Twenty-four
junior and high school students from Bridgeton
and surrounding Cumberland County, debuted
digital film projects at the completion
of “PROJECT VISION’S ADVENTURES
CLUB/INSPIREWORKS Digital Camp program.
The summer initiative is a partnership
of the Office of the Attorney General,
the City of Bridgeton, Bridgeton Public
Schools, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s
Office and the GCADA.
The
innovative project is an extension of
the OAG’s Project Vision Initiative,
which began in Bridgeton and five other
communities statewide in 2005. The students
participating in the camp, created an
“I Am” digital film project
reflecting their life experiences. The
program ended today with each student
exhibiting their film and presenting it
to other students, the Attorney General,
Mayor, Prosecutor, parents, friends and
community supporters.
“PROJECT
VISION gives children a vision of themselves
for tomorrow. Inspiring, nurturing and
providing positive alternatives to youth
are the foundation of PROJECT VISION,”
said New Jersey Attorney General Peter
C. Harvey. “Cumberland County and
Bridgeton officials, parents and volunteers
have given youth in this area an opportunity
to express their creativity through a
fun filled and exciting project with the
“I Am” initiative. I also
want to thank Inspireworks because without
their expertise and commitment to providing
positive programs for youth, this program
would not be possible.”
Inspireworks
is a software company that specializes
in creating digital learning content and
hosts a Digital Video production camp
for ages five through 17 throughout the
year. The concept of “Everyone is
an Author” similar to the “I
Am” project allows all campers to
collaborate in small groups
to brainstorm a project, write a script,
direct, act, videotape and edit an original
short video. In addition, Inspireworks
owner, James Tagliareni said, “The
mobile campus offers computer stations
and studios for a complete video production
environment that is fun and interactive.”
“Our
commitment to the educational field is
to grow and enhance a students’
ability to comprehend the material presented
to him,” said Inspireworks Mobil
Media Director Chris Messina.
Jackie
Zapolski, a 15 year old Bridgeton High
School sophomore said, “This has
been a great experience. I was able to
show how important my family and friends
are to me and how important a positive
life is to me.”
“PROJECT
VISION – BRIDGETON” is a partnership
between the Office of the Attorney General,
the Cumberland County Prosecutor, and
the Bridgeton Municipal Alliance Youth-to-Youth
Program, the Tri-County Community Action
Partnership and parents and students to
keep Bridgeton youth off the streets and
provide safe havens for students after
school. The Inspireworks Camp is under
the direction of Karen Barnett.
PROJECT VISION is an after-school program
created by the Attorney General as a partnership
with county prosecutors and community
based organizations to support and establish
after school programs throughout New Jersey
that provide safe havens for children
and teens. The theme for PROJECT VISION
is “Protecting Our Future, Preparing
Our Children.”
The essential mission of PROJECT VISION,
which the Attorney General established
through the New Jersey Division of Criminal
Justice, is to surround children with
caring adults and teach lessons and skills
that will turn youth away from gangs.
The eight core elements of PROJECT VISION
are personal responsibility, caring adults,
safe havens, personal safety, academic
development, life skills, career awareness
and community service.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Ronald J.
Casella whose office is administering
the program said, “Project Vision
is providing our children the opportunity
to develop strong values from caring adults
and it is providing our best deterrent
against the destructive appeal of gang
life with innovative technology with the
Inspireworks Camp.
Students enrolled in PROJECT VISION -
BRIDGETON receive personal responsibility
lessons that emphasize decision-making
skills, fair play and respect for others
and self. Lessons in personal safety include
instruction about the dangers of gangs.
Community service lessons focus on community
pride and the spirit of volunteerism.
Students who participated in PROJECT VISION
through the Youth-Youth Program, mentor
younger students. More than 60 students
participated in the program. In addition,
more than 45 students between four and
six years
old from the Tri-County Community Action
Partnership are participated in PROJECT
VISION – BRIDGETON.
Mayor Pirolli said, “I thank the
Attorney General for including the children
of Bridgeton in this important program
and for his vision to improve the lives
of children across the state. Our children
are our most precious resource. The best
way to ensure that they will become responsible,
productive adults is to surround them
with a positive environment with positive
people and with the tools, such as technology,
that will allow them to grow and learn
and resist gangs.”
A $50,000 grant was awarded to the Cumberland
County Prosecutor’s Office for PROJECT
VISION from the Division of Criminal Justice.
PROJECT VISION programs are also being
developed in Asbury Park in Monmouth County
and Irvington in Essex County. PROJECT
VISION - New Brunswick in Middlesex County
was launched in December and the Gloucester
County program in Glassboro was launched
in January. |
The Attorney General added that PROJECT
VISION will expand in the fall to include
eight new Phase II sites in Atlantic,
Bergen, Camden, Mercer, Passaic, Salem,
Somerset and Union Counties.
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