FIXT POINT Arts and Media (Empathy Squad *VIRTUAL* Audio Storytellering and Podcasting Training)

Organization Name: FIXT POINT Arts and Media
Opportunity Title: Empathy Squad *VIRTUAL* Audio Storytellering and Podcasting Training
Category: Heritage / Museums
Commitment: Less than 6 months
Start Date: October 2, 2023
End Date: March 30, 2024

Email: empathysquad@fixtpoint.com
Website: https://empathysquad.ca
Opportunity Description:

APPLY NOW FOR THE EMPATHY SQUAD! Gather Oral Histories to Foster Empathy and Build your Podcasting Skills. The Empathy Squad is a hands-on, experiential-service-learning opportunity for diverse youth from across Canada aimed at creating meaningful connections and increasing understanding of one another through public engagement, facilitated conversations, active listening and presentation, aimed at capturing and preserving our country’s collective community memory for generations to come.  The Empathy Squad program is made possible by the Canada Service Corps.    As a participant, you will:  ✅ Acquire the knowledge and practical skills needed to produce high-quality audio stories: interviewing and recording techniques, audio-editing, narrative shaping, and sound design;  ✅ Volunteer in service of your community, learn about what’s important to them through active listening and help foster empathy for their lived experiences;  ✅ Experience hands-on learning alongside fellow future leaders and from industry professionals across the country.    Some of our program alumni have incorporated interviewing and audio storytelling components into either their current profession or their postgraduate studies, as well as acquired jobs in related media/artistic fields.    Program Expectations:  Have access to strong internet connection and a laptop available on which you can download and install: Slack (Mac OS / Windows OS), Descript (find system requirements here), Google Chrome, Zoom;  Attend scheduled Zoom sessions that consist of live demonstrations, instructional videos and feedback sharing from facilitators, Guest Artists and peers;  Apply learnings by conducting interviews, using audio recording equipment, and completing assignments using audio-editing software, Descript;  Engage with facilitators and peers using program communication platforms (Slack, Zoom, provided Empathy Squad email address);  Commit 10-12 hours a week, including scheduled Zoom sessions and work in your own time.    Application Process and Timeline: As a program funded by the Canada Service Corps, applicants must be aged 18 to 30 years at the start of the program, and reside in Canada for the duration of the program.  Applications are open to individuals across the country.  The training component is delivered virtually in pre-scheduled and synchronous sessions via Zoom.  Cohorts 15 & 16 will run simultaneously from October to December 2023.  Deadline to apply for Cohorts 15 & 16: September 1, 2023.  Cohorts 17 & 18 will run simultaneously from January to March 2024. Applications for Cohorts 17 & 18 will remain open until further notice, so early applications are strongly encouraged!  Fill out our application form and find the full program schedule for Cohorts 15&16 and 17&18 here: https://www.fixtpoint.com/empathysquad-apply   Once you submit an application, you will then be contacted after the deadline regarding the status of your application.    Other program details: Meet and learn from our Guest Artists: Industry professionals who will come and talk about their work process and help you in yours!  The program is delivered completely virtually and provides opportunities for developing skills and artistic practice to capture and preserve community stories to be shared with present and future generations, as well as opportunities for improving your communication and self-expression skills!  In our 4 years of delivering this training program, our applicants have come from many diverse backgrounds and experience levels, in either storytelling, taking this opportunity to expand to a new medium (audio), or in technical skills, and through the program improved on their interviewing and relational skills.  With over 90 podcast pieces created, you can listen to them here: https://soundcloud.com/fixtpoint/sets/empathy-squad-squadcasts    About FiXT POiNT Arts and Media:  FIXT POINT is a Toronto-based arts & media company with national reach. Our mandate is to inspire audiences and artists to imagine change, and our mission is to promote local culture and preserve local heritage through the telling of tales across multiple platforms. We endeavour to be leaders in public engagement, embedding training and outreach into our process of creation and dissemination. FIXT POINT was founded in 2006 and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 2011.  To date, we’ve interviewed over 3,000 Canadians from every province and territory in almost 200 communities in our storymobiles (mobile recording studio on wheels); edited and posted hundreds of oral histories on our storymap; produced two seasons of a TV/web series for TVO; and, most recently, we were awarded Touring Artist of the Year from the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA).  The Tale of a Town Story Map (http://www.thetaleofatown.com)  TVO Series (https://tvo.org/programs/main-street-ontario)  Learn more at www.fixtpoint.com.