THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
The Boys and Girls Club, BB& T Teen Center provided teens for
the creation of a promotional video for the "We Got Issues" project. The organization also provided teens for a video
segment included in the first episode of Link Media's public access show, Hip-hop Music and Urban Videos: Creating Culture
or Chaos? Link Media's President also volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club on a regular basis to find out what
issues teens are dealing with and to help provide some positive direction. The Boys and Girls Club also let us try
out a new concept, the "We Got Issues" Forums. These forums are a spin-off of the Public Access show. In the near future,
Link Media plans to bring the forums to teen centers across Richmond. Teens will have an opportunity to candidly express themselves
without the cameras rolling.Two organizations agreed to facilitate test forums: The Richmond Health Department
and Spa Travelers. The Richmond Health Department addressed about 15 teens. They talked graphically
about everything from family planning to STD prevention. Spa Travelers, a holistic living organization talked
to a group of seven girls. The main topics that the teens focused on during this session were teen sex and lesbianism. This
forum helped Spa Travelers come up with ideas for topics for their Girls are Talking conference. The test forums
proved that teens want to talk. They just need someone to listen. Unfortunately, by the summer 2005, the Boys and Girls Club,
BB& T Teen Center had to close its doors due to lack of funding.
ART 180
Link Media's "We Got Issues" project and Art180 share
similiar missions, giving the youth an opportunity to express themselves. Art 180 has a wonderful arts program during the
year for young artists. Professional artists volunteer and help young people create beautiful pieces of work. Link Media approached
Art180 about building the set for "We Got Issues" and the organization graciously accepted. The youth and the volunteer
artists spent one day a week for 12-weeks to build the "We
Got Issues" set. The set was unvailed at Art 180's annual art show, May 25, 2005. The set was on display at Art Space
in Richmond, VA and was used during the 2nd taping of "We Got Issues" on Public Access.
ZOKA
Bill Grishaw of Zoka House of Music recorded the voice-over for the promotional
video for "We Got Issues." Grishaw also met with the President of our company to brainstorm about effectively building Link
Media. Zoka is a hot new music studio. Be sure to check out the liink below.
STUDIO 108
Studio 108 has provided enormous support to Link Media. Andy Montague
of Studio 108 has volunteered his time and talent to our company. Andy has provided editing, DVD authoring, and studio
support. He also put up and broke down the set used at Public Access. Andy and Studio 108 continues to provide support
to Link Media. Studio 108 is one of the major affiliates helping Link Media reach a higher level.
WESTOVER COMMUNITY CENTER
For the summer 2005, Westover Community Center and Richmond Parks,
Recreation, and Community Facilities sponsored the "We Got Issues" summer television production program. The summer program
was incorporated into the city's "Great Summer Escape" line-up of activities that students could choose to participate
in at the community center. The center provided the students, supplies, a school bus for a field trip, certificates and food
for the closing ceremonies. Most importantly, the Westover Community center provided the opportunity for Link Media
to increase its credibility in Richmond.
THE PEOPLE'S FILM COMPANY
The People's Film Company provided the editing for all of the video footage
used in the promotional video for "We Got Issues." The company also provided editing for all of the pre-taped
video segments included in the first episode of "We Got issues," Hip-hop Music and Urban Videos: Creating Culture
or Chaos?
COMCAST
Comcast Public Access in Richmond has provided us with a wonderful place
to hold our televised forum. The live call-in format allows us to receive immediate feedback about what the community feels
about the issues that are being discussed.
Comcast Government Access in Chesterfield opened their doors to Link Media. Our company
wanted to give the students that participated in our 2005 summer television production program some real experience.
We approached the production manager, Martin Stith, about giving a hands-on studio tour and he said yes without hesitation.
The students experience at Comcast Government Acces in Chesterfield is documented in the Peter Humes article that
appeared in the August 2, 2005 Richmond Times Dispatch.
