scripts to a panel of eight industry experts who would judge and ultimately decide which script should be produced this Spring.
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Today is an exciting day for the growing #FSMfam as our new Deputy Director, Glenance Green, is starting her work with Free Spirit Media!
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PHOTOS: The InPathways Cohort Training Program launched on February 20th with an orientation at Stage 18! Cohort members from 2017 returned to discuss what they've been up to since completing the program, and new members came up with shared values for their group.
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CHICAGO - Feb 20, 2018 Thirteen members of Free Spirit Media’s Industry Pathways Cohort today began a 12-week intensive training program to prepare for work in the film, media and TV industries with an orientation at Stage 18 Chicago.
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