Students are encouraged to explore real-world solutions, highlight individuals and organizations making a difference, and reimagine a more equitable food system.

The event featured winning films from Nourishing Narratives: Youth Stories for Change, a national mobile film competition created by Grand Rapids-based Mosaic Film Experience in collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation

Created by students Morgan Hawkins and Sukey Hayden of D.C. International School, “Food Justice East of the Anacostia River” explores Fresh Food Factory, a Black woman–owned business working to combat food apartheid in Southeast D.C.

Josiah said he wanted his film to show other students like him what's possible when they believe in themselves and are given the platform to share their stories.

The competition encourages students to explore real-world solutions, spotlight individuals and organizations making a difference, and reimagine a fair food system for all.

The event, part of the national Nourishing Narratives mobile film competition, brought together student filmmakers, educators, food advocates, nonprofit leaders, and national media professionals for a dynamic conversation that explored how youth storytelling can drive awareness, advocacy, and change. Here are five takeaways from the evening.

A Paul Laurence Dunbar High School student recently earned national recognition for his short film on food insecurity. Seventeen-year-old Jonathan Conley was one of 10 winners of the nationwide “Mosaic Film Experience: Nourishing Narratives” competition. The competition prompts kids, ages 10-18, around the country to produce mobile films about food justice.

Mosaic Film Experience is a Grand Rapids non-profit that empowers young storytellers through filmmaking. In collaboration with Newman's Own Foundation, "Nourishing Narratives: Cultivating Youth Stories For Change" is a mobile film competition for children aged 10 through 18, inviting these young creatives to share stories about food justice and the impact it has on our changing world.

Two seniors at Grand Rapids City High School won a nationwide student film contest for their short film about food insecurity, earning them $1,000 and a trip to Hollywood.

When Grand Rapids teens Caleb Jesse and Daniel Ewer picked up their smartphones to make a film about food access, they weren’t just aiming to create something artistic. They were documenting a reality many of their peers live every day: that healthy, affordable food isn’t always easy to come by.

Mosaic Film Experience, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit, has announced the 10 winners of Nourishing Narratives: Cultivating Youth Stories For Change—a national mobile film competition created in collaboration with Newman's Own Foundation. Among the honorees are Caleb Jesse and Daniel Ewer, a team of winners from City High Middle School. The competition, open to youth ages 10–18 nationwide, amplifies youth voices on the concept of food justice and highlights the need for a food system that is fair, ethical, humane, and equitable for all.

Grand Rapids teens Caleb Jesse and Daniel Ewer have been named top ten winners in a national youth film competition focused on food justice. The duo earned recognition for their short film Apples, a creative, thought-provoking piece that explores the intersection of equity, access, and community through the lens of food.

The Nourishing Narratives Mobile Film Competition has a local winner who is bringing awareness to the food desert. Morgan Hawkins, who is from the area, spoke with Kidd about why this topic is so important to her and what she learned. Morgan is set to head to L.A. next month to receive her award.

Nourishing Narratives is a youth film competition that's ongoing, asking for a two- to three-minute short story about food justice and what it would take to create a fair, equitable food system for all.

Students are encouraged to investigate solutions, document organizations making an impact, and reimagine what an equitable food system could look like.

Participants, ages 10 to 18, are asked to create films up to three minutes long, shot and edited entirely on mobile devices. Each submission must: Feature the theme of food justice, include a fruit or vegetable as a prop as a visual reminder of the importance of nutritious food, incorporate the phrase “Tomorrow Starts Here.”

The Mosaic Film Experience, a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that empowers underrepresented youth through storytelling, is launching a nationwide film competition to highlight food justice.

Mosaic Film Experience, an award-winning, nonprofit educational platform, announced the launch of Nourishing Narratives: Cultivating Youth Stories For Change, a mobile film competition that will spotlight, support, connect and amplify emerging youth and their visions for food justice. Nourishing Narratives is supported by Newman’s Own Foundation, the private grant-making foundation started by legendary actor Paul Newman, with a mission to nourish and transform the lives of children who face adversity.

Mosaic Film Experience has launched a mobile film competition to spotlight, support, connect and amplify emerging youth and their visions for food justice.

Local nonprofit Mosaic Film Experience, in collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation, is launching a mobile film-making competition, “Nourishing Narratives,” aimed at amplifying youth voices on the crucial issue of food justice.