Best of CASE District I Award
 

Institution: Wesleyan University

Title of entry: Speaking Out for Ukraine video

About this entry: The "Speaking Out for Ukraine" video was filmed and produced in 2022 and was conceived as a short-form documentary on one Wesleyan student's reaction to and experience of the invasion of Ukraine (her homeland) by Russia. Through a combination of campus footage (Ukraine rally), original video footage of the subject, original interviews, published news coverage, and social media videos, we put together a compelling story of not only what it means to be caught up in a war that is taking place hundreds of miles away but also what is possible in terms of taking action on an individual and collective level to disseminate information, to educate, and to strive for meaningful impact. A link to a vetted resource at the end of the video also invited viewers to join in the effort and an opportunity to further the impact. We chose this story for its timeliness, its global reach, and the specificity of the Wesleyan student activist culture and the community of support that helps students like Julia achieve their goals and make a difference.