Seeing the World through a Different Lens

In poor areas of New York City, the view is limited - and the images young people see in the media are often negative representations of their communities. With such a narrow window onto the world, it's not surprising that many grow up feeling oppressed and diminished.

Yet many of these teens also abound with creativity, passion and original ideas. Given the right knowledge, tools, and the attention of caring adults, these young people can learn about themselves and their worlds, gain the skills to tell their stories, and ultimately change their communities for the better.

Reversing Roles to Create a New Outlook

Global Action Project (G.A.P.) gives at-risk young people a different perspective by placing them behind the camera, where they learn to recognize the subtle and pervasive impact of the mainstream media on their lives - and how to respond to negative depictions with their own accurate portrayals.

G.A.P. directly serves up to 150 young New Yorkers every year with after-school programs in which young people create original videos, photography, and web-based and other electronic media. Here, they acquire the ability to tackle the difficult social issues that concern and impact them most - identity, immigration, sexual and community health, juvenile justice, and education. Screening their original videos at gatherings around the globe, G.A.P. students, in turn, are able to show others the world in a different light. In 2005 alone, their award-winning videos were viewed by an audience of 100,000 in more than 75 venues worldwide.

Through G.A.P. programs, disadvantaged youth get far more than media skills. They learn to voice their opinions, engage with their communities on important issues, relate to the world in an entirely different way - and find out how far the power of their ideas can take them.

"I want to make media because it's a way in which you can express your feelings about issues going on in the world today. I think it could make a difference in this world."

-Ralston Reid, Age 17