My name is Melanie, and I am raising funds to go attend summer school at the Praxis Academy. I have been accepted to participate in the Redemptive Vocational and NonProfit track, with a specialization in the media and entertainment industry. 

The Praxis Academy is not film school - it is an 8-week program that includes courses and mentorship, designed to help participants explore the redemptive edge of a particular industry or provide tactical guidance on building a venture. When I saw that they had a Media & Entertainment track, I jumped at the opportunity - if there was ever a year where we saw the power of media to divide or bring people together, 2020 was it. My hope is to learn from seasoned professionals who use their faith as a guiding beacon, and create films that reimagine a future where we are united through the power of media.

3 months later, I received news that I got in! This summer, I will be learning how to tell stories that are set apart, with a redemptive mission and quality to its production.. and I will get to put this into practice in real time via a collaboration with @deuce_gym’s nonprofit initiative.

Now comes the awkward bit - I need your help. I was awarded a partial scholarship but there is still sizable chunk of the fees that I’m hoping to get covered so I can focus on being in school, instead of taking up odd jobs to make ends meet.