April 18, 2012

A team of Film & Video students, led by Assistant Professor Lise Raven, donated their 2012 spring break to video-documenting the week long We Are Family Foundation, Three Dot Dash, Nile Rodgers Just Peace Summit in New York City.

Westphal Film & Video students Kevin Davenport, Curtis Donar, Melina Smith and Connor Bordiga spent the week of March 24th - March 30th in New York City, capturing the story of the thirty international Global Teen Leaders (GTLs) who were chosen for their efforts to promote a more peaceful society by addressing issues related to the basic human needs of food, water, health, shelter, safety, education and the environment. Over the course of the week, GTLs learn how to "tell their stories" via multiple media vehicles and distribution methods taught by influential figures from the worlds of film, photography, music, media and communications.

A highlight of the week was the Three Dot Dash Flash Mob created and directed by Lise Raven and filmed by our students. The Three Dot Dash Flash Mob was designed to rewrite the narrative of young people who wear hooded sweatshirts or “hoodies.” Wearing black hoodies, the GTLs congregated on 5th Avenue and 30th street then strolled into the crosswalk. At the sound of a whistle they first formed the Three Dot Dash symbol, a Morse code for the letter “V” and the international peace symbol, then lay down in the crosswalk to reference the Trayvon Martin shooting. The footage will be edited and used as a Public Service Announcement.

The We Are Family Foundation® (WAFF) was born in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and named after the world renowned hit song "We Are Family," written in 1979 for the successful pop group Sister Sledge by legendary songwriter/producer Nile Rodgers and his late music partner, Bernard Edwards.