I had the pleasure of working with the youth of Seventh Native American Generation, SNAG Magazine, for 5 years. I taught the youth media skills and helped them to document their work in videos and photography. While working with SNAG youth I had the chance to do joint workshops with PODER SF, Youth MOJO at the Chinese Progressive Association, and the youth of the Friendship House SF.  I worked closely with SNAG Magazine founders Ras K’dee and Shadi Rahimi on many interesting projects like editing their footage taking a Native American delegation to Palestine, documenting youth dancers at community powows, and helping the youth make short horror film Sage Smoke. I am still in contact with some of the SNAG youth and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow up.

I had the honor of being the mentor for Puente Visón, a youth media collective, in their first year.  Alejandra was is this video that I shot and edited to fight her father’s deportation, and to celebrate their victory. Alejandra teamed up with Jennifer, Carlos, Rosalyn, Leslie, Joey and Rocio to start Puente Visión, a youth media collective. The youth have been making videos and taking photographs to support other families in their community. Puente Visión is youth led and they create their own programming and projects. The group is developing media and leadership skills while they express the trauma of family separation though creativity and art.