Hello everybody!

First of all, I’m sure you’re wondering, what is Wunderkind? Wunderkind is an ongoing project through Soulbird dedicated to providing education, opportunity, and resources in the Arts for homeless and street kids around the world. We offer courses in Documentary Film, Music Production, Theater, and Music Composition. Each program is tiered, as a way to provide incentive for participation, and to increase access to information and opportunity as the kids make progress in their learning. The first tier is an introductory course, open to anybody who is interested. It will focus mainly on the creative process, giving the kids a chance to see what each discipline entails from a practical perspective. If the kids show up to each session and demonstrate an interest in their discipline, they will have an opportunity to participate in the second tier. We also want to work with educational institutions and require some kind of joint enrollment (GED or Community College programs) during the second tier so the kids can be working towards their educational future along with our courses. Soulbird believes in the importance of a well-rounded education and giving these kids educational opportunities to which they wouldn’t normally have access. The second tier will focus more on the business and production side of each discipline. The scope will be broadened so that the kids can begin developing their passions into productive careers. Finally, the third tier is an opportunity for an independent study in a given discipline. The number of participants will obviously be much smaller, but the kids involved will be the most motivated and passionate about their discipline. Again, some kind of cross-enrollment program will be necessary, but as a reward, the kids will gain access to equipment and opportunities not available in the first two tiers and will produce their own work from top to bottom. Soulbird will work carefully with each kid to make sure their production is a success. By the end of all three tiers, the kids will have a practical, results-based education in a specific discipline and a small body of work. They will also have access to a Media Center, provided by Soulbird, allowing them to continue developing their passions.

Wunderkind’s first project is in Atlanta, in conjunction with an organization called StandUp for Kids (standupforkids.org). We are going to be offering an introductory course (Tier 1) on Documentary Film in October. Becca Orchard, Director of Community Support for StandUp, has sent out a message to all of the shelters and children’s organizations in Atlanta to find kids who are interested. Once we get some interest from the kids, and decide on a day for the first meeting, the schedule will be planned out and the course will begin. The kids will be producing their own 15-minute documentary by the end of the course, which will be presented at an event to kick off National Homeless Youth Awareness Month in November (homelessyouthamongus.com). Soulbird is going to be working with StandUp for Kids to provide their organization with a Media Center, (computer, camera, software, etc.) that will allow for the kids to do their own work on the side, but also as a space for Tier 2 and future courses. The Media Center will be supervised by representatives from Soulbird to start, and eventually by the kids and volunteers involved with StandUp who show an interest in Wunderkind and are trained by Soulbird.

That being said… We need all the help we can get to assemble the Media Center and find people who can help us facilitate future courses. Please visit Soulbird.org for more information, and let us know if you have old cameras or film equipment that can be donated to this cause or if you are interested in volunteering to help with future courses.

Thanks!

-James Sutherland

Managing Director, The Wunderkind Project

Soulbird - soulbird.org

e-mail - james@soulbird.org