About Connect San Diego

Connect San Diego is a community-based program empowering multi-ethnic communities to engage cross-culturally and share their cultural traditions through focus group discussions and the media arts. Special emphasis will be placed on intergenerational participation between youth ages 13-21 and elders 60 years and older. The program is made possible with funding from the Price Charities and the James Irvine Foundation.

See our schedule of free films and classes.

We believe that film and the media arts serve as a universal language. The unique stories captured in these communities are ones that are rarely seen in popular culture/mass media. These meaningful stories can also help us better understand the world and positively influence the way we treat our neighbors.

Where Are We Connecting?

In 2010, the SDAFF brought Connect San Diego to Linda Vista, in collaboration with the Bayside Community Center.

In 2011, Connect San Diego moves to City Heights in collaboration with Aaron Price Fellows Program, Hoover High School, City Heights Business Association, and the City Heights Performance Annex.

Five Main Components of Connect San Diego:

1. Focus Groups - members of various community groups will be invited to participate in candid, honest, and positive dialogue about what makes their histories unique, challenges within their group, and how they contribute to the community they live in.

2. Film Literacy - the public will be invited to a series of relevant short and feature-length films at the community center accompanied by translated study guides and discussion. These screenings are free and open to the public.

3. Production Training & Media Production - invited participants will learn basic story development, interviewing, video shooting, and editing skills to create and document their own digital stories

4. Collecting Voices of the Community - residents will share their stories about their families, neighborhoods, and what else is on their minds in short interviews collected on video at Connect events

5. Sharing - will be done principally through a digital platform (Connect website and other internet platforms), local cable network, and through community screenings.

Making the Connection

Connect San Diego in a number of ways. Films created by community groups will be screened at the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival in October. Works will also be uploaded onto YouTube, and available for viewing on Time Warner Digital Cable, on channel 144. You can also follow the progress of the Connect on Facebook and our blog.

Want to Join?

Connect San Diego is a free program and open to the public. If you are interested in learning how to make a film, please contact Trinh Le at trinh[at]sdaff[dot]org or 858-945-3721.