Abstract

Technology access to youth in underserved areas has long been a concern for those seeking to bridge the digital divide. An organization in San Diego teaches "technoliteracy" so that youth can use media in ways that are meaningful to their lives. While youth express themselves by authoring online magazines and producing visual art for gallery exhibits, they are empowered and connected to global issues. This program was highlighted in the May 2005 issue of Youth Today.

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Issue

Bringing technology support and education to youth in underserved areas, in a way that is significant to their lives.

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Action

Heads on Fire partners with social change agencies and community technology companies to provide technology access and education, primarily for youth, in underserved areas. Most of the work takes place after school and in the summer, at sites around the city.

Activities are divided into three areas:

The [i]-Team provides digital literacy instruction.

ECHOES magazine helps youth use digital technology to document stories of community interest.

• This nationally distributed CD-ROM magazine contains multimedia journalism pieces as well as entertainment sections such as music and game reviews.
• Working in close partnership with Christina Glavas, of Minds Wide Open, ECHOES provides training in journalism, digital photography, video editing, audio production, and interactive game design.
• Participants work on Saturdays to develop their design skills and take part in a global education curriculum project. Themes such as imagery, oral histories, languages, community orientation, cultural heritage, and other international issues are used as a context for the work.
• The work includes traveling to different sites to conduct interviews, as well as production and design time spent in the lab.
• The ECHOES training is free and open to youth in San Diego between the ages of 14–18. There is an application process, and participants must be willing to make a ten-month commitment.

The Sunscreens series features the digital work of youth in a two-month gallery exhibit, based on an annual theme.

• Each show includes a display of pieces on gallery walls, programs of audio-visual recordings, and interactive kiosks display works created for the computer and the web.
• The theme for 2004 was artistic statements made either by or about young Californians who are a part of communities in distress. These included communities affected by crime, poverty, gangs, racism, health crises, refugee status, or social injustice.

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Context

Based in San Diego (with partnerships extending outside the city limits), Heads on Fire began in 2003 with the vision of Xavier Leonard, a designer and media artist. Leonard was inspired by production work he did for youth in the West African country of the Ivory Coast.

The agency has a part time staff of 20–25, including project directors, interns, instructors, and production assistants.

Funding comes from fees for services from community partners, such as the Center for Parent Involvement in Education, San Diego Youth and Community Services, Nativity Prep Academy, and Young Audiences of San Diego. Other contributions come from the Jacobs Foundation, the International Community Foundation, the Waitt Family Foundation, and the Community Technology Foundation of California.

Heads On Fire is dedicated to bridging the digital divide through the means of community-based media arts programs. Heads On Fire seeks to join artists, communities, and technology, recognizing that technology offers a medium to propel positive social change on a global level.

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Outcome

The Heads on Fire program:

• Provides access to technology for youth to tell their stories using media production tools.
• Teaches youth self-sufficiency, as they have to take real ownership in their work for progress to happen.
• Helps create a dialogue facilitated by youth that offers solutions in developing a more peaceful and humane global society.

For Echoes magazine, one youth created an interactive piece on AIDS orphans in his Ethiopian homeland. To increase the positive impact of his piece, he presented the video portions at conferences on AIDS and Community Engagement.

In support of the Sun Screens v2.0 presentation in Vienna (on display at the Avenida Culture of Peace Galleria in Vienna, Austria from August 9, 2004–September 10, 2004), Heads On Fire sent a group of youth and adults to Austria to conduct groundbreaking service-learning projects and trans-Atlantic youth collaboration. The Heads On Fire delegation engaged in intercultural exchange and in fulfilling the organization's mission of deploying technology as a means of effecting positive social change. The projects, identified with assistance from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, benefited Austria's young refugees who are living without parents.

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Evidence

As of May 2005 more than 500 youth, ages 12-24, have worked with Heads on Fire. Many participants are minorities, refugees, and children of families with incarcerated parents.

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Posted On

September 26, 2005

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For More Information

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Source Documents

Related Practices

• Improving neighborhoods with web-based community mapping

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Related sites

Youth Today

Learn and Serve America

Topic Areas

• At-risk youth
• Community building
• Community technology programs
• Mentoring
• Mentoring children of prisoners
• Out-of-school time
• Service-learning
• Youth service
• Training
• Community partnerships
• Corporate partnerships
• Partnerships
• Volunteer
• Community-Based Organizations
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Human needs
• Resource Center

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