Thirty-five adolescents, aged 12-18, all of them either
currently homeless or with a history of homelessness, were given the
opportunity to collaborate on a project of their own design with the
idea of fostering relationships within their community of Eugene, OR.
They decided to create a short film on the subject of youth
homelessness. They
were responsible for each step of what became Project Invoke, from development and
planning to coordinating interviews to filming and editing. The result of their hard work over four months has now been seen by thousands of people at
various workshops and schools across the United States. An example of both youth empowerment and the Positive Youth Development
model, Project Invoke
has sparked conversations about youth poverty and abuse, forged new
bonds and coalitions, and given a voice to a segment of the population
seldom considered and often ignored or forgotten. In a continuation of
that spirit, Project Invoke: Phase 2 has been launched. A short film
competition for youth aged 12-24, Phase 2 strives to empower young
people on a broader scale to express themselves and participate more
fully in their society.