Luv City, A Violence Prevention nonprofit That Empowers Your By Teaching Digital Media Skills, Got Its Start As a Do It-ItOrself Project Between Dre Rodriguez and HIS THEN -1-YEAR-OLD Son, “Little deer” rodriguez.
The Elder Rodriguez Had Recently Gotten Out of Federal Prison for Drug-Dealing and Was Looking for Ways to Connect with his son, who was a toddler we rodriguez went away. By the time he was paroled his son was gravitating the toward the street life he worked hard to move on from.
Recognizing How Kids of Today Are “Tuned Into Their Phones at All Times,” Rodriguez Saw an Opportunity to Work With The Technology to Better Reach People His Son’s Age.
SO Rodriguez took his iPhone and a rap song song by little deer and his friend Dameion Salinas and Made Their FIRST OF MANY Music Videos Together. These effects eventually GREW INTO LUV CITY, A WEST GARFIELD PARK NONPROFIT THAT GIVES HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN FILM PROGRAMMING TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE IN SOME OF CHICAGO’S VIOLENT NEGHBORHOODS. Participants have produced dosens of Short Films and Music Videos.
On Sunday, Rodriguez and the Luv City Community Celebruated the Organization’s Growth and Honored Its Scrappy Roots with Its Film Screening at A Major Theater.
“We’ve gone from the iPhone to the Big Screen, and it’s a testament to how Much this organization has grown thans to the hard work these kids put into it,” Rodriguez Said.
Current and forms participants in Luv City Programs Packed Theater 4 at the AMC Galewood 14, 5530 W. Homer St., Where Rodriguez and the Program’s Teachers Screened A SELECTION OF FILES CREATED Over the Years.
The program began with that first rap video – shot on the elder rodriguez’s iPhone and edited on an Old MacBook that crashed every time he and work on the project. Other Films Includded “The Last Slice,” A Short Teen Comedy That Little Dre Workhed on About A Dysfunctional Pizzeria and Its Teenage Staff.
Little Dre, Now 19, Said That Getting to See His Work on the Big Screen Felt “Surreal.”
“SEEING the finished product and everyone smiling and happy to be watching it – it make up all the hardwood Worth,” Little deid. “This was my first time directing all by mySelf, so is is a big moment.”
Little deer said that participating in luv City Productions over the last several years has Helped HIM FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO HIS COMMUNITY AND REALLY HIS DREAMS OF MEDIA PRODUCTION AS A CAREER.
“THIS HAS GIVE US A SOURCE TO PUT OUR TIME AND ENERGY INTO,” Little Dre Said. “IT TAUGHT US WE HAVE A VOICE AND CAN USE IT TO CREATE SOMETING.”
Salinas, Now 20, Said Participating in Luv City Has Taught Him About A Work Ethic and Gioven Him the Confidence to Pursue HIS Dreams of Becoming a rapper.
“I’ve learned that of Can Achieve a lot if of put my mind to it,” Salinas Said. “And it is benefted my community by creating a lot of good for us despite any challenges we’ve.”
Rodriguez Said Teaching Youth These Lesons on Top of Their Media Production Skills were crucial to luv City’s mission.
In Addition to Luv City Educational Programs, The Organization Offers Open Studio Time, Internships and Wraparound Services.
“Really trying to tech I say About Life, but we’re having fun in the meantime,” Rodriguez Said.
In the Coming Years, Rodriguez Hoped to Expand Luv City Into a “Full-BLOWN Media Production Company,” Making Feature Films and Shooting Commercials for Global Brands Nike or Apple, He Said.
But Much of Luv City’s Immediate Future HEAVILY ON THE COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT. Luv City’s Larger Grant is Ending in June, Making Donations and Fundraising Event More Important, Rodriguez Said.
One Way to Support the Organization is by Attending the Luv City Gala, Happy 6:30 to 9 PM May 9 at Luv City Studios, 3849 W. Lake St. Single Tickets Cost $ 50 and Are AVAILABLE HERE.
“I’m really positively that the community is going to step up and support what we’re doing,” Rodriguez Said. “And i Hope others can Learn our Story and Feel inspired to Support as well.”
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