Develop your message

PTD partnered with Citizen Schools in a 10-week film apprenticeship for middle school youth called “If I had a Minute with the President.” The result was a 5-minute nonpartisan film short that was shown on the floor of the Democratic National Convention. This project gave youth a voice and engaged them in our democratic process. It also served to

• Positively shift public attitudes toward youth
• Create a forum where adults listen and include youth in the process of decision-making that affects them
• Inspire more media messages created by and about youth
• Create public awareness of what youth care about

In 2004, Project: Think Different produced the “Who's Next: Witness, Perpetrator, Survivor” video as a creative way to address the issue of violence among women. We recorded the video during a conference in Dorchester, a neighborhood with a high rate of violence among women. Survivors shared their personal experiences with 13-18 year-old girls through interactive arts and pop-culture mediums, while encouraging participants to share their own encounters with violence. Several organizations have requested the use of this video as a tool for helping girls to express their perspectives on violence and how it affects them personally. The video was discussed and previewed on Neighborhood Network News and on BNN’s shows: “Its Our Business” and “Street Peace”.

How can the media be used to spur civic engagement and positive social change? Middle-school students from the Citizen Schools program at the Harbor Middle School in Roxbury, MA grappled with questions of access, point of view, message-making, imagery and audio/visual techniques in this 2002 PTD apprenticeship program. Our goal was to help the students critically analyze messages, use media to engage in civic dialogue, and become media message producers themselves. The students applied what they learned by producing two Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos on how the media can be used to encourage us to be positive and proactive in our communities. Channel 7 WHDH screened these PSAs in December 2002.

Wake Up! PSA (37sec - 1466kb - Quicktime)

In September 2002, Project: Think Different sponsored the Jammin for Justice public service announcement (PSA) competition, and co-sponsored a Teach-In for Economic Justice. Local musicians, hip hop, and spoken word artists created 1- to 2-minute PSA's on justice, equity and fairness. The goal of the PSA's is to promote unity and raise awareness of the perspectives and priorities of unheard populations. We recorded the PSA's on CD, and the artists performed at various rallies and events to support economic justice.

Tune in to these mp3s from our artists
allana l bobby l bojah l das l eroc l toussaint l kiki brevelife nuri l

The messages of singer-songwriter Eli Pabon focus on community organizing and using the arts for social activism. The music video Changes features several local organizations that promote people organizing through the arts to create positive change in the current system. Produced in March 2003 by PTD, this video was aired on WHDH Channel 7 and at numerous venues in Boston and beyond.

Changes (3 min - 8032kb - Quicktime)

In August 2003 Project: Think Different produced the music video for Ayisha Knight’s CD, “Until.” Broadcast on WHDH Channel 7 and on Boston Neighborhood Network, the video creatively utilizes personal photographs of Knight to weave connections among themes of identity, race, sexuality, and empowerment. Her earthy, palpable neo-soul beats were recorded by PTD’s sister organization, Empowerment Records, in collaboration with Phanai Records.

Watch Until video: 15 secs (1376kb - Quicktime)30 sec (1513kb - Quicktime)