YouthBeat

?? Meet the YouthBeat crew like never before—sitcom style! ?? #OfficeIntro #YouthBeatVibes

?? Join our Give to Grow Campaign! Since 2009, YouthBeat has empowered over 2,600 Oakland students with free media arts training, paving the way to careers in film, TV, and animation. ?? We’ve already raised $22,089 towards our $100,000 goal, and with your help, we can do so much more! Why Give to Grow? Because when you give, our students grow. "Programs like YouthBeat should be in every school! It teaches you how to work together and be social," says Martin, a middle school student at CCPA. Through media arts, Martin and his classmates are building not just skills but community, developing the teamwork and collaboration that will serve them throughout their lives. Story 2 of 7: Meet Martin, whose experience with YouthBeat highlights the importance of learning to work together in today’s world. This is what your support makes possible. Your gift fuels: ?? Digital Pathways: Hands-on skills in media arts. ?? Internships: Real-world experience with YouthBeat PRO. ?? Year-Round Programs: From classes to our new Apprenticeship. How to help: ?? Donate: Click the link in our bio. ?? Share: Spread the word and amplify our impact. ?? Follow: Stay tuned for more stories. When you give, they grow. ??? #GiveToGrow #YouthBeat #SupportYouth #FutureFilmmakers #InvestInYouth

??? Wrapping up the week with an inspiring team session! ??? Today, our YouthBeat staff came together for an all-staff training led by Executive Director Jake Schoneker and Education Director Sagesse Graham! ???? It was a powerful moment for our Teaching Artists to connect, share best practices, and plan new, extraordinary lessons for our students. ???? The energy in the room was electric as we exchanged ideas, refined strategies, and got ready to bring fresh creativity into our classrooms next week. ??? Together, we’re stronger and more ready than ever to inspire and empower Oakland’s future filmmakers! ??? #YouthBeatOakland #FridayMotivation #TeamTraining #TeachingArtists #FutureFilmmakers #BestPractices #YouthEducation #MediaArts #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork Anastacia Duenas, Kevin Cuenca Kristal R. Jalil Butron Meru Sharma Elizabeth Osborne

???? Big shoutout to the MetWest High seniors who are absolutely CRUSHING it in our Yearbook project! ???? Led by Teaching Artist Luis, these students are getting hands-on with designing their own press badges and documenting their senior year like pros. Check them out showing off their badges with pride! ???? Who’s ready for the most epic yearbook ever?! Stay tuned—these future media moguls are just getting started! ???? #YouthBeat #MetWestHigh #SeniorYearGoals #YearbookMagic #CreativeSquad #PressBadgesOnPoint #OaklandVibes #FutureFilmmakers

??? YouthBeat was proud to be at the Fall College and Career Options Fair at Ralph J. Bunche Academy! Our Senior Program Manager, Shakira, along with her colleague, engaged with students about exciting career paths in the film industry. ????? Students were able to learn more about YouthBeat’s Future Filmmakers and Summer Bridge programs, sparking their interest in pursuing media production. ?????? We were in great company with other fantastic organizations like The Unity Council, YR Media, Treasure Island Job Corps Ctr, Oakland Promise and Community Reading Buddies, all providing valuable opportunities for the next generation. ?? #YouthBeat #Oakland #FutureFilmmakers #FilmCareers #SummerBridge #YouthOpportunities #BuncheAcademy #CommunitySupport #OaklandEducation #CareerFair

??? Exciting news from YouthBeat! ?? We're thrilled to officially launch our Animation program at Burckhalter Elementary with our amazing new Teaching Artist, Elizabeth! ????? Today's lesson was all about students getting to know their new instructor as they embark on a creative journey in stop-motion and clay animation. Our 3rd-5th graders are ready to bring their imaginative ideas to life one frame at a time! ????? We can’t wait to see the incredible stories and animations these young artists create. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes moments and student projects! ??? #YouthBeatOakland #AnimationLaunch #CreativeKids #StopMotion #ClayAnimation #OaklandYouth #TeachingArtist #ArtsEducation #BuckhalterElementary

?? Join our Give to Grow Campaign! Since 2009, YouthBeat has empowered over 2,600 Oakland students with free media arts training, paving the way to careers in film, TV, and animation. ?? Why Give to Grow? Because when you give, our students grow. "Students in media arts are 4x more likely to achieve academic success, 3x more likely to earn attendance awards, and 2x more likely to graduate college, with boosted critical thinking and confidence." Story 1 of 7: Meet Onicka, who learned the power of teamwork through our Future Filmmakers Program. She’s thriving, and it’s all thanks to supporters like you. Your gift fuels: ?? Digital Pathways: Hands-on skills in media arts. ?? Internships: Real-world experience with YouthBeat PRO. ?? Year-Round Programs: From classes to our new Apprenticeship. How to help: ?? Donate: Click the link in our bio. ?? Share: Spread the word and amplify our impact. ?? Follow: Stay tuned for more stories. When you give, they grow. ??? #GiveToGrow #YouthBeat #SupportYouth #FutureFilmmakers #InvestInYouth

Yesterday, Teaching Artist Meru guided students through an exciting photography and graphic design class! ??? The session started with an overview of different types of shots, followed by a deep dive into abstract elements and lines. Afterward, the students took to the outdoors, capturing stunning abstract art that will inspire their final projects for the semester. We can’t wait to see their creativity unfold! Big thanks to Meru for leading such a powerful and inspiring lesson! ???? #YouthBeat #CreativeLearning #PhotographyAndDesign #OaklandSchools #InspiringYoungMinds

Say hello to our future filmmakers in action! ??Our Filmmakers 1 class is getting cozy both behind and in front of the camera, diving into the basics of photography. From capturing the beauty of nature to nailing that perfect action shot-these budding creatives are up for the challenge! Stay tuned for more epic shots and see how they bring their unique vision to life! #YouthBeat #bayarea #oaklandca #studentfilm #mediaeducation #bayareanonprofit #filmmaker #nonprofit #youthbeatacademy #oakland #teachers

?? This weekend, YouthBeat participated in the?#MakeitBay?Solutions Lab at Mama Dog Studios in Oakland! This incredible event brought together organizations from various industries to collaborate on developing robust workforce pathways that bring opportunities to our community and support productions filming here in Oakland. ??? Our team, including Executive Director Jake Schoneker, Creative Director Jalil Butron, and Senior Community Outreach Manager Gregory Collins, joined the Workforce Development working group moderated by former YouthBeat Teaching Artist Tajianna Okechukwu. Together, we tackled key discussions on skill and training requirements for productions to qualify for the Oakland Film Rebate, identifying who needs to be at the table, and addressing current training gaps in the industry. ????? Being collectively recognized as official Community Training Partners with the CA Film Commission is a significant step toward making film production in Oakland more accessible and cohesive across our region. We’re excited to be part of the movement that is shaping the future of film and media in our city! ???? Thank you to everyone involved for fostering conversations that drive positive change. Together, we’re building a brighter future for Oakland’s creative community! ???#YouthBeat?#CommunityImpact?#OaklandFilm?#WorkforceDevelopment?#BayAreaFilm