BAYCAT

Established in Bayview-Hunters Point in 2004, BAYCAT is an award-winning media arts, youth, and workforce development organization. We strive to build a world where media celebrates diverse voices and experiences by training the next generation of storytellers from historically oppressed communities. Misrepresentation and underrepresentation of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and women in the media feeds into perpetuating stereotypes. BAYCAT is committed to systemic and generative change behind the camera. We do this through our Digital Media Arts Pathway Program—a continuum of engagement where youth (ages 11-17) complete introductory programs, advance to “The Crew” in high school to prepare for college success, and return upon graduation as Studio interns and apprentices (ages 18-25) prior to entering the creative industry. Our award-winning model amplifies youth voices through project-based digital media education that is hands-on, going beyond theory to tell stories with social impact. BAYCAT’s curriculum follows national and California VAPA Standards for Media Arts, guiding youth through the creative process to generate and pitch ideas, produce short films and graphics, respond to their peer’s work, and connect projects to social justice issues. Battery Powered funding for BAYCAT will support two growth areas: 1. Distribution: BAYCAT will expand its partnerships to more widely distribute youth-created content to those who most need to see it. Current partners include College Track, United Playaz, YMCA, and YBCA. 2. Asset-framed Storytelling. Science explains how describing people by their challenges first triggers unconscious bias. This deficit-based storytelling is ubiquitous and contributes to perpetuating cycles of bias. There is an opportunity to challenge modern storytelling structures to use an asset-framed approach. BAYCAT will develop asset-framed storytelling curriculum for youth, empowering them to apply this model as storytellers and consumers.