​Seventy-five (75!) degrees last week, 20 degrees this morning.  What is going on?  This roller coaster is just getting started.  Here comes spring!  Time to welcome new growth of every kind.  At glow media, we are gearing up for a birth of sorts.   After almost six months of post production, our three new short films addressing sensitive topics affecting today’s youth are almost ready.  SAVE THE DATE!  The world premiere of This is Me, Do Supermodels Eat Popcorn, and Gotta Get It is Thursday, May 11, 2017, 7pm at the Figge Theater at Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Maryland.  Invitations will be sent later this month. 
 
The evening will kick off with a cocktail and hors’doeuvres reception, followed by film screenings and an expert panel discussion. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see first-hand how these films will effectively take mental health education to the next level.  Our curriculum guides will adhere to both Common Core Standards as well as ASCA (American School Counselors Assn) Mindsets and Behaviors.  The arts are a valuable teaching medium for academic subjects like math and science, as well as subjects addressing social emotional wellness.  
 
Stigma is one of many reasons why an estimated 70% of adolescents with behavioral health needs do not access treatment (Chandra, A.; Minkovitz, C. S. 2006).  At glow media, we strive to reduce stigma, correct misconceptions and reinforce the reality that mental health affects everyone.   I think you will agree that these new films embody that goal.
 
Check out the trailers for the new shorts here:  http://www.glowmedia.org/filmtrailers.html
 
Stay tuned for the Bethesda premiere invitation.  To learn about scheduling a screening and panel discussion at your child’s school, local community center, or after school program, email at the address below.

Thanks for reading! - Trish
​Trish.Glowacki@glowmedia.org

    Last week The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Program  released a report documenting the effect of the 2016 election on schools and students.  Over ten thousand teachers, school counselors and administrators participated in an online survey.  Nine out of ten educators who responded said they had seen a negative impact on students’ mood and behavior following the election.  Eight in ten reported heightened anxiety on the part of marginalized students.  Teachers reported that targeting and harassment in their schools had skyrocketed, particularly against immigrants, Muslims, girls, LGBT students, and kids with disabilities. Many educators described a profound change in the environments of their schools.  According to the report, “students are tense, have lost trust in each other and are struggling to get along.”
     In this changed school environment, the glow media films are more important than ever!  The films are about students from different racial, ethnic and class backgrounds.  In the first three films we see main characters grapple with issues related to sexual identity, body image and pressure to succeed.  The students are kind and respectful to one another and support each other through difficult times. The films are intended to destigmatize challenges such as these that can make teens feel vulnerable and alone, and to worry that they are different from their peers.   Students watching the glow media films will learn that struggling with anxiety, depression or an eating disorder in adolescence is common, and that there is help available.  Not only will this help them to cope with their own challenges, but should heighten their sensitivity and empathy to other students who may be struggling.  Classroom discussions of the films can help to teach tolerance, build community, and increase trust between students. 
It’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of this past election. It’s harder to look at the differences that were highlighted and learn from them to impact real change.  

For more information about glow media visit www.glowmedia.org or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/glowmediaorg

Excitement is in the Air!
Last week was an exciting one for the glow media world (Preceded by an exciting week, to say the least, in all our worlds!).  It began Saturday, Nov. 11, with a full day of soundtrack recording for our new films in the world renowned NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, CA.  Big shout out to Chris Wonzer for his wonderful work as our music producer. Special thanks to Dale Fisher and Paul Ill for their incredible talents and continued involvement with our projects.  It was also great to see the progress George Glowacki has made over the last few years as he continues to pursue his musical career.  His guitar riffs are amazing!  We have a few new names on these soundtracks including Kellii Scott, most notably from the band, Failure, on drums, the multi-talented Justin “Kong” Joyce on vocals and bass, and two young artists: Lexie RoseReinhold, and actor/singer Noah Chiet on vocals.  The energy in the studio was palpable! We are super excited to hear the finished products and share with you!

We capped off a busy week in Los Angeles attending Facing Addiction’sprogram highlighting the release of the Surgeon General’s report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health, https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov.  Our first film, Warning: Take Only as Directed, spoke directly to issues addressed in the report including the following:

• Nearly 70 percent of those who try an illicit drug before the age of 13 develop a substance use disorder within seven years, compared with 27 percent of those who first try an illicit drug after the age of 17, and
• People who first drink alcohol before age 15 are four times more likely to become addicted at some time in their lives than are those who have their first drink at age 20 or older.

In other words, the earlier the exposure, the greater the risk.  Additionally, almost 40% of those with a substance abuse disorder have underlying mental health issues and fewer than half ever receive treatment. Wow – what a confirmation of the needs that our films address.  Treating addiction as a disease reduces stigma and will lead to better treatments.  Treating mental health without similar stigmas will also lead to better outcomes.  Both will lead to happier, healthier lives for all.

You can find out more at glow media films or check out our new trailer by clicking on  #NEWFILMS.  We now move on to finalizing the music and incorporating the music into the films.  Stay tuned for premiere dates!

On the fund raising side, we have raised over $145K of our $200K goal and have established the financial foundation to see our efforts through to success.  Thanks to all that have supported us and if you haven't contributed yet, we'd welcome your donation!  You can find information about contributing at www.glowmedia.org/donate. 
 
I feel truly blessed to work on such an important effort.  I am also very thankful for all that have supported this project and look forward to showing you the fruits of all our efforts.  

Kindest Regards - Trish