Riverside County
- Open to youth ages 12-25
- Deadline: April 30
- Free to participate
- Amazon Gift Cards (up to $300)
- All art forms accepted (visual art, film, written works, TikTok, original music and more)
- Create a poem, video, or other creative piece that shows how you cope when life gets tough. Show us your hacks for dealing with setbacks or keeping hope alive when things look dark.
- Decoded is an educational campaign funded by counties and cities throughout California that aims to support young people in their overall well-being both physically and mentally.
- Learn more about April and May’s prompts by visiting the Hope & Justice contest page
- Get inspired by visiting the Virtual Gallery
April 2024 Monthly Prompt: Decoded
Featured Art
For contest rules, submission category details, entry form
and other information visit the contest page.
- Open to Middle, High School and College Students (12-25)
- Deadline: March 1, 2023
- Free to participate
- Cash prizes for youth (up to $1000)
- Regional winners advance to statewide round of judging
- Award Ceremony in May
Submission Categories
- Suicide Prevention
- Mental Health
- Through the Lens of Culture
- Walk in Our Shoes
- Animated Short
- Hope and Justice
Featured Film
“I Hate”
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Filmmakers: Elger Ogoc, Xavier Woods, Zain Khugyani, and Julian Zelaya
For contest rules, submission category details, entry form and other information visit www.DirectingChangeCA.org
Riverside County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 12th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.
- First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “Speaking Up”
- Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “Voices”
- First Place Mental Health (Region 2, Tie): “You Matter”
- Second Place Mental Health (Region 2): “Paint Your Own Picture”
- Third Place Mental Health (Region 2): “Grey Matter”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region 2, Team Pick): “Emergence”
In addition to the films above, other fantastic films from Riverside County also received awards in various specialty categories, as well as “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2024 winning films here.
Riverside County Youth Place in February Hope & Justice Contest
The February contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and reassuring young people that they are never a bother and can share their feelings with others (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- First Place Hope & Justice: “Me” by Daniel Gonzalez
- Honorable Mention Hope & Justice: “Get Better” by Joseph Randall and Michael Scott
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (Middle School): “Big Sad Wolf” by Brooke Gondal, Cyrus Maranto, and Melissa Fernandez
View the full list of February winners across California here.
Riverside County Youth Place in December/January Hope & Justice Contest
The December/January contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and what they wish their parents and other adults knew about youth mental health (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt (Middle School): “Denial” by River Reyes
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (Middle School): “Compassion Bubbles!” by Angie
- Third Place Monthly Prompt (Visual Art – High School): “I Tried” by Blake Grimmett and Joey Ada Gonzales
- Third Place Monthly Prompt (Music/Podcasts/Written Work – College and High School): “What I Wish My Parents and Other Adults Knew” by Sophia Sharp
- Third Place (Tie) Monthly Prompt (Film – High School): “Pain Has No Age” by Sarah Everett and Lexis Henry
View the full list of December/January winners across California here.
Riverside County Youth Place in November Hope & Justice Contest
November’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and the uplifting power of music (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt (Original Music): “These Days” by Chidike John Nwankwo and Jayden Mendoza
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (Visual Art): “Safe Space” by Shayla Luong
- Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (Visual Art): “The Sound of Thoughts” by Blake Grimmett and Brooke Haney
View the full list of November winners across California here.
Riverside County Youth Place in October Hope & Justice Contest
October’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and the importance of checking in with others, including what a conversation about suicide prevention and mental health can look like in real life (Monthly Prompt).
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- Honorable Mention Hope & Justice: “Love” by Shayla Luong
View the full list of October winners across California here.
Riverside County Youth Place in September Hope & Justice Contest
September’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and their “anchor” (Monthly Prompt), which could be a hobby or activity, a form of self-care, or any little thing that brings joy, helps them cope, and reminds them about their reason for living.
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt – Film and Written Works: “The First Thing I Do When I Get Home” by River Reyes
- Third Place September Hope & Justice – Art: “Mental Health Awareness” by Audrey Sanchez,
- Honorable Mention Hope & Justice – Art: “Don’t Speak” by Shayla Luong
- Honorable Mention September TikTok Challenge: “Dear Music, You’re My Anchor” by Andre Garca, Edward Palafox, and Zerubbabel Beal
View the full list of September winners across California here.
Statewide Winners Announced in Annual Directing Change Film Contest
Statewide winners in all categories were announced by the Directing Change Program & Film Contest! Five Riverside county films (“Behind the Smile,” “I Hate,” “I Need Help Getting Help,” and “Reconociendo los Sintomas de Trastornos Mentales en el Cuerpo,” “The Reflections Upon a Picture”) were screened at a red-carpet award ceremony hosted at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 16th. Congratulations to the filmmakers who placed!
Riverside County statewide winners:
- First Place Mental Health: “I Hate”
- Statewide Mental Health finalist: “Reconociendo los Sintomas de Trastornos Mentales en el Cuerpo”
- Statewide Suicide Prevention Finalist: “The Reflections Upon a Picture”
- Statewide Suicide Prevention Finalist: “Behind the Smile”
- First Place Through the Lens of Culture: “I Need Help Getting Help”
- Third Place Through the Lens of Culture (Tie): “Silenced”
- Fifth Place Through the Lens of Culture: “Failure”
- First Place Walk in Our Shoes – Words Matter (Tie): “Check on Your Friends”
- Second Place Walk in Our Shoes – What is Mental Health: “Clarity”
- Second Place Hope & Justice: “Forgotten Sorrows”
Riverside County School Participates in Mental Health Spirit Day
Directing Change asked schools and organizations across California to take action for mental health by participating in the second annual Mental Health Spirit Day. For their Spirit Day, JFK Middle College High School’s Peer Counselors started discussions about mental health and wellness to classrooms across their campus. The group also hosted events for each week of Mental Health Matters Month. Thank you for planning these amazing events! And a big thank you to the Take Action for Mental Health campaign for sponsoring Mental Health Spirit Day.
Riverside County Youth Place in April Hope & Justice Contest
April’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to share actions young people can take to improve and support the world we live in to celebrate Earth Day. Congratulations to the youth from Riverside County who placed in the contest!
Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Riverside County youth.
- First Place Monthly Prompt: “Pick Up Your Trash” by Jayden England
- Second Place Hope and Justice: “Worms” by Shayla Luong
- Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Light Behind the Fog”
View the full list of April winners across California here.
Riverside County Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements
The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 11th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.
- First Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “Behind the Smile”
- Second Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “Mended Bonds”
- Third Place Suicide Prevention (Region 2): “The Reflections Upon a Picture”
- Second Place Mental Health (Region 2): “I Hate”
- Honorable Mention Mental Health (Region 2): “Reconociendo los Sintomas de Trastornos Mentales en el Cuerpo”
In addition to the films above, numerous other fantastic films from Riverside County also received “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2023 winning films here.
If at any time you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about someone call the Riverside County HELPline at (951) 686-HELP (4357) or text HOME to 741-741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line. Both of these are available 24/7.
