🌟 Introducing the Activate Media Hub! 📹 This platform will host most of Activate's community media content. With a focus on grassroots journalistic work, Activate Media Hub aims to highlight stories based on critical socio-cultural perspectives in the Philadelphia region!

🌷 Spring is blooming and so are the possibilities! Take a moment to look through these upcoming events and opportunities in March.

Meet our team 🌟

‼️ This month, we want to spotlight a few opportunities and events that focus on Black History and Afro-Latine stories. Check them out and let us know if you liked them!

🎬 Philly Rumba has been in progress since 2020, and post-production is almost done! In November, we hosted virtual screenings where we shared a rough cut of the film with team/crew members and filmmakers.

Meet our team 🌟 Erika Ramírez-Lorenzo is a Philadelphia-based photographer, videographer, video editor, and aspiring filmmaker. Through her work, she aims to capture the stories of people, places, and their effect on one another.

Last month, some of our team members had the opportunity to attend A Celebration of the Philadelphia's Cultural Treasures Initiative and Its Grantees. Activate Stories is a Philadelphia Cultural Treasures recipient of the Project Grant specifically for Organizational Capacity Building.

Meet our team 🌟 Melissa Beatriz is the Founder/Director of Actívate Stories, a media arts organization that produces collaborative documentaries, engages in cultural preservation, and develops creative strategies focused on art and social justice.

🎉 This new year, invest in community storytelling by diverse artists and creatives from underrepresented and multigenerational migrant/immigrant communities in the Philly region.

❄️🎄 Happy Holidays! We hope everyone takes the time to rest, spend time with loved ones, and find joy!

For our “In the Field” program, we're highlighting the Peoplehood Parade & Pageant hosted by @spiralq. We had the opportunity to check out their parade in 2024. youtu.be/_0Ga6FJ2k-8

✨ There are still many arts events happening this month. Wrap up the year by checking out these media/arts opportunities.

Check out these upcoming media/arts opportunities for this month!

🎬 Our Philly Rumba film is currently in post-production! Recently, we had the chance to get the participants and crew back together to work on some last-minute touches. It was such a great time having everyone in the same room.

🚨 Check out this music collab opportunity for our La Lucha Sigue film. Please share this with anyone who might be interested!

🚨 Check out these amazing media & arts opportunities for October!

🪅 We're celebrating Latinx Heritage month by highlighting media by Latinx authors and filmmakers. Our picks for this month are a mix of contemporary storytelling and traditional journalism.

As part of our “In the Field” program, we're highlighting the Día de los Muertos procession/celebration hosted by La Calaca Flaca and Fleisher Art Memorial. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq6B...

September is full of amazing local media and arts opportunities! Make sure to check them out.

In July, our Media & Communications Coordinator had the opportunity to attend the Barnes on the Block event! Check out our In the Field video capturing a vibrant celebration of the arts! youtu.be/CphaSSBza8E

💛 This month, we want to highlight National Wellness Month through a social justice lens. Our media recommendations offer a compassionate point of view on engaging with our choices and the world. Take a look at some of our recommendations and let us know if you have any!

🎬 Our short film "Philly Rumba" is in the post-production stage! This film has come a long way from just a concept back in 2020 to seeking out archival images and videos.

‼️ Check out these upcoming media/arts events & opportunities for August!

As Disability Pride Month comes to an end, we would like to share some pieces of media that highlight important stories of people with disabilities and the advocacy work that they do!

🧵(1/4) This past June, Actívate Director Melissa Beatriz participated in the 70th Flaherty Film Seminar “Onward!” as a Flaherty Fellow through the Waterman II Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at her experience!

🧵(1/5) 🖌️ “Shifting Realities: 12 Artists Finding Place in Uncertain Times “ was an exhibition presented at Taller Puertorriqueño from March 21 to May 17, 2025. www.culturaljustice.org/field

‼️ Check out this month's upcoming opportunities!

✨ June might be over, but Pride isn't! Check out some of our media recommendations.

🚨 Check out our call for videographers! If interested, reach out to [email protected].

The recent anti-immigrant discourse and actions are disturbing to see unfold. As a media organization focused on sharing stories about Black, Latinx, immigrant artists & cultural workers, we stand in solidarity with immigrants.

The Cultural Justice Project is a community-centered multimedia archival hub that highlights arts/culture work for social change and preserves the cultural histories of Latinx, Black, multigenerational immigrant artists and cultural workers in the Greater Philadelphia region. 🔗 culturaljustice.org

🚨 We're seeking a videographer for 6/20. Email us at [email protected] for more info.

‼️ We're still seeking archival photos and videos for the documentary film "Philly Rumba." Submissions will be accepted through June 20th. To learn more, email [email protected] or visit the website. www.activatestories.org/archival

Check out these upcoming media/arts opportunities and events in the Greater Philadelphia region!

🎨 "Shifting Realities: 12 Artists Finding Place in Uncertain Times​" is an exhibition presented at Taller Puertorriqueño. 🎞️This reel is part of Actívate's new "In the Field" series. youtu.be/1phLv0rX9sM

La Lucha Sigue (The Fight Continues) has been in production since 2018!

Funder shout out! Actívate was selected as one of the recipients of the Creative Sector Flex Fund (2024-2025), administered by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Thank you, GPCA!

🎬 Check out our highlights recap of Actívate's current main productions! Featuring the team and crew behind-the-scenes for: 📢 La Lucha Sigue (The Fight Continues) 🎶 Philly Rumba youtu.be/MKCkpMEqhDI

We’re seeking archival photos and videos for the documentary film “Philly Rumba.” To learn more and share, contact the team or visit the website. www.activatestories.org/archival

Finally, we're highlighting the short film "La Lucha Sigue (The Fight Continues)" which is currently in post-production!

🎵 Next, we're highlighting the short film "Philadelphia Rumba," which is currently in post-production! "Philadelphia Rumba" features African American/Latin American percussionists and cultural keepers who have played a role in preserving the culture of rumba percussion in the Philadelphia region.

This month, we're excited to highlight some of our current and recent media arts projects! 🎨 First, we're highlighting the short film "We, the Artists" (2023, 03:30).

This week, we're excited to highlight some of our current and recent media arts projects! 🎨 First, we're highlighting the short film "We, the Artists" (Runtime: 03:30).

Actívate Stories is a media arts entity that produces collaborative documentaries, engages in cultural preservation, and develops creative strategies focused on art/social change in the PHL region. To support our media arts programming, you can make a donation here: www.activatestories.org/donate

Check out these upcoming media and arts opportunities for creatives in the Greater Philadelphia region! Learn more directly from Scribe Video Center and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (GPCA).

Thank you to our recent funders, that have supported the behind-the-scenes work of Actívate and our various media arts projects in 2023 and 2024!

Calling all filmmakers and artists in the Greater Philadelphia region! Check out these funding opportunities for upcoming and current applications that can potentially support your work.

We are excited to announce the relaunch of Actívate Stories! Actívate is a media arts entity that produces collaborative documentaries, engages in cultural preservation, and develops creative strategies focused on art and social change.

Learn about the history of Actívate! We see the power in activating collaborative stories in community.

Our vision drives the multifaceted media arts and collaborative work that we focus on. There is power in sharing stories and activating in community. #DocumentaryFilmmaking #Storytelling #MediaArts #Culture #Philadelphia