FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Teens of the East Bay Asian Youth Center Premiere Documentary Show ‘Keepin’ It Solid’

August 17, 2010, Oakland, CA - On Friday August 20, 2010 a group of Oakland youth from the East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC) will premier the documentary “Keepin’ It Solid”, at the East Side Arts Alliance, located at 2277 International Blvd, in Oakland, CA. The show was produced over the course of a six-week program this past summer, allowing youth involved to explore the topics of  “Parent/Teen Relationships”, “Fear of Failure”, and “Racial Identity” by interviewing each other and the local community. This project was a collaboration of several Oakland based youth programs, (Streetside Productions, Beats Rhymes and Life, and FRESH the Magazine), aiming to provide a summer program that would enrich the future of the youth involved.

“This youth-produced show is sure to be a hit. It’s edgy, truthful and tackles the hard to talk about topics. It’s a prime example of what is possible when collaboration and creativity intersect with youth development.” ~ T. Tomas Alvarez III, Executive Director of Beats Rhymes & Life

Students in the program had little or no experience with video production, but through instruction from Peter Kim of Streetside Productions, they were able to learn basic pre-production, production, and post-production skills in documentary style storytelling.  Students were encouraged to consider themes of self-reflection, family, and community when deciding what topics to feature. In addition to video production, students also became contributing writers for FRESH The Magazine, under the direction of Paloma Belara and Tomas Alvarez, of Beats Rhymes and Life.  This component of the program helped students build writing and critical thinking skills, and provided knowledge and experience in utilizing social media, and organizational tools.

Keepin’ It Solid will be available to view after the premiere on www.freshthemagazine.com. All ages are welcome to attend the event at the East Side Arts Alliance, with doors opening at 6pm. Admission is free, with food and drinks provided.

RSVP’s for the event are encouraged on FB: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105500912841706

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About The East Bay Asian Youth Center:
The East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC) is a community-building organization dedicated to inspiring young people to be life-long builders of a just and compassionate multi-cultural society. For over 35 years, EBAYC has served youth and families in Oakland and Berkeley by providing comprehensive support services, on-site after school programming, leadership development, and community organizing.  (www.ebayc.org)

About Streetside Productions:
Streetside Productions is a video production and job readiness program of the East Bay Asian Youth Center based in Oakland, CA. With youth development at its core, Streetside Productions provides young people with the skills, tools, and opportunities to create their own voice for self-expression and storytelling. (www.youtube.com/ebaycstreetside)

About Beats Rhymes and Life:
Beats, Rhymes and Life is a clinically-based community organization rooted in Oakland, CA that aims to promote mental health and wellness among youth and young adults by utilizing Hip Hop and other forms of popular culture. (www.beatsrhymesandlife.org)

About FRESH The Magazine:
FRESH the Magazine (For Real Expression Start Here), is a youth development project developed by Beats Rhymes and Life to provide a platform for youth to showcase their creative works, and build community, while developing professional business and media skills. (www.freshthemagazine.com)

For more info contact:
Paloma Belara
paloma@beatsrhymesandlife.org
415-992-1428

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