I have organized and led media institutes and workshops with a range of groups ( youth, senior citizens, human rights advocates, artists, teachers) in video advocacy, digital storytelling and new media over the last twenty years. Below are some of the highlights of this work.
Circle Visions, Institute with Wapikoni, 2016 – 2020
Kester Dyer and Liz Miller have led two summer institutes with Wapikoni a non-profit organization that provides media training to indigenous communities in Quebec, and with Concordia professors and students to train emergent indigenous filmmakers in animation, filming, editing and studio skills. Visit our website or check out the behind the scenes films: Making of 2016, Making of 2017.
Water & Journalism Training, 2016
Co-Instructor for a three-day international workshop on “Climate change, water management, and journalism” with participants from Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. The workshop was jointly organized by the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office, the Regional Center on Urban Water Management, and the International Center of Qantas and Hydraulic Structures and included a field trip to Yazd.
Ka Mamukanit, 2011, Montreal
Ka Mamukanit was an intensive professional program for youth aged 16 to 35 wanting to get back into the work force. As a part of this program, Liz Miller with Giuliana Cucinelli and Sundus Abdul Hadi of CUTV offered a course in media skills including photography, sound recordings, and video production and editing.
Going Places 2010, Montreal
Going Places began as a twelve-week course for young adults impacted by a refugee experience. The course covered personal writing, sound design, storytelling and photography and resulted in an exhibit and a series of audio immersive bus tours led by the youth participants.
Rue-Elles/Urban Lifestories, 2010, Montreal
Rue-Elles was a workshop series with women and girls with experience living in the street who developed stories and photographs about their lives. The workshops were held at the YWCA and at the headquarters of LOVE (Leave Out Violence), a youth violence prevention organization, and resulted in a public art installation.
Entry Point, 2010, Montreal
Entry Point introduced first time filmmakers from Africa, Caribbean and Central/South America to a variety of media skills in order to share their personal narratives. The resulting 13 short documentaries illustrate the complexity of being forced to leave everything connected to home behind and powerfully convey the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) refugees living in Montreal.
The Gender Advocacy Institute, 2010, Manila
The Gender Advocacy institute was developed by Liz Miller of IAWRT and Kelly Matheson of WITNESS and took place in the Manila, Philippines to train International filmmakers in advocacy. Following the course workshop participants then developed 10 short video projects.
Roots to Rap With, 2009, Montreal
Roots to Rap With was a collaborative production with Cote-des-Neiges Youth Center. The resulting video explores how music plays a role in keeping cultural roots alive for four youth living in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood. Selected Screenings: Finalist for Roots competition, Radio Canada International, 2010, Regents Film Festival, 2010.
If Only I Knew, 2009, Toronto
If Only I Knew was a media workshop facilitated with Mapping Memories and Express for LGBTQ newcomers to use art to share personal stories of forced migration and gay identify. The project culminated in a collaborative photo/text/video exhibit that was shown in City Hall in Toronto, at Sherbrooke Community Health Centre in Toronto, at the UQUAM gallery in Montreal as part of Ethnoculture, and with the ARTWHERK art exhibition in Toronto, 2008. The project was awarded the prestigious Youth Line Award, Toronto, 2008
Mapping Memories: Digital Media Workshop, 2008, Montreal
Mapping Memories: Digital Media Workshop was a ten week course that took place at Cote-des-Neiges Youth Center in Fall 2008. The course trained youth with refugee experience in video, peer interviews and digital imaging. The course was a collaboration between Maison des jeunes Côte-des-neiges, the Canadian Council for Refugees, and Mapping Memories.
Witness Advocacy Institute, 2005-6, Montreal
The Video Advocacy Institute, was an innovative program that trained human rights defenders to successfully integrate video advocacy into their social change campaigns. The VAI was held at Concordia University’s Communication Studies Program for two summers.
Just Here, 1998, Troy, New York
Just Here was a summer training program to train youth in Troy, New York in video production and personal narrative. The project resulted in a 23-minute documentary.