Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts & Technology

"BAYCAT was an opening to do something I had dreamed of, but never had the reach to do on my own." - Iman Rodney, 21 

 

For 11 years, BAYCAT has served as a bridge from academia to employment, inviting students to take an active role in education, turning youth from consumers to creators of digital media through hands-on training. We see on a daily basis the negative impact of the digital divide that affects education and economic vitality as we work with underserved youth.

Young people like Iman Rodney are finding their pathway to success through BAYCAT's digital media arts programs. 

Iman grew up in the Bayview, and joined BAYCAT’s youth program when he was 13. Always intrigued by filmmaking, he was driven to graduate from high school, and continue on to City College. However, Iman had to drop out to help support his family financially. Instead of pursuing his dream to be a filmmaker, he began to work full-time at Trader Joe’s. BAYCAT Studio offered Iman a position to create a short film for one of it’s clients, The Metta Fund.  Now, back into our fold, and getting his filmmaking appetite stirred, he began to see the challenges of balancing his job, his family’s needs and his dream.

BAYCAT’s Internship Program became the bridge for him to figure out how work toward his dream, while building his resume, reel and on-the-job experience with top BAYCAT clients like Dodo Case and Bank of the West. Upon graduation, not only did HBO want to hire him, but so did the SF Giants.  In addition to working two seasons for HBO’s “Looking,” Iman has also been a video production intern for SF Giants Productions.  “I got to work the World Series, Mom, not selling popcorn, but on the broadcast team.”  BAYCAT calls this a win-win.