Anti-Tobacco PSA Contest

LOCAL TEENS TO PREMIERE VIDEO SERIES DOCUMENTING UNSUNG HEROES AND COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Teens from 16 middle and high schools in Sacramento have spent the past school year creating a series of short films preserving the stories of community leaders and identifying issues in their community. On May 14^th, the public is invited to a free screening of this video series, part of the California Voices initiative, at the Crest Theater in Sacramento, where 100 student representatives from participating schools will present a collection of these stories to the public:

California Voices Youth Film Premiere

Thursday, May 14, 6:00 PM

Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento, CA

The evening event will feature an award ceremony for youth-focused Anti-Tobacco Public Service Announcements (PSAs). Participants could win up to $1,000 in gift certificate prizes and see their top submission played before feature films at a local Sacramento movie theater.

California Voices is designed to mobilize young people to have a greater share of voice in the digital era, while preserving the legacy of elders who have made significant contributions to culture, community, and country. This initiative has provided an opportunity for educators and students throughout the greater Sacramento metropolitan area to come together in documenting the preservation of our local heritage, as well as identifying issues and solutions that affect student’s lives. Featured stories include:

• Bong Vong Nguyen was born and raised in Saigon, South Vietnam and served in the South Vietnamese Army. Mr. Nguyen shares his story of being wounded and held captive in the jungle in a North Vietnamese communist re-education camp.

• Manny Hernandez’s parents emigrated from Mexico when he was very young so they could give their children an opportunity to receive a better education. After witnessing the deplorable conditions of his own children’s schools, Manny knew it was time to dedicate his life to education and service.

• Youth Voice documentaries exploring bullying, tobacco use, neighborhood safety, and the high school dropout rate through the creative lens of our students.

The public is invited to attend this free event, co-hosted by the Center for Multicultural Cooperation and the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center.