Adobe Youth Voices

"Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) ignites young people’s Creative Confidence—the ability to har­ness creative skills to solve problems—thereby empowering them to find their voice and make it heard. AYV is the Adobe Foundation’s signature global initiative to increase creativity in educa­tion, which is critical to improving the lives of young people today and well into the future."

For this campaign, I was asked to share portraits of youth and young adults. I then asked them to share their story of how they were making an impact through creativity and media on their communities. See the posts below.

Meet my friend and Virginian native, @jeremyklefeker. He is a leader and photographer taking initiative in social media projects to affect change in his local Dallas community. @AdobeYouthVoices is doing great things; supporting youth media makers all over the world to #CreateWithPurpose. Go give their projects a look!

A photo posted by Paul Tellefsen (@technopaul) on Apr 19, 2015 at 5:09pm PDT

@sam_wymer is a leader, who strives to connect those who are passionate about photography with others who share the love for this modern day art. Sam loves to motivate others in their respective craft and encourage them to pursue their creative visions. He is motivated to help build and foster a positive social community in Redding, CA. #CreateWithPurpose @AdobeYouthVoices @12_fps is hosting a competition inspired by AYV for a chance to win an iPad. Create your own original images and tell us the stories behind those voices! Tag #CreateWithPurpose to enter the competition (13-25 year olds eligible). More info at http://12fps.com/CreateWithPurpose.html

A photo posted by Paul Tellefsen (@technopaul) on May 18, 2015 at 6:25pm PDT

@herwithwings is am a simple dreamer dancing day to day. However Claire did not always know how to dance, She use to run through life; Never stopping to look around. Photography taught her how to dance. it made Claire take a step back and focus in on what is happening in the present. To finally look up, see the world around her and pushed her to capture it in a different way. Now her passion is to show others how to dance, to use photography to slow down and see the world in different pair of lenses. #CreateWithPurpose The #AYVAwards voting is open for one more week only! Have you voted? Go to link in @AdobeYouthVoices to support your favorite project! #AdobeYouthVoices

A photo posted by Paul Tellefsen (@technopaul) on Jun 4, 2015 at 8:28pm PDT

A Los Angeles native, lover of community, encouragement and various realms of creativity. @steph.martinez's heart is to walk alongside people on their life journey, near or far, using words, images or music to inspire. She writes about her journey, in hopes to simply remind people that they have worth, to experience life, and love people well… and most of all, have fun. Share stories of young creatives like Steph and tag #CreateWithPurpose for a chance to win an iPad with @12_fps's contest inspired by @AdobeYouthVoices. Participants must be 13-25 to be eligible to win. Have a good weekend everybody!

A photo posted by Paul Tellefsen (@technopaul) on Jun 20, 2015 at 5:27pm PDT

@estherleclerc is all about thinking and living outside the box. One of her primary passions is sharing her and her family's journeys through creative arts and writing via social media in turn impacting others to live lives of purpose, especially those in the creative fields. Esther loves challenging people in her circles to use there gifts and talents to better themselves and in turn the community and world around them. #CreateWithPurpose I love what @AdobeYouthVoices is doing in bringing creatives together for purpose!

A photo posted by Paul Tellefsen (@technopaul) on Jun 29, 2015 at 9:00pm PDT

Over the next few weeks, I'm excited to begin a collaboration with @AdobeYouthVoices, whose work with young people around the world makes it possible to create change. I'll be sharing portraits and stories of youth change makers to highlight some of the leaders in the youth media making community. Meet my friend @connor_crumpton. He's a leader, storyteller and change maker in Dallas. By using media and telling stories, he's helping to connect leaders, youth and young adults, meeting needs and creating community in the Dallas area. #AdobeYouthVoices

A photo posted by Paul Tellefsen (@technopaul) on Mar 24, 2015 at 5:54pm PDT