RAISING YOUTH VOICES THROUGH ART: CHARM, DEWMORE, AND WIDE ANGLE TAKE THE STAGE AT THE PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION SUMMIT
MEET THE AUTHOR
Favour Ogedengbe is a graduate of Eastern Technical High School. She is passionate about video making, editing, writing, and spoken-word poetry. In 2023, she earned second place in the annual WJZ Black History Oratory Contest, showcasing her talent for expression. As a Social Media Intern with Wide Angle Youth Media, she aims to build professional and social skills to create impactful works that inspire young people across various mediums and topics.
I keep the saying, “Nothing ever grows in a comfort zone,” close to my heart. When I was offered the chance to moderate the first-ever youth panel at the Progressive Education Summit, this saying helped me to erase thoughts of unworthiness, fear, and failure. Before the event, I took my journal and pen; it was time to release everything I felt internally. I had fears and doubts and questioned whether I had made the right decision. I took time to carefully write the positive feelings I desired to keep and the negative ones I wanted to let go. At the top of my page, I wrote a reminder for myself, “I will not fear; I will be bold,” and this I said to myself from the moment I woke up to the time I got to the event.
The Progressive Education Summit is an annual event hosted by the City Neighbors Foundation. About 400 people participated in the 14th annual summit, which included various workshops and opportunities to network and engage with amazing people. Young people from CHARM, DewMore Baltimore, and Wide Angle Youth Media engaged in their first-ever Youth Voices session, which included poetry performances, film screenings, and a panel discussion.
This event required me to engage and interact with the panelists, actively listening to their responses and understanding their personal experiences and interests. Even though it was new to me, it was a stepping stone for change and embracing new things. During the panel, I focused on asking questions about education, arts accessibility for young people, and how the arts shape young people and provide them the medium to express themselves.
The panelists shared their unique experiences about how their art forms have given them a voice in society, urging youths to embrace art in any way they can. Below are some inspirational quotes from the panelists:
How does your chosen form of self-expression differ from others, and what is its significance to the overall vision of your program?
“My personal form of self-expression is poetry and visual art, and I think my form of expression is simply unique to me. Overall its significance is that I know I can contribute to my team at all times.” - Zamirah Hall
“When I joined poetry, I didn’t know that I was actually signing up to be a part of something much bigger than myself and I learned how to cooperate with the team. I’ve found poetry to be really beneficial to not just myself but also a community of people—everyone! It really is beneficial to you and your emotions, your mental health, emotional health—even spiritual. It really amplifies every aspect of your character.” - Marcellus Vinson
How has your program helped you grow as an individual? How has it challenged, supported, and educated you?
“Being in Wide Angle’s workforce development program as a Multimedia Producer and Social Media Intern has transformed my life. Over the last two years, I’ve developed my skills in every stage of the filmmaking process, and in photography.” - Janai Cherry
“I started going with the team and that helped me realize this little thing I thought I was good at is actually something that’s way bigger than I thought it could be. DewMore basically made that thing larger. It helped me explore passion and showed me there’s more to something than what is there at the surface.” - Kyran Parthlow
“From my participation in CHARM I have learned to never count out anyone's perspective. During my time on the CHARM student editorial board, I have read so many amazingly profound poems from surprisingly young students.” - Ripley Wilson
“CHARM has given me the opportunity to get experience as an editor. It's helped me be more productive and responsible as well.” - Zamirah Hall
Coming from your own experiences with your program and the ways in which it has challenged, supported, and educated you, what do you believe is the significance of self-expression when enacting change within a community?
“CHARM publications put the focus back onto the experiences and perspectives of Baltimore City students. I believe that these perspectives are essential to consider when working to expand the traditional scope of education.” - Ripley Wilson
“Wide Angle’s programs are valuable because young people learn how to express themselves creatively, develop their media literacy and media-making skills and instill confidence in our young people which helps them navigate adolescence and young adulthood.” - Janai Cherry
“I believe that all kinds of art are a really good outlet for students and even teachers. Not many people understand how impactful an outlet can be for people.” - Zamirah Hall
Event panel on Violence and Justice.
The Progressive Education Summit challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and grow. The highlight for me was hearing young people express their opinions on important issues and share their love for arts and self-expression. It was inspiring to see them front and center, dominating the space with their voices. Like Ripley Wilson said, “Students are more perceptive than you might think, and they all have valuable opinions that should be considered.” I strongly believe that everything starts with the mind, so be sensitive to your thoughts and mindset because they shape what you believe and who you become. This event changed my life and at the end of it, I wrote myself a new quote to meditate on, “The more you see and say it, the more you become and live it.” Fear is a liar; believe in something greater, and you’ll be surprised at the many things you are capable of achieving.