Photo: Heather Fipps

Community Partners: Cal State LA Student Documentaries

30 March 2020

Founded in 2017, Community Impact Media is a joint initiative between California State University, Los Angeles and the gallery, demonstrating each organization’s shared commitment to advancing the use of film as a tool for social change. The initiative began as a course to provide student filmmakers with hands-on experience in media production and storytelling to guide them through creation of original short documentaries about the inspiring work of local nonprofit organizations.

With an expanded focus on achieving greater diversity in the field and nurturing a new generation of filmmakers, the semester-long course pairs students with these nonprofits to create short films about issues such as homelessness, mass incarceration, and environmental justice. The latest series of student-directed documentaries profiles the important work of Inner City Law Center and Media Done Responsibly. View their films here:

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is committed to engagement and service for the public good. The university is ranked number one in the nation for the upward mobility of its students, many of whom are first-generation college students.