ChangeStream Media Programs
Reaching under-served populations with transformative digital content
ChangeStream Media reaches out to populations that are suffering from poverty, marginalization, or exclusion from the free flow of knowledge. Working with local organizations, we identify, document, and share ideas that make a substantial impact. Our multimedia productions transcend literacy barriers and couple important messages with memorable images, music or stories. This content reaches disadvantaged populations through direct interventions, such as film screenings and photography installations. These evocative platforms spark dialogues, helping messages ripple through communities.
Helping charitable organizations spread ideas and reach a global audience
Many organizations on the frontlines of the war on poverty, illness and environmental degradation have brilliant ideas for solving local problems, but lack the resources to broadcast their solutions. ChangeStream Media partners with these types of groups to amplify their messages in their local communities. In addition, groups can use multimedia content in outreach to potential supporters. We also build the capacity of our partner organizations’ staff to use digital storytelling. Effective storytelling helps partner organizations attract the technical advice, volunteers and funding they need.
Empowering volunteers to provide media services and share content
To expand operations and reach communities across the globe, ChangeStream Media trains new media volunteers from Seattle and beyond, helping them to plan and execute their own media-centered service projects. We also offer independent volunteer packages that allow travelers to connect with other cultures and share ChangeStream Media content.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In 2012, ChangeStream Media completed media projects combating HIV in Honduras, encouraging indigenous women to vote in Guatemala and building solidarity in the LGBT community in Haiti. The videos we have made for grassroots nonprofits in the developing world have drawn worldwide attention to their causes and driven social change in their communities. ChangeStream Media has been bringing these stories back to Seattle, completing an art installation at El Centro de la Raza and organizing the Upstream Nonprofit Film Festival at the Northwest Film Forum. In addition, we have trained a dozen Seattle nonprofits in social media advocacy, and have more low-cost workshops planned for the coming year.
In 2013 we are planning projects in Colombia and in Seattle, using digital storytelling to change lives. In Seattle we are hosting workshops to build video production capacity at dozens of nonprofit organizations. Our project in Colombia is a partnership with Mujeres al Derecho, a women's rights organization based in Barranquilla. We are partnering to teach digital storytelling techniques that will give girls from disadvantaged communities a voice on issues ranging from domestic violence to educational opportunity.
ChangeStream Media seeks funding to reach more communities with valuable multimedia productions and training. All of our projects volunteer-powered, but we need the community’s help to support program costs like travel and equipment.