We have an inclusive, safe space and embrace youth from all corners.We encourage youth to speak their minds.We affirm youth experiences and youth truth-telling.We validate youth perspective and celebrate their resiliency, honesty, and creativity.We uplift, encourage, and motivate.We elevate youth expression and voice.

WHAT WE DO

CULTIVATING YOUTH ALUMNI MENTORS:

SPOTLIGHT ONROCIO ROMAN

As an aspiring instrumentalist and songwriter, Rocio Roman was looking to

learn about composing and producing music, so she signed up for a Street-Level

workshop at Roberto Clemente High in 2010. She grew both technically and

artistically, and with the support of the program, was exposed to advanced

production techniques, various digital audio workstations, and music theory.

After graduation, she expanded hermusic production skills at Street-Level to

include audio engineering, recording and mixing final projects that helped her express herself. Her steady growth,

maturity and artistic development made Rocio a clear choice to be one of

Street-Level’s first Audio Engineering Interns, and as such she will be

responsible for providing engineering services and mentorship to other Chicago

youth. At the end of 2012, Rocio was accepted in the Art Institute Chicago‘s

audio engineering program.

REALITY, RULES, REBELLION: SAAP 2012 The 2012 theme of the Summer Arts Apprenticeship Program (SAAP) was “Reality, Rules, Rebellion” resulted in 15 individual and collaborative works that included topics such as coping with school regulations; youth-driven fashion and music subcultures; evaluations of mass media news; the lack of public participation in our perceptions of important civic issues; and how controversial cultural trends are also personal statements (such as tattoos and environmentalism). The showcase included the transformation of one of our instructional spaces into a teenager’s bedroom. It addressed two issues: fighting for educational opportunities for ill and sick youth, and how one’s own bedroom is a critical bastion for self-expression. Picture below, Deanna Robinson in the females in hip-hop exhibition space.

YOUTH DRIVEN PROGRAMS ARE ON THE RISE

Q: How do successful youth-driven programs come about?

A: Here at Street-Level, students go through programs we already have in place —in some cases ALL of the programs— and they take

what they have learned and simply apply initiative to build something based on their interest. Currently, that’s Anime Club

and Game Club. Anime Club came first.

Q: How and when did Anime Club start?

A: In 2011, student Tamairis Dixon attended Anime Central for the first time with one of our media instructors. Once we moved to

our Ashland Avenue location later that year, he met more kids with an interest in anime. It started very small with maybe five or

six youth. Now, on a full day there are around 17 kids. For some, it was their first interaction with Street-Level. In 2012 the official

Anime Club began developing a logo, started a podcast series and began documenting conventions.

Q: And this opened the door to other clubs forming?

A: Over the years, students ask about Street-Level hosting different types of programs or speakers, and we look into it as

time and resources allow. What’s great is when the youth take the active leadership role in making it happen. The idea for Game Club

was seeded in 2012. It launched with the idea of having a Gamefest, a tournament competition for prizes. Then kids just started bringing their systems in over the wintertime to share

games and hang out. In the future we expect great things, bringing in local developers or game celebrities.

Q: Can you talk about the roles of the mentor and the organization in youth-driven programs or clubs?

A: Primarily, it’s to give the youth freedom to discuss things that are important to them. As an instructor, I step back and allow

ideas to flow, offering guidance, but letting the kids know that the decisions are ultimately theirs to make. Providing space and

access to technology, and bringing in mentors or people who are established in their field to help guide or verify or share

knowledge is important. And of course, a welcoming and accepting environment is key to building a community. The

positive energy is what keeps people coming.

an interview with Instructor James Duke

Prosser HS

Beasley ElemDunne Tech AcademyDvorak TechAcademyGillespie Elem

Marquette ElemJosephinum Academy

Juarez HSJulian HS

Vaughn HS

Clemente HSYWLCS HS

Francis Parker HS

Nettlehorst Elem

Mark Sheridan Elem

SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS

Integrated Classroom Media Arts Projects

After-School Digital Arts Programs

Field Trips to Street-Level Studios

Multimedia Arts and Journalism Classes

$100,000+McCormick Tribune FoundatonPrince Charitable Trust

$50,000-$99,999Chicago Community Trust

$25,000-$49,999Boeing CorporationPolk Bros. Foundation

$10,000-$24,999Adobe FoundationAlphawood Foundation (WPWR Channel 50)Field Foundation of IllinoisMozilla Foundation

$1,000-$9,999Best Buy Children's FoundationDepartment of Cultural Affairs Deutsche BankEilts & Associates, Inc.Ethics & Excellence in JournalismFarther FoundationMacArthur FoundationNAMM FoundationSpeh FoundationTopfer Family FoundationWicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce

Up to $999Dennis Evchich AgencyGap Giving CampaignKraft Foods FoundationMake It LastNational Priorities ProjectTIAA-CREFUS Road Sports & Entertainment of Chicago

FOUNDATION, CORPORATE,

GOVERNMENT, & COMMUNITY

SUPPORTERSSTREET-LEVEL IS GRATEFUL FOR OUR MANY SUPPORTERS,

WITHOUT WHOM NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE

Our current mission statement reads "Street-Level Youth Media educates Chicago's urban youth in the media arts and emerging technologies for self-expression, communication, and social change”. We do this so young people have the confidence and skills to imagine better futures for themselves, and create the world they want to live in. Street-Level embraces all youth. We want all youth to reach their fullest potential. Regardless of where they come from and where they start, we meet them where they're at. Youth often say Street-Level is like a home to them, and they genuinely feel cared for by the adults here, accepted by their peers. In our programs and center, this sense of physical, social, and

WHY WE DO IT a letter by Executive Director Manwah Lee

psychological safety creates an environment where youth can freely express themselves, develop their voice and identities, and form healthy relationships with other peers and adults. We encourage youth to explore their interests, take creative risks, learn new things, and learn to learn--perhaps the most important skill we can give them. Sometimes they get to experience new things like plane rides and trips to DC, but in this highly segregated city, it's equally eye-opening for many to just come across town, visit downtown museums through our programs, and make connections to people outside of their neighborhoods. This is also connected to how we build community with youth, cultivate their sense of belonging and their civic identities. When they feel they are part of something, they want to contribute to it. We see this for example when youth become peer mentors, or take the initiative to launch their own club at Street-Level. And I've been so thrilled over the years when different youth have expressed to me that they want to work at Street-Level. Finally, media and technology are integral to everyday life. This will only become more so in the future. So, what chance will youth who do not have access to technology resources have? And even when they do have this access, do we want them to only use it as an entertainment pastime? At Street-Level, we show them much more. They learn to use various media software and equipment to produce original videos, music tracks, graphic design, or photography work, picking up lots of tech-saavy and practical skills that will be transferrable to different jobs and related career tracks. But,

they're also learning in process how to use media, art, and technology to develop their voice, produce content that reflects their perspectives and interests. By sharing their message with others, they are influencing people and the world

around them.

Juli BarkMarketing Consultant

Eddie CloptonExelon

Meg ComerDeutsche Bank

Will FletcherCity of Chicago,Inspector General‘s Office

Shawn Healy, McCormick Foundation

Andrew Hixon, Preformance Trust Capital Partners

Tim Irwin, Winstrust Commercial Bank

Russell Lewis, Chicago History Museum

2012 BOARD

2012 STAFFManwah Lee, Executive Director

Marc Furigay, Director of Education

Jill Puleo, Administrative Manager

Maria Krasinski, Development Manager

Aasia Mohammad, Outreach Coordinator

Christopher Lee, Media Instructor

James Duke, Media Instructor

$1,000+Chris CarneyWill FletcherCourtney GrayShawn HealyAndrew HixsonTimothy IrwinRussell LewisBrian Spekis

$500-$999Juli BarkEddie CloptonMeg ComerCynthia DickensRobert Johnson

$100-$499Clark BellMichael DeitchArthur DuffySharon EdwardJeena GreenwaltAmanda GutierrezCarrie HixsonPaul JaimesPaul Johnson Laura MichaelMichael MoranDavid NiemanMelissa OglesbyArt PasticheMarc PomeranceLori RimacCarlos Rosa

Carolina SanchezChiraq ShaAhLaura SminkeyConnie VariShelly Ziacik

up to $99Jose AlfonsoDave Anderson Aaron ArreguinMichael & Susan Baseheart Marie L. BattagliaJosh BednarzJanice BelzowskiSamantha BuddWilliam BufordJen Cadigen Charles Carpenter Mk CarrolEda ChaoJoe ChybowskiJohn CipollaMicheal S. ClarkChris CobbCristina Correa Luciana CrovatoEsmie CuevasJuan CuevasNathalie Cuevas-Rosa Charlotte DadabayJoe DiBernardo Jennifer BrandelKyle FletcherMeg GeldmanLauren Gill Sarah Gray Warlie Greiner

Judy GuardiaTiffany HintonCathy HendersonWayne HoJared HopkinsWilliam IrizarryArlene JamoAnthony JanasMonica JasoLaura JohnsonPatricia JurekSandee KastrulMary KellyJohanna Laigo Beth Larocca Paul Thomas LewisJack LohanBarbara MaesPatrick MaesSarah MaganaLaura Magand Gary ManalusFrank Marasignan Ed & Dawn Marges Edwin MoraDeliah MorenoLori Mula Jennifer MurayamaNancy NevarezNilmariJonathon Norman

Michael OffergeldCarolyn OliverGigi Ortiz Michael PaulucciApril PeckFran Pomerance William PopeGuillermo Raya Lynn RelozaMaria Rosa Maraliz SalgadoVanessa SanchezJen Schrover Andrea SerranoPeter Shiner Ellen Siirola Janet Siirola Karen Siirola Nancy SiirolaCarly Siuta Nicole SneltanChristine SzewczykDave TannerAndea Tempkin Kathy ToochFrank Valadez Kate WalshHelen WoghinCynthia WongJeremiah Worth

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Cash and cash equivalents _____$374,935Fixed assets ________________ $499,554Security deposit ______________ $13,150

Total Assets: $887,639

Long-term debt______________ $130,090Security deposit _______________ $13,150 Total Liabilities: $143,240

Unrestricted ________________ $433,797Temporarily restricted ________ $596,813

Total Net Assets: $1,030,610

Total Liabilities & Net Assets: $1,173,850

FINANCIALS