Video production crew, fig media, asks Chicago youth what they need from city leadership for the creation of the MBK Action Plan.
For the creation of the MBK city initiative, an Obama Foundation and Thrive Chicago lead project. My Brother's Keeper assembled a Chicago based group to create an action plan report for the city of Chicago. This included Chicago production Company, fig media. The powerhouse team included some of the cities largest non-profits and community groups as well as city services. As part of the initiative, the group traveled to high-schools and non-profits to gather interviews that informed the creation of the report. Fig's task was to create a digital companion that brought to life the voices of the neighborhoods directly.
My Brother’s Keeper, the program Obama initiated from the White House in February 2014, then adopted after his presidency by forming the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance in 2015 — was in 2017 brought under the umbrella of his foundation, which has been providing groups nationwide with seed grants to develop action plans tackling the plight of these youth. The first such plan, to be announced at an all-day summit being held Friday at the Downtown Chicago Cultural Center, tackles issues facing young men of color in Chicago. Spearheaded by the nonprofit Thrive Chicago, the 10-point roadmap brings together private and public groups to address in new and innovative ways issues such as mentoring, social and emotional learning, education and employment. We worked with Thrive Chicago and the full MBK Action plan team to create the digital documentary companion.
Challenges
The project was massive and shifted in scope daily. Wrapping our arms around the limited budget and accommodating the needs of the project was a moving target. Bringing cameras into intimate focus groups required a great deal of trust building. We spent time in groups doing our best to help people understand that their honest words would be used to lobby for change while understanding the skepticism of youth who’s voices are often dismissed. We kept our crews small and compact to preserve the integrity of the space and joined the process to aid facilitation.
How our services were used + Film, Photo or Deejay samples
Documentary filmmaking crew and editing services.
Multi-Day Coverage and Full Program Delivery
Clips of key interviews and statements for presentations
1 highlight film
1 teaser
1 feature that includes key steps for the report.
Results, Return on Investment and Future Plans
The style of our videos became the cornerstone for the report. Directed, Shot and Edited by Melissa Fox, the work required a seasoned hand at assembling a deliverable with complex needs. Melissa grew up on the South-Side of Chicago, being included in the project at a high level was an honor to serve the communities she came from. The report and it's digital companion had direct influence on city decisions and legislation to better support the youth of our city. This speaks directly to the heart of the media we create. Media that matters and influences positive change in our work. The films were celebrated and screened as part of the MBK initiative to which Chicago was the first and largest city to create a report. It's template is still being used to replicate across the nation.
