Kathleen: Treme Series Writer visits Clark Prep

From left: Nelson, Eric Overmyer, Anthony “Magic”, Shakerin

On Monday, December 3, Eric Overmyer visited Clark Prep. This visit was really something special. Mr. Overmyer is a writer for the HBO show Treme, The Wire and other popular television series. As a visitor at Clark Prep, he didn’t come for what many visitors typically do, such as a tour or attending a basketball game. Eric’s first trip to our campus was to share his invaluable knowledge with some of our students and others from three other FirstLine Schools: Langston Hughes Academy, John Dibert and Arthur Ashe all had the opportunity to show the rough cuts of their semester pieces that they worked on with Kids Rethink New Orleans. After viewing the rough cuts, Eric Overmyer offered constructive feedback and also answered a variety of student questions.

Tulane’s Digital Media Program is partnering with Kids Rethink New Orleans, thanks to partial funding from Gulf South Leadership Institute, at these four FirstLine schools, establishing an after-school media program at each one. Clark Prep students paired up with three Tulane mentors, all in the Tulane Digital Media Program taking a class called Place-based Storytelling in New Orleans.  Clark Prep’s Digital Media Club is working to produce two videos as their semester pieces: one about the Claiborne Corridor and the other about drugs in our community. The Tulane students create videos in their class and bring their experience to the Digital Media Clubs at the four schools, establishing a meaningful, valuable mentoring relationship with members of each club. Tulane is set to host a screening of their works on campus before Winter Break.

FirstLine’s Aspiration Manager Darcy McKinnon, faculty supervisor of Clark Prep Digital Media Club, is working hard to make sure that the program is permanent. By raising funds and maintaining formidable relationships with NOVAC, she also hopes Clark Prep and Tulane maintain a relationship in the years to come so that Clark Prep students can keep making awesome work and continue learning from such valuable mentors. As for members of Clark Prep’s club, they were invited by Eric Overmyer to check out the set of Treme!

Kathleen Duffy is the AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Coordinator for Clark Prep High School.