Written, directed and produced by youth from Watts, California. A cinematic collective voice on the trials and triumphs of growing up in a challenged community.
Supported by: F. Gary Gray, Wells Fargo, United Nations Foundation, GirlUP, City of LA, Tom Bradley Community Center, Youth Opportunity HighSchool, Youth Opportunity Movement, Slam360.com, Sander Moses and The Challengers Boys & Girls Club.
Youth Attending | Tyrin Joyce, Ana Lou, Johna Rivers
THE 57th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS
FEBRUARY 8th, 2015
LIVE! on CBS | Hosted by LL Cool J
Youth Attending | Johna Rivers
Our Programs
Mentoring and Youth Development, Civic Engagement, Wellness, Leadership and Education through the Creative and Performing Arts are the core initiatives of Better Youth. These focal points aid in us in the succesful development of youth into holistic adults.
90% of youth participating in our program have graduated from high school and are enrolled in a college or university.
95% of our youth have performed or produced an event in their communities for their peers, parents and teachers.
Our Mission
Better Youth is a curriculum based media and performing arts mentoring agency for youth 8-21. We are committed to developing youth by fostering artistic creativity, strengthening character and life skills and increasing the desire for community service and leadership. Our objective and vision is to positively change a community of youth who grow up in impoverished homes and to make success more obtainable by being their extra pillar of support. Currently in Los Angeles, Better Youth is successfully mentoring over 100 youth in the South Central Los Angeles area with a focus on the community of Watts. The youth who participate in our program often face challenges such as incarceration, gang violence, teen pregnancy, abuse and deterred educational pursuits. Our programs help to broaden the perspective of youth by exposing them to film, theatre, music and dance performances, spoken word festivals and personal performance opportunities.
Spotlight
Global Moguls: Johna Rivers and Corey Crowell on their film project Who Knew
BREAKING NEWS
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced that Better Youth is one of only 163 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Challenge America grant. Better Youth received for support the creation and production of a youth-produced media showcase and related activities. Actor and film director Bill Duke will work with youth participants from local media literacy and media production training programs. Project activities will include screenings of film and digital works and a discussion with Duke, as well as a closing workshop with the Duke Youth Media Boot Camp staff.
