Greetings,
I am a Philly native working to improve mental health in East Passyunk, as the next Emerging City Champion. My project is the Military Friends & Family Matinee (MFFM), a short film exhibition in a revitalised school building to promote the psychological well-being of Veterans and their extended network through audio-visual stimulation and team building exercises.
HOW MFFM WILL IMPROVE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN A NEW WAY
Participants will rotate between display stations within a gallery-style video exhibit where they can perform group activities to review and exchange ideas about growing friendships, resolving conflict and related overarching themes present in the films on view. Snapshots from the exercises will be shared in a virtual online exhibit for Philadelphians to add to the discussion surrounding these themes. This project will provide a positive way for veterans, their neighbors and loved ones to connect over shared experiences through in-person events and interactive discussion techniques.
WHO MFFM SERVES
44% of families in South Philadelphia cite opportunities for social and arts engagement as their biggest need, according to the Mayor's Office of Education. The short film exhibition will operate as a Free activity for active military personel, veterans, their immediate family, guests and members of their support network. My project provides a positive way for community members to interact with neighbors and expand their film palette while developing problem solving strategies that yield constructive results.
WHY MFFM IS NECESSARY
21.3% of adults in South Philadelphia are diagnosed with a mental health condition including depression and anxiety disorder, according to the Department of Public Health. This project will encourage residents in East Passyunk and surrounding neighborhoods to work together to strengthen the community's mental well-being and relationships through their collective cinematic experiences.
Thank you for reading.
- Nicole Ayers
Editor-in-Chief, The Madlab Post
Festival Manager, Short Film Slam & shnit CINEMAS-Philly