Elon University / Today at Elon / Interactive Media students produce project for the public good in the Dominican Republic

JaRiah Morris G’23 rang in the new year like several other individuals, searching for out new activities whilst surrounded by pals and friends.

Joined by her nine fellow associates of Interactive Media’s 2023 cohort, Morris and her classmates traveled to the Dominican Republic as component of their Interactive Project for the General public Great study course. All through their weeklong continue to be in Puerto Plata, the students worked closely with Dove Youth Progress (DYD), a nonprofit firm that supports youth initiatives in the Caribbean state, to overhaul DYD’s on-line presence. The pupils carried out movie interviews, captured photography, and constructed lasting reminiscences with the initiative’s kids. Following the students’ return to campus, the coursework continued and they established a strong internet site, www.doveyouthdevelopment.org.

Led by Affiliate Professor Nicole Triche, the graduate college students utilized their creating interactive media expertise they’ve acquired as element of the 10-thirty day period, accelerated master’s plan. To celebrate the graduate students’ endeavours, the University of Communications hosted a formal presentation of the students’ remaining project on Jan. 24 in Schar Hall’s Turner Theatre. To check out the presentation, simply click in this article.

Heading into the study absent course, a person of graduate program’s signature activities, Morris explained she was told time and once again that the chance would be unforgettable. And it did not disappoint, she spelled out.

“I want men and women to know that the Interactive Challenge for the Public Good is almost everything that it’s cracked up to be,” said Morris, who served as the project’s videographer. “It’s daily life-altering, difficult and rewarding.”

Prior to departing for the Dominican Republic, the learners started get the job done on the venture midway by way of the fall semester. This preproduction integrated weekly Zoom conferences with DYD directors to establish wants, explore ambitions, methods, messaging and define the project’s scope of get the job done. It was for the duration of these virtual introductions that the pupils and DYD representatives designed a solid rapport.

“After arriving at the airport to welcoming, open arms, we bought to do the job,” reported Michaela Zeno G’23, who served as the project’s author and information and facts architect. “We collected media content about DYD by conducting interviews, gathering footage, capturing b-roll and creating social media calendars to share the center’s mission. We worked intently with volunteers, learners, stakeholders, employees and administrators to establish a web site that greatest tells Dove’s story and the picturesque landscape lent itself to fabulous picture possibilities, cultural exploration, and a further knowing of the shopper and the people it serves.”

The learners identified the organization’s mission to bolster and strengthen instructional, cultural and vocational options endearing. The nonprofit hosts courses focusing on English, career readiness, cosmetology, computer literacy, gardening and cooking, amongst other routines.

“The get the job done they do and their standing on the island is sizeable,” Zeno mentioned. “What they wanted from us was a cohesive website to better convey their messages and requires.”

The sum of content the college students gathered although overseas was outstanding. In a LinkedIn article adhering to the presentation, photographer Abby Lachance G’23 shared a connection to her beloved visuals. All advised, she captured and organized much more than 7,000 photographs. As component of the video clip workforce, Morris and her teammates interviewed 17 people today, gathered considerable b-roll, and set together 6 videos for the remaining product.

In the days adhering to the presentation, Vicki Mowl, DYD’s director of operations, gushed about her organization’s new content material and world-wide-web existence. She commended the Interactive Media cohort’s professionalism, talent, and willingness to establish associations with the youngsters and DYD staff customers.

“We now have thousands of remarkable pics, attractive brochures and marketing components, and the website … Wow, wow, wow,” Mowl explained. “The pupils absolutely captured our concept, mission, wants and shipped an excellent web page. I glance at it just about every day. I experience very pleased to show off our site. Their tough operate is apparent, and Dove Youth Growth is grateful for this.”

Mowl explained that the Interactive Media challenge much exceeded her anticipations and that even early on, “I understood some thing unique was on the horizon,” she mentioned.

Reflecting on the task, Triche said the graduate pupils worked tirelessly in assistance to other people. She included that she is thankful for the assistance she received from College of Communications colleagues Brandon Booker and Maggie Mullikin, who accompanied the college students to the Dominican Republic.

“It was a genuine satisfaction to function with this wonderful team of pupils,” Triche said. “They labored very nicely jointly and helped every other to total their venture within the confined time frame of Wintertime Time period. Watching our students interact with the young children of Dove Youth Development was the emphasize of this expertise for me. Our students and their pupils danced, performed, laughed, and sang alongside one another.”

For Mullikin, who built original speak to with DYD and dealt with the course’s logistics, it is gratifying to see the ultimate solution. Moreover, she mentioned she enjoys observing the pupils embark on their international encounter – some of them touring abroad for the initial time.

“It might sound foolish, but I just appreciate each individual facet of the task,” Mullikin stated. “When I imagine about most loved portion of this experience, it has to be seeing the college students increase through the course of action and seeing their faces as they practical experience factors of an fully new lifestyle.”

Zeno echoed Mullikin’s sentiments, noting, “This was a person of the most enlightening activities I have ever experienced and I’m grateful Dove permitted us to be a component of their mission.”

Interactive Task for the Public Very good roles

Olivia Archer – Internet marketing Affiliate
Shaina Catchings – Website Developer
John Donohue – Advertising and marketing Affiliate
Abby Lachance – Photographer
JaRiah Morris – Videographer
Sequoia Nichols – Graphic Designer
Maya O’Neal – Videographer
Hana Sedivy – Social Media Manager
Courtney Simmons – UX/UI Designer
Michaela Zeno – Writer/Information and facts Architect
Nicole Triche – School Adviser
Brandon Booker – Multimedia Adviser
Maggie Mullikin – Employees Adviser

Kyra O’Connor ’23 contributed content and photography to this release