Directing Change

2023 Hope and Justice Judging

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Dear Judge,

We encourage you to seek personal support if you become troubled by the content of this category. If you experience an emotional crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to the California Warmline at (855) 845-7415.

The entries you are judging are submissions in the Hope and Justice category. Entries in this category deal with a variety of topics including mental health, suicide prevention, social justice and other complex topics that need to be addressed with compassion and knowledge.

For this category we asked youth to communicate about what they are feeling, increase knowledge about an issue or take a stand against injustice, or share their perspective in a way that gives others a glimpse into their lives. While some youth submit entries share ideas for solutions to the issues of concern, others used this as an opportunity to process their feelings in a therapeutic way. We welcome all types of submissions. In our submission criteria, we remind youth that whatever message they choose, their submissions need to be thoughtful and respectful. We asked youth to be honest about their feelings, but to be sure their entries convey that they are coming from a place of cultural humility and has the intent to further understanding and constructive dialogue about social justice and change. So, as a judge please score each of these entries based on how well they conveyed their messages and followed these guidelines. At any point if you are experiencing technical difficulties with the website, or have questions regarding the category, please email Emma@DirectingChange.org or call (707) 394-8708.

In advance, we appreciate your time.

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Entry Details

Title

We're Still Human

Grade

10

Description from the submitter

Our team at TVHS decided to create "We're Still Human" to spread awareness of the effects social isolation and alienation can have on a deaf or hard-of-hearing person. One of the members of the cast and crew of this film is hard of hearing and is diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder. They have faced audism in a multitude of environments and have seen firsthand how these actions can hurt. We wanted to shed light on the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Judge Name*

Messaging Scoring Measures

Please enter a number from 0 to 25.

Young people were asked to create projects related to these prompts:

Hope: Youth were asked to create a film, song, narrative or piece of art that shared their story and encouraged themselves or others to find their own way to get through tough times. For example, projects might focus on:

  • Projects that show what helps young people get through tough times.
  • Projects that show what young people are seeing or experiencing in their life or community right now that gives them hope.

Justice: Youth were asked to create a film, song, narrative or piece of art about a change young people want to see in their communities or in the world. For example, projects might focus on.

  • Projects that share a perspective or personal experience with discrimination or injustice in a way that gives others a glimpse of what it is like to walk in someone’s shoes and live in their skin.
  • A project that increases knowledge and/or encourages actions young people can take to take a stand against injustice.

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Please enter a number from 0 to 25.

Justice: What do you think can be done so that there can be real change? Share your thoughts on actions that people can take to make a difference.

Submissions can:

  • Creatively express a change you want to see in your community.
  • Share a personal story/life experience that connects to what’s happening on a larger scale in communities, schools, or nationwide.
  • Encourage someone to change their perspective or become an ally.
  • Increase knowledge and taking a stand against injustice.
  • Explain a term from the ADL list provided and include at least one action that young people can take.
  • Explain the difference between prejudice, bias, stereotypes, microaggressions, and discrimination and knowing what makes each of those unique is an important foundation for having constructive conversations.
  • Encourage others to critically think about what they see and hear in the media.
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Please enter a number from 0 to 25.

Finding Hope: What are your hopes for 2022? What helps you get through tough times? Are you practicing self-care through reading, dancing, listening to music, writing, watching your favorite films?

Submissions can:

  • Focus on answering the question: What are your hopes for 2022?
  • Provide an example of what helps young people get through tough times or practice self care.
  • Share what they do, see or experience in their life or community right now that gives them hope during challenging times.
  • Share a personal story/life experience that connects to what’s happening on a larger scale in communities, schools, or nationwide.

Please enter a number from 0 to 15.

While this scoring measure is highly subjective and based on each individual’s feelings after viewing the submission, the goal of this scoring measure is to judge how well the youth succeeded in inspiring the audience in a way that leaves a lasting and meaningful impact and/or provided information that will advance knowledge on the topic.

Please enter a number from 0 to 25.
Please enter a number from 0 to 15.

This is less about content, but about the creativity used to communicate the content.

Please enter a number from 0 to 10.
  • If a film or TikTok – consider the focus, exposure, audio clarity, use of graphics and/or special effects, pacing and flow.
  • If a painting, digital art, sketch, comic, animation, or other 2-D art – consider the skill in use of line, color, form, texture, perspective, visual rhythm, etc.
  • If a radio PSA – consider the pace, clarity of messaging, use of music or sound effects, overall flow of script, etc.
  • If original music – consider the clarity, rhythm, musical and/or mechanical skill, phrasing, etc.
  • If a blog, poem, spoken word, essay or other narrative – consider the structure, grammar, word choice, flow, rhyme scheme, expressiveness, etc.
Please enter a number from 0 to 10.
If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a friend, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7)
Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students. These initiatives are funded by counties through the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
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