A group of high school students from a local school will premiere their podcast-style film on Tuesday, July 16th at 6 PM at the Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield). This project was created by the students following weekly meetings at their school* during the spring semester. The group was led by licensed clinical social workers Ariel Ramirez and Kelly Heck and Jamaal Degraffenried from 18 Degrees. The sessions provided a space for the students to discuss issues affecting their lives and those around them.
At the end of the semester, the students were challenged to create a project expressing their feelings and perspectives. The students chose to write personal narratives and produce a podcast based on their stories. The resulting video podcast, named VP/VP (Violence Prevention/Voice Projection) features both personal narratives and roundtable discussions. The project was entirely student driven.
The group meetings and final project are funded by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office Safe Neighborhood Grant. The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office chose to fund this program because it provides mental health support to young adults in the Berkshires.
District Attorney Shugrue stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted mental health, especially among young adults. I chose to support the work of Kelly Heck and Ariel Ramirez because they were able to support teenagers in an engaging environment that was easily accessible.”
DA Shugrue added, “Our office is committed to supporting mental health initiatives through grant funding and community support. I believe that we must prioritize support for mental health access across all sectors, including law enforcement, schools, healthcare, and community providers. I am grateful that this school district welcomed the program into their high school.”
The event will last approximately one and a half hours, including the screening of the podcast and a discussion session. All community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the conversation.
Attendees will include the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office; the Pittsfield Mayoral Office; members of school communities; and local leaders.
Key partners in the project include 18 Degrees, Kelly Heck, LICSW, Ariel Ramirez, LCSW, Clayson Creative (for video production), and the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
*The school district/high school involved in the program requested to remain anonymous to ensure the privacy of students in the group who choose not to publicly participate in the final project.