Freedom Reels

I designed and led a summer media literacy curriculum for the TUFF Girls - Freedom Reels program. This initiative, supported by the Leeway Foundation, taught cis and trans girls ages 12-14 how to use both high-fidelity and low-fidelity documentation tools—from traditional cameras to cell phones—to tell powerful stories. The curriculum focused on empowering them to document their lives, neighborhoods, and the things that matter most to them, such as self-determination, protection, sisterhood, and feeling celebrated within their own communities.

A key component of the program was showing the girls how to use digital platforms to amplify their voices. I developed and presented workshops that provided case studies on how to leverage traditional and non-traditional media channels to propel social movements through diverse forms of storytelling. At the program's conclusion, students proudly presented their final works to their community, demonstrating their newfound skills and confidence in communicating their perspectives and shaping their own narratives.