NEWS

BYkids is thrilled to be invited by The Dalton School to discuss POET AGAINST PREJUDICE with Yom Fox’s senior elective, Thinking Globally, Acting Locally.

“Carter, a former writer for The New York Times, began the initiative after realizing the power of storytelling and film in creating human connections. BYkids explores current issues by giving children across the globe the opportunity to tell their stories through the art of filmmaking. With the help of a distinguished filmmaker, each child works as a director and cinematographer on their own film..It enables viewers to connect with the communities in the films and ultimately fosters empathy for everyone involved,” writes Mitra Farzami ’20

Honored to partner with LeadersQuest for top executives from Standard & Poors to watch and discuss I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE with filmmaker Mike Martin, his grandma and girlfriend at Friends of Island Academy with ED Chris Pahagian and Messiah Ramkissoon and NYU professor Terrence Coffie and LeadersQuest’s Lindsay Levin and Carol Ciancutti. Thanks to Friends for hosting our profound evening. “We loved the visit. The whole group was very moved by it, and inspired. There was much conversation afterwards about what they learned and what this meant for their leadership and their company,” said Lindsay.

BYkids is honored to present and discuss POET AGAINST PREJUDICE at Choate Rosemary Hall at the New York Arabic Teachers’ Council. Thanks to Susan Wicht and George Chahwan.

Carrie Wismer Yakola organizes two days of screening activities for Heronfield Academy, which screened FIRE IN OUR HEART. Holly Carter also screened I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE at Phillips Exeter Academy followed by a discussion about what it means to address real world topics through the voice of children. The next day, Ms. Carter led three grades through a master class in creating magic through their stories. The Heronfield Academy students spoke about topics such as “how adults have messed up the world” and “something one may not know by looking at me.”

We are thrilled to be part of SXSW EDU 2020! Discussion between our panelists and clips from BYkids’ PBS documentary, OUT OF ALEPPO, will demonstrate the power of giving agency to those who have been displaced by violence via the storytelling of Mohammad Shasho, a young man from Aleppo, Syria. We learn how he became empowered to overcome hardships and obstacles. The voice and experience of a peer will allow teachers and their students to delve into discussions about borders and immigration and moreover; teach empathy against xenophobia. Panel description here

https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/95837

BYkids is lucky to spend a week with social impact leaders from over 50 countries at the Opportunity Collaboration 2019. This global network of leaders dedicated to building solutions to injustice helped BYkids learn, leverage and laugh! Thanks to the IF Hummingbird Foundation and the support of Hearts on Fire.

Congratulations to Mike Martin and his mentor, Hollis Meminger. The Nashville Film Festival audience loved I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE and we had a blast here celebrating Mike’s 21st birthday! We missed you Chiemi Karasawa, Mike’s other incredible mentor on this film.

The new BYkids Junior Board is hard at work strategizing ways to support our work through Events, Social Media, Fundraising, Partnerships and Education. Watch for much more from this dynamic and committed group.

We are hard at work on four new films on disability, antisemitism, Native American culture and globalization in Bhutan. Here is mentor Evan Mascagni working with Daunnette Moniz-Reyome on her reservation in Nebraska.

In WALK ON MY OWN, a 16-year-old filmmaker documents the history of Keur Simbara — one of the first villages in Senegal to abandon female genital cutting and child marriage, read the article about this BYkids film by Omolara Uthman at Assembly with the support of Malala. Read article here