Last week, the Adobe Foundation, the Black Eyed Peas and the Entertainment Industry Foundation announced a new partnership to help underserved youth access and learn to use multimedia production tools, including those for video, dance, music and art, to comment on critical issues and spark social change in their communities.
The Adobe Foundation funds the Youth Producing Change program, a partnership of the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival and Adobe Youth Voices. Past students enrolled in Adobe Youth Voices programs have had their work showcased at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, addressing topics such as domestic violence, drug abuse and migrant labor.
The Black Eyed Peas – will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo and Fergie – opened the first Peapod Academy, a state-of-the-art music and educational center and recording facility serving foster care youth and other at-risk teens, last year.
“As a group, we’ve made a commitment to help give teens the artistic tools and opportunities to help them realize their fullest potential,” says will.i.am, who grew up in the projects in Boyle Heights, Calif. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of Adobe Youth Voices, we are able to expand our vision and give even more kids a chance to be productive, enterprising adults.”
