Take Notice of Me: Addressing Mental Illness in Youth

The Power of Stories is an archive of projects submitted every year to Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Statewide Convening. It showcases work created throughout California highlighting the power of individual and collective efforts to promote health and demonstrates how stories have the power to re-imagine and transform our communities. Produced in partnership with the California Endowment.

Project submitted by: Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA Youth Institute -- Cliavis Deficio production team

Project summary: Youth-developed narrative short film focused on the elements of Local Control Funding Formula in the local school district.

BHC site: Boyle Heights

The Weingart East Los Angeles (WELA) YMCA Youth Institute aims to reshape the landscape of Boyle Heights through the Y's three areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The Youth Institute is a year-round YMCA program that uses technology to promote youth development and prepare students for college & career readiness. The Youth Institute trains youth in an array of digital media skills including graphic design, web design, movie making, and music mixing in a computer lab setting. Projects are designed to encourage in youth a love of learning, while progressively and comprehensively building their academic, workforce, and social skills.