AT&T Donates Phones & Tablets
The AT&T Cyberbullying Awareness Showcase, a partnership between AT&T and YoFiFest, will provide 50 Yonkers students with an opportunity to take part in a two-month free STEAM program to learn how to create film and tell a visual story.
“The students will work with film and content experts to learn the basics of film production, script writing, use of mobile video cameras, mobile technology, digital editing, sound design and storytelling,” said Dave Steck, executive director of YoFiFest. “They will be challenged to work in teams to create short films based on the issues relating to cyberbullying that are important to them and tell those stories in their own words.”
Every aspect of each film – from script writing, to filming, to character development, to acting – will be created entirely by the students. The program will culminate with students premiering their short films in December at a mini film fest at YoFi’s Digital Media Art Center, where the films will receive awards for various disciplines and creativity.
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins attended the Sept. 27 program kickoff to address the students and help them unbox the 44 new smart phones and tablets that AT&T contributed – worth $25,000 – so each student, regardless of socioeconomic status, can have access to a digital video recording device.
“I commend AT&T and YoFiFest for teaming up to create this very special, free STEAM program, The AT&T Cyberbullying Awareness Showcase,” said Stewart-Cousins. “This two-month program will provide invaluable experiences for high school students in Yonkers and equip them with the tools to take on 21st-century careers. As a former schoolteacher, I understand that youngsters need to feel safe in order to succeed. This program not only provides multimedia and digital storytelling skills, but also empowers students to harness the power of technology to combat cyberbullying and promote online safety.”
AT&T’s partnership with YoFiFest on this educational initiative is a unique and creative way to expose local students to the skills and technology necessary to create film, new media and multimedia projects. As video content continues to become more popular, the profession of filmmaking and content development is becoming a high-demand profession. This project provides students with a unique opportunity to learn valuable lessons on how technology can be used to solve social issues and be used for social good.
The cyberbullying theme of the film and STEM program was selected because of the significant impact unsafe digital behavior is having on the youth of today. Curbing cyberbullying and promoting online safety are critical issues that AT&T is dedicated to addressing. Educational programs like this are important because, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor, much of the growth in the domestic and global economy will come from science, technology, engineering, art and math-related jobs – a highly lucrative and competitive field.
It is estimated that by 2020, there will be 2.4 million unfilled STEAM jobs.
The support was made possible by AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature $500 million philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism and mentoring. Aspire is one of the nation’s largest corporate commitments focused on school success and workforce readiness by creating new learning environments and educational delivery systems to help students succeed and prepare them to take on 21st century careers.
The seventh annual YoFi Film Festival will begin Nov. 1. Visit YoFiFest.com for details.
