STAR: Youth Empowerment Shines!

STAR

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SHINES!

This summer, on July 6, the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading premiered “Stand Together,” a locally written and produced documentary that tells the story of the students of the Youth Volunteer Corps and how this group of young leaders decided to take action in the fight against racism. This story is best told by STAR co-founder Morgan Welliver and “Stand Together” director Julia Adilman…in their own words.

Morgan Welliver, Co-Founder of Stand Together Against

Racism (STAR): I am a Sophomore at the University of Miami in the Frost School of Music studying Music Therapy with minors in Psychology and Spanish. Music is my calling but a little over two years ago, a group called Stand Together Against Racism (STAR) sparked a new fiery passion in me. In the summer of 2020, a multi-part ZOOM series called “Community Conversations for Change” (for youth, facilitated by youth!) was hosted by Youth Volunteer Corps/VOiCE UP Berks to educate and provide a safe space to talk about racial injustice. As youth we felt suffocated, unable to make a change, speak up or stand up regarding the injustices happening all around us. This was the breath of fresh air we needed so desperately, especially after the murder of George Floyd. Each session was completely different, covering every topic imaginable because we strongly believe that the first step toward change is educating yourself and others.

As this series was coming to an end, we realized we were just getting started with no end in sight! That is when Stand Together Against Racism or STAR was born! We decided to establish a website that could serve as a resource for others like “Community Conversations for Change” was for us. The official STAR website, https://www.yvc-star.org, is our home base for our mission, resources and pledge. As part of this mission, school groups have been developed throughout Berks County and even some in other parts of the United States and Canada! Of course, all of this stuff happening during a pandemic and political/social uproar has been an emotional roller coaster, but

I can speak for the group when I say we wouldn’t change it for the world! After STAR’s one-year anniversary, we yearned for a way to look back at our progress and to show others our journey. This is when the brilliant idea of creating a documentary was put on the “To-Do” list and over the course of the next year, we slowly started compiling content.

Julia Adilman, Director of “Stand Together”:

I am a senior in high school who has a deep love for storytelling. Since last year, I have been an intern at a local video production company in Reading: VA Productions. Last winter, we were contacted by the CoFounder of VOiCEup Berks, Christi Terefenko, about an opportunity to produce a documentary. I had never heard of STAR before, but as soon as I learned about it, I knew I wanted to get involved. Since STAR is a youth-driven initiative, I was offered the lead on this project and encouraged to do most of the directing and editing myself. Thankfully, I had amazing mentors in Nicole Fryer and Brett Bottesch. Even though I had never directed nor edited a project of this magnitude before, I was trusted and encouraged to do so. I could not have done it without my mentors’ support. The importance of the story’s message weighed on me, but all of the wonderful STAR members made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process. They were great to work with and hearing their incredible stories while conducting their interviews inspired me even more. The only challenge I faced was figuring out how to do justice to their stories with a limited amount of time. There was so much to tell!

After many hours of editing, the story took shape, and it was ready for others to see. The private screening of the film was the first time the STAR members saw it, and their reception was nothing but positive. I was so happy to know that I accomplished my job of sharing their message. Since the movie was publicly released in July, so many more people have been given an opportunity to learn about the incredible work of this youth-driven movement. While completing this documentary felt fulfilling, I began the planning phase of another project amplifying STAR’s voices. I can’t wait to see this movement grow and spread to even more schools, states and countries. The hope for the film is to inspire others to get involved with STAR and stand together to combat racism. MW: Although STAR is mostly youth-driven, we had our mentors: Christi Terefenko, Alex Brown, Crystal Gilmore Harris, Collette Gilmore and Bill Gartner were with us every step of the way! We look up to each one of them and we are eternally grateful for the platform they provided us with to show what we can do. Even being at college over a thousand miles from STAR’s home base, I can confidently say that I am a proud Co-Founder and would not be where I am today without this group! STAR’s list of long-term goals is never-ending, but most recently, with many of our original members now in college, we hope to push STAR into the collegiate realm. In a more general sense, we aim to make STAR a sustainable program that will expand all over the country and globe even, serving as a resource for not only youth, but for people of all ages! In the eyes of the viewer, we hope the film highlights our journey, but more importantly, sparks hope and inspires people to continue this cycle of positive change. If this group has proved anything, it is that change starts with one tiny idea or person and grows into a movement that is more powerful than previously imagined.

To learn more about Stand Together Against Racism and join the movement, go to https://www.yvc-star.org/home.

Photos and logo courtesy of www.yve-star.org

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By Julia Adilman and Morgan Welliver