Next Gen Youth Programs at BAVC

BAVC’s Next Gen Youth programs (also known as Digital Pathways) offer flexible pathways for young people (ages 14-26) from diverse neighborhoods across the Bay Area to increase their storytelling, social justice and media arts skills. Participants are encouraged to develop their artistic talents while receiving advanced, industry-standard training in digital media production. Ultimately, our goal is to help young adults gain experience and opportunities that lead to media arts careers and post-secondary pathways.

We also focus on developing the “soft” skills (e.g. culture fit) students need to successfully collaborate and produce high-quality creative products and professional portfolios. Tailored to each participant’s interests, BAVC’s pathway model helps young adults pursue new education and employment opportunities while using media as a tool for self-expression and discovery.

BAVC’s youth programming is committed to young people becoming engaged civic participants and positive agents of change. Our programs encourage bonding within peer networks and mentors, and fosters broader conversations with the community. In short, youth are empowered to imagine and pursue a positive future.

Our Tracks Program provides comprehensive, free, year-long media and digital storytelling training for up to 100 low-income, underrepresented Bay Area youth annually. Following an academic calendar year, selected participants spend twice a week after-school at BAVC for a total of 120 hours of media arts training in specific courses. We emphasize media arts and technology to create a pathway to post-secondary opportunities and the workforce for youth facing barriers to education and employment. We emphasize the development of socially conscious storytelling and professional digital media skills. 

TRACKS students produce professional portfolios that can be used for college applications and job opportunities. All students receive a paid summer internship or capstone experience to gain experience in the industry. Under the instruction of award-winning filmmakers, coders and practicing artists and musicians, students develop their artistic voices while gaining critical job readiness and interpersonal skills.

Students learn music theory, digital recording and mixing techniques. They apply their skills to other key areas of the audio industry, such as audio post-production and sound design for video games, digital video and film.

Students learn a wide array of video production techniques using professional cameras and equipment. Students in this track gain exceptional skills in all aspects of video production for multiple platforms.

Students with a filmmaking background learn new, innovative storytelling techniques using code, open source platforms, and remix to create stories that rely on the Internet to be shared and experienced by a broader audience.