The Modern Story

why it's important:

My first experience doing something for my community was interpreting for Latino inmates who could not express themselves. I now work with inmates, immigrant communities, and marginalized religious youth to help them express themselves in the court room and beyond. As a 2009/2010 Fellow both myself, Danny Thiemann, and my Co-Fellow Ms. Vidya Putcha, are working to develop this program in an all boys boarding school on the margins of the city and an all girls school in the heart of Hyderabad's railway system.

the plan of action:

Through a fellowship program, TMS positions highly innovative leaders in the classroom with children of daily wageworkers who are from traditionally oppressed religious and caste minorities. During a six-month semester, students learn to tell stories of personal, social, and environmental importance through the digital storytelling medium. Students inspire community awareness and action through local video screenings and global dialogue via a weblog. Before fellows begin teaching students and training faculty at a school, TMS installs a digital media station, which is given to the school on a permanent basis to enhance its curriculum and create further opportunities for students.

how you can get involved:

videos: