Chicago, IL Beyondmedia Education is thrilled to announce that Womenʼs eNews has named Executive Director Salome Chasnoff as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century and the winner of the Ida B. Wells Award for Bravery in Journalism. These prestigious awards are bestowed upon visionaries who are
committed to improving the lives of women and girls.
www.womensenews.org/story/21-leaders-the-21stcentury/ 091221/2010-seven-who-invent-better-future
Touted as one of seven women who "Invent a Better Future," Chasnoff realizes her vision of a better world through her work as an independent filmmaker and her leadership of Beyondmedia Education, a nonprofit organization that provides free services to women and girls in the highest-need communities: young women with disabilities, girls in foster care, girls in low-income neighborhoods, girls at high risk of incarceration, immigrants and refugees. Beyondmedia encompasses four programs: "Girls! Action! Media! " where young women discuss issues of concern while learning media arts and technology skills; "Q'd In Media," which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in organizing and educating communities; "Women and Prison," which helps incarcerated women and girls, former prisoners and their families use media arts to tell their stories; and "Teach Beyondmedia," which offers mediamaking skills and curricula ideas to teachers and students in public schools throughout Chicago.
According to one young woman who has participated in Beyondmediaʼs programs, "If I hadnʼt been in that workshop, I would never have become the activist that I am today. A door opened. I learned that there are other people out there who care about what I care about and together we can change things." Salome has an M.A. in Theatre and Performance and a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from Northwestern University. She has been an arts educator for more than 25 years in university and community settings, and has produced more than 25 works, several dedicated to expanding media access for the diverse stories of women and youth.
FROM A BEYOND MEDIA EMAIL PRESS RELEASE