DYNAMO STUDIOS MEDIA PRODUCTION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING

workforce development programs focused on the music industry and creative industries

Project Overview

The media production workforce development fund will allow for Dynamo to extend our programming and services into public classrooms within local Opportunity Zone Schools. Our extracurricular programs have been extremely successful over the past two years and we are now taking steps to begin integrating these technological resources into the public education classroom. Our goal is for this programming is to train and equip students with professional skillsets needed capture and create content within the music industry. Additionally, this training will open up opportunities for students to apply their skills in other professional settings with different media and marketing teams across the city. Whats especially exciting about this program model is that it allows for a bridge to be created between the professional industries and the educational realm within schools and beyond, all the while addressing state teaching standards, national arts standards, and even 21st Century Skills development.

In a nutshell - On top of Dynamo providing educators and resources to schools, teachers will use this technology to amplify their ability to empower and equip their students and thus create well-rounded learners that are better equipped to pursue professional opportunities at a much earlier age.

This is the sort of thing that allows for students to grow at an extremely rapid pace and experience a higher success rate in the academic world. When fully scaled, we will work with three partner schools each quarter for three weeks at a time (twelve schools per academic year). During each three week cycle we will work hand in hand with the partner educators on integrating this technology into their regular content classrooms.

Additionally, we will assist all partner schools and educators with grant writing and grant preparation so that they are able to acquire this sort of equipment full-time in their schools in the future following our departure to the next partner schools. (for example, the Howard Connect Academy production space)

Beyond Dynamo Studios' general educational programming, we will be working with and supporting other organizations that serve the areas zoned for the East Lake and Howard schools. Through these strategic partnerships we will collectively support each other's respective programs and initiatives through program collaboration, the provision of creative industry technology, content and media creation, organizational development, marketing development and program development.

The Problem

1) Chattanooga students are currently underserved and under-equipped in the arts throughout our community. Furthermore, there is also a lack of career professional development opportunities for local students. Typically this issue falls on our local schools and teachers to find a solution. Unfortunately, they too are under-equipped and underfunded.

2) The various organizations that serve the neighborhoods zoned for East Lake Schools and the Howard School lack the resources needed to effectively launch and execute new programs geared towards empowering the residents of these neighborhoods through the creation of media content. In a sense, they wish to give these residents a "voice" so that they can share their stories about their lives, culture, and surrounding community, thus allowing them to raise awareness for their community and empower it long term. All of which leads to more direct investment into these neighborhoods from current residents and the community at large. Generally speaking, these residents are disadvantaged minorities who have no voice in the greater Chattanooga community, which makes it extremely difficult to have any sort of political, educational or cultural influence in their community. These programs and tech resources will provide a means for the East Lake residents to improve their neighborhoods and garner community support on a massive scale.

Organizations We Are Directly Working With and Supporting through this Programming

• Howard Connect Academy

• The Howard School (High School)

• East Lake Parent Teachers Association

• ELLA Chattanooga (East Lake Language and Arts)

• HCDE Opportunity Zone Teachers

• East Lake Expression Engine

WHATS INCLUDED WITH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

• Two full time teachers and one part time teacher

• A small fund for additional gear and gear maintenance

• Editing and production software suites

• Multiple film and photo rigs

• A plethora of music production equipment

• Curriculum/lesson plan development and teacher training as well as professional development for educators and community organizers

Why should you support this initiative?

• It is imperative that we, as a community, support our students. IT TAKES A VILLAGE!

• Teachers will be equipped to implement engaging and impactful lessons that address the state standards built around 21st Century Skills.

• This studio program will be grounded in the educational realm while providing a means by which real world success is entirely attainable for students.

• All partner organizations have had success across the board and proven track records of effective programming.

• School administrators WANT our programs in their schools!

Partner schools for phase One Scaling

For this first school year we will work with 3-4 schools.

Target Schools:

• East Lake Academy (Middle School)

• Howard High School

• Howard Connect Academy (Middle School)

• STEM School (Songbirds 4th Quarter PBL)

Technology In the Classroom: For Teachers

Our goal is for this tech to act as a resource for teachers to facilitate engaging learning opportunities that support their content standards using technology and 21st century skill-building programs.

In a nutshell - Teachers use this technology to amplify their ability to empower and equip their students.

Technology In the Classroom: For STUDENTS

Our goal is for this tech to act as a resource that allows for students to effectively reach Self-Actualization. Students will achieve this growth through educational opportunities that allow for 21st Century Skills growth and professional opportunities that allow for 21st Century Skills mastery within the local community and abroad.

Additionally, the 21st Century Skills mastered by students will carry over into their personal lives, academic lives, and professional lives (regardless of their future profession). The skills grown and mastered through the professional creative realm are an essential component of any successful person’s life, which is why students must have these opportunities.

WHat is SELF-ACTUALIZATION and why does it matter?

Our end goal is to help students reach Self Actualization, and the creative industry just so happens to be a perfect catalyst to achieve just that.

Definition: The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone.

We HELP STUDENTS achieve Self-Actualization through 21st Century Skill Building and professional opportunities

• Entrepreneurial, Economic, and Business Literacy

• Civic Literacy

• Creativity and Innovation

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Communication

• Collaboration

• Global Awareness

Outcomes and Projected Impact

Funding for this project will allow for our team to begin working — on a regular basis — with multiple schools throughout the duration of the school year. The successful implementation of this initiative will have an unparalleled impact on Chattanooga.

• Students in public schools — 1,250

• Teachers in public schools — 30 +

• Community members and neighborhood residents — 50 +

• Community Organizations — 10 +

• Artists, Musicians, and Bands — 50 +

• Countless professional opportunities for students with local creative agencies and local businesses beyond their school and classroom.

Additional Deliverables

• Student blogs, news journals and media entries

• Teacher curriculum and lesson plans

• Media content that will be shared on a national level reaching thousands of people

WHY SHOULD THIS HAPPEN RIGHT NOW?

• Our mission addresses every major initiative in Chattanooga (art, education, culture, innovation, neighborhood/community development) smoothly and cohesively.

• Our programming focuses on workforce development.

• Our programming will foster major changes in the local school system.

• Dynamo has been successful without any major operational funding.

Our Plan of Action (Dynamo Studios)

Step 1 — Acquire Scale 1 funding and begin early program implementation within East Lake Fine Arts Academy, Howard High School and our strategic partners' programming Fall 2018-Spring 2019

Step 2 — Run Summer media production programs and launch Dynamo’s interim production space at RVRB and also finish Howard Connect Academy Production Space

Step 3 — Assemble and train new Dynamo instructors, launch Howard Production Space, and begin fundraising to supply partner schools with full-time film or media teachers.

Step 4 — Assuming funding is secured, begin implement production resources and programming during the 2019-2020 school year, launch new after school programming, and continue supporting students with career opportunities.

Step 5 — Regroup and assess impact over Summer break and plan for full-scale in school launch during the 2020-2021 school year with fully accredited programs and curriculum. Continue running extra curricular programming during the Summer Break.

Step 6 — Launch full scale accredited programs in parter schools - 2020-2021 school year

WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Phase 1 *** COMPLETE ***

The scaled down first phase of this grant will cost exactly $49,546.39. (Additional scaling is possible, but not recommended).

This startup launch funding will allow Dynamo Studios to:

• Maintain and grow current extracurricular programming

• Expand programming into local schools

• Purchase basic pilot production equipment for our in-school programming

• Afford all operational expenses

PHASE 2 - Scale 1 LAUNCH Funding need

In order to properly launch and scale this project we will need approximately $100,000 for startup. 

This startup launch funding will allow Dynamo Studios to:

• Maintain and grow current extra curricular programming

• Expand programming into local schools, full time

• Purchase additional equipment for our in-school programming

• Afford all operational expenses and two full-time TEACHER salaries + benefits (matching the same salary and benefits package of school district employee)

PHASE 3 - Scale 2 Full Scale recurring costs

In order to properly maintain and scale this project we will need exactly $100,000 in recurring expenses.

This recurring funding will allow Dynamo Studios to: 

• Maintain current programs and the continued implementation of production resources and programming in HCDE schools

• Maintain all production and resource equipment

• Provide in-school and on-site support staff

• Afford all operational expenses and two full-time TEACHER salaries + benefits (matching the same salary and benefits package of school district employee)

Through community partnership, Dynamo Studios cultivates an innovative culture founded in music production that is essential for the sustained entrepreneurial growth of our city. You can make a difference.

If you are interested in making a financial donation to support our programs, please click the "Sponsor & Give" button below.

If you are interested in contributing an in-kind gift or sponsoring Dynamo Studios by donating music/recording equipment, please contact us by filling out the form below. Our students can always use more gear and tech resources!

Additionally, if you have any questions regarding this specific fund please fill out the form below.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHECKING OUT WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY!