April 2009 | blackfilm.com | 10th Anniversary Scenarios USA Awards And Gala

April 2009

10th Anniversary Scenarios USA Awards And Gala

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10th Anniversary Scenarios USA Awards And Gala
Husband and wife filmmakers Reggie Rock-Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood honored at gala.

by Wilson Morales

April 14, 2009

Celebrities and students came out to celebrate the 10th Anniversary Scenarios USA Awards And Gala at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City.

In 1998, film and television veteran Maura Minsky and Kristen Joiner an expert in reproductive health rights, formed Scenarios USA - a national non-profit organization that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership, advocacy and self-expression in under-served teens.

Scenarios USA gives teenagers a creative forum to consider the issues shaping their lives and have their ideas and opinions heard; offers educators an innovative teaching tool and expands health education into English, Social Studies, Science and Drama classes; and engages communities in addressing teen health issues that are often ignored until they become a problem.

Among the attendees were husband and wife filmmakers reggie rock-bythewood and gina prince-bythewood, who serve as mentors to students of the program, and actress rosario dawson, actors/ directors clark johnson, and griffin dunne

In speaking with co-founder Maura Minsky, she talked about her excitement that the program has been going strong for 10 years.

Maura Minsky: When we started it, we are replicating what began in Africa when my partner Kristen Joiner was out there and asked to come in with her and I was so excited to this and I've been doing the dance ever since.

Did you ever think it would get this far?

MM: Yeah. It's a simple idea and people have started to grab unto it. I think after the first year, once I saw the momentum, then I realized we have something here. I am grateful to be at the tenth year. I am not surprised.

What's different from last year?

MM: We are a program that partners with public schools and those schools have limited funding, and when you work with such parameters, that's always tricky because they feel they have keep rigid. But, we have enough partners in the schools so that we are on target and excited about the program. Raising money is always tough and it has been tough this year.

If you have to highlight an accomplishment this year, what would it be?

MM: I would say that we have made 19 films in 10 years. That's like a mini studio. I'm proud of that. We have come farthe5r than I thought we have in 10 years. When we started, we were an ambitious sex ed program and now we are an innovative educational program that's keeping kids in school. Doing that and being a beacon of life for them is our big goal this year.

What's the selling point to Scenarios?

MM:5 We engage students in writing and thinking about issues that impact their lives. They do that and it goes on and impacts millions of people.

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