My Compact24 Experience: Integrating Media and Community Engagement

At Compact24, I was particularly drawn to presentations that explored the integration of media and film into community-engaged projects. One panel, "Shining a Light on Community Stories: Media Studies in Service," led by instructors Ellen Shortt Sanchez from Evergreen State College and Suree Towfighnia from Metropolitan State University of Denver, showcased their collaborative video work with students at Evergreen and how it can be driven by a simple community need. 

The community partners they had worked with disabled youth or food pantry, who were interested in getting short promotional videos they could use on their website or at fundraisers. The initiative required that students build their production skills and also engage in listening sessions to learn about the organization and its mission. This was something they did across two quarters. As Shortt Sanchez noted, the resulting videos varied in quality, yet they yielded two significant benefits: they provided organizations with promotional videos they might otherwise lack resources or bandwidth to easily create, and the process empowered students to explore the potential of visual storytelling in community settings. 

Another panel that was particularly inspiring, "Love, Generosity, Listening: Cultivating Communities of Care," featured speakers from Massachusetts College of Art and Design's Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP) whose entire focus was utilizing media and art in collaboration with community. Learning about CACP prompted me to consider how similar initiatives could be implemented at DU, particularly in light of the collaborative, assessment-driven approach they emphasized. 

One exemplary project they discussed was the collaboration between CACP and Harvard Medical School to redesign the Family Van, a mobile medical unit serving diverse Boston communities. What stood out to mee was the meticulous listening, client collaboration, and onsite engagement with patients and community members. In the end, the students helped to redesign and transformed the van's appearance to better connect with local youth. You can see the before and after images of the family van below.    

Compact24 has provided invaluable models and inspiration, shaping my resolve to further develop and implement similar initiatives at DU. Especially with projects like the one I've been exploring with Southwest Vida, a youth-led media initiative raising awareness about the lives and needs of Denver's Latinx youth.