Our Mission
Beyondmedia Education is a media arts non-profit located in Chicago. Our mission is to collaborate with under-served and under-represented women, youth and communities to tell their stories, connect their stories to the world around us, and organize for social justice through the creation and distribution of media arts.

Our Project – Chain of Change chainofchange.com

View the Chain of Change trailer here

Chicago is experiencing an unprecedented surge in youth violence. While mainstream media churns out reports about the numbers of murdered youth, those most affected — the youth themselves — are being left out of the dialogue.

Chain of Change provides Chicago youth with the opportunity to use video and other media to explore the effects of violence in their lives and communities. We provide cameras and workshops for youth to learn media-making skills and upload their work to Beyondmedia’s chainofchange.com, where they can meet other youth posting similar media.

Now in its fourth year, Chain of Change features over 40 videos, blogs, and audio reports created in partnership with 30 Chicago organizations serving over 500 youth. Topics run the gamut from teen dating violence to violence against girls with disabilities to personal stories of police brutality.

Chain of Change is led by the Youth Leadership Council, comprised of four Chicago youth who have developed as activists around issues of violence, both within their own neighborhoods and citywide. They drive the course of the project, as well as facilitate anti-violence workshops across Chicago and engage their community in violence prevention.

We need your support to help keep this program running! Funds will help us purchase equipment, provide youth stipends and assist with staff costs.

Visit Beyondmedia at Beyondmedia.org