Big+Picture+Alliance

Shira Stoltz Reflection #2


 * Visit their website. **

//“Since 1996, the Big Picture Alliance has made a big difference for over 4,500 youth”. //Big Picture Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide media arts education programs to underserved youth. Big Picture Alliance strives to reach the underserved youth with their varying program times ranging from during and after school, to summer full day summer programs. By bringing their programs to the students’ schools, or community centers, Big Picture Alliance is able to reach more young people. The various programs provide educational and engaging exposure to video production that allow kids to develop their media literacy skills, team work skills, “…self-expression, academic, life and job skills”. In the programs that Big Picture Alliance offers, students get exposed to all aspects of the creative process in video production. They start by learning the essential roles and core skills of the process such as, acting skills, technical skills and writing skills. Through the video production process, they separate into various concentrations where they are able to learn more specialized skills. Big Picture Alliance gives them the challenge and opportunity to work in a group, and interchangeably gain knowledge and experience with many roles in the creation process. The learning doesn’t stop at production, in the post production phase students gain experience with editing and marketing. Big Picture Alliance not only provides students with an amazing opportunity for learning and growth, but provides them with material for a portfolio, and possibilities for future apprenticeships and internships. The technical, analytical, social, and life skills the students gain from their experience in a Big Picture Alliance program are life-enhancing. The Mission of Big Picture Alliance is a truly inspiring and amazing one. A lot of times students can be underestimated in their potential and talent. I was very involved in theatre in school and I found it to be my best emotional, physical and creative outlet, I wish that there was a program like this at my school. The opportunity of learning from their peers that the students are being given is such an important one. When I worked together with my peers on performances or media editing projects, it was the hardest thing to learn how to be creative in a group. Everyone would have such different ideas of what they wanted the final product to be, and it took a lot of compromise and flexibility to come to our finished products. However, through the struggle we all learned to be open, accepting, driven, organized and still be creative. Programs that Big Picture Alliance has to offer is an ultimate representation of how integration of Media Literacy/Arts Education should be integrated in the education system. Are the programs that are located at the schools recognized as extracurricular, or accredited? Do they do any programming for younger students? Are they open to the community, or do you have to be affiliated with one of their partners?
 * Mission and Overview of Big Picture Alliance **
 * Response**