STAND UP.
Purpose
Today, teens are 40% less empathetic than 30 years ago, resulting in a rise in racism, anti-semitism, and bullying. As digital natives, current teenagers are the first generation to be raised on the internet and social media, creating an empathy skills gap. The mission of Stand Up is to develop empathy in teens and drive awareness while increasing their emotional literacy. Studies have shown that an increase in empathy makes a positive impact on societies, resulting in healthier communities, greater inclusion, collaboration, and leadership.
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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
EMPATHY
Get Involved
Stand Up is a contest where students create 45-second to 1-minute videos about what it means to be an upstander. Videos must be uploaded to YouTube using a school email through this website and will be judged based on creativity, video quality, and delivery of a powerful message. Multiple videos will be selected for recognition.
The prompt is open-ended but must relate to the topic of empathy. An idea could be demonstrating empathy or presenting information about upstanders. It is up to you!
Videos must be submitted prior to the outlined deadline.
Video Tips
To help with your video production, a skilled photographer has provided some advice to get you started.
1. Hold the camera horizontally (not vertically in order to avoid unused black space).
2. Keep your camera steady and stable (you could prop it against something or use a selfie stick).
3. A light source should be in front of you, not behind you. Also, make sure you are in a location with enough light.
4. Produce clear and loud sound (be close to the device used to record or do a voice-over).
5. Get close to your subject and keep the background simple (make sure there is nothing distracting in the frame. Instead, have a plain or simple background.)
6. Add titles at the beginning and end of the video to act as bookmarks. The beginning could be the title of your video and the end could be your name and graduation year.
7. If you are having trouble brainstorming a structure for your video, think about commercials and trailers. They can be very powerful and effective ways to present a message (there are movie trailer templates in iMovie).
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Example Video
About Me
My name is Will Levy and I am a current senior who is passionate about making a difference in my community. Currently, I am a member of the Youth in Philanthropy Junior Board for the Foundation for MetroWest. Through my work on the Board I met Mary Gordon, Founder and President of Roots of Empathy. She shared her research and efforts designed to positively impact a growing emotionally illiterate society. Mary’s important work has inspired me to make a difference. Developing empathy in teens today will have a positive impact in school communities and workplaces across the globe. In the winter trimester last year, I conducted research on the impact of empathy in society, including methods to teach empathy. The conclusions from my research resulted in the creation of Stand Up. My hope is that Stand Up not only positively benefits my community, but society as a whole.
Contact and Submissions
Inquiries
If you have any questions I can be reached by email at: will@teenempathy.org
A Special Thank You To:
Ms. González
Mr. Adjout
Ms. Patel
Ms. Weiland