Thursday, February 21, 2019, AT&T announced it is deepening its commitment to Brotherhood Crusade – a 50-year old grassroots organization with a vision of improving quality of life and meeting the unmet needs of low-income, underserved, under-represented and disenfranchised individuals in South LA – through a $150,000 contribution to the organization’s new Media Collective. The contribution is the first step in a larger campaign from AT&T to build a better tomorrow in Los Angeles communities, Believe Los Angeles℠.
Launching recently, Brotherhood Crusade in collaboration with AT&T and the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department, announced details on the new program, which is aimed at creating a more inclusive film industry by training diverse filmmakers from underserved communities.
BELIEVE Los Angeles is a grassroots, employee-driven campaign committed to supporting workforce development, career readiness programs, with a special emphasis on digital media and entertainment employment opportunities for underserved students in Los Angeles, especially diverse millennials. The initiative is an extension of AT&T Believes℠, a larger company-wide initiative designed to create positive change in local communities.
Believe Los Angeles will also help increase the number of diverse storytellers in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera.
The robust, semi-annual 11-week program will provide hands-on opportunities to 15-20 students to hone skills, form creative partnerships, create short films and gain industry access needed to be successful.
“We’re honored to join with Brotherhood Crusade to help support local emerging filmmakers succeed in the entertainment industry and give back to the South LA community,” said Rhonda Johnson, president of AT&T California. “The launch of this innovative program is perfectly aligned with African American History Month and Black Future Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of the people and organizations who strengthen our African American and other diverse communities.”
“AT&T’s support of Brotherhood Crusade’s Media Collective will help aspiring artists within the local film industry grow their skills and network, as well as make a tremendous difference in their careers,” said Charisse Bremond-Weaver, president and CEO of Brotherhood Crusade.
