Note from Our Director

Dear Loop Lab Community,

I hope this message finds you all in good spirits and thriving in your creative endeavors. It brings me great joy to share some exciting updates and initiatives that have taken place at The Loop Lab.

Abraham Lopez, alum of our MAA, talks about his experience at the Multicultural Arts Center.

On May 16th, we had the privilege of hosting our Spring Appreciation Breakfast, a heartfelt gathering dedicated to expressing our gratitude towards our valued funders and supporters. The event, held at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, was a two-hour celebration filled with warm conversations and a deeper understanding of the incredible work happening within our internship sites. We were especially thrilled to showcase the remarkable achievements of our apprentice, Abraham Lopez, highlighting his impactful contributions made thus far during his internship.

A sneak peek of our new space in Downtown Crossing!

In addition to this, I am delighted to announce the opening of our third location in Downtown Crossing at 45 Temple Place, Boston. This expansion allows us to serve our Boston population even more conveniently, reinforcing our commitment to fostering creativity and empowerment within our community. To commemorate this milestone, we are planning an open house and ground breaking ceremony in the upcoming fall. Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to share this momentous occasion with all of you!

Moreover, I am thrilled to introduce the Boston Media Arts Empowerment Award, a remarkable award initiated by Loop Lab Studio in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture, City of Boston. This award has been created with the vision of providing media services to support the artistic growth and exposure of emerging artists from underestimated backgrounds in the City of Boston. We eagerly anticipate receiving submissions from the vibrant Boston arts community and assisting these talented individuals in bringing their artistic visions to life. You can read more about it in the Studio update.

(above) Marlon and Abhi put their cooking skills to the test as Chef looks on.

The Loop Lab staff recently took a Thai cooking class at Cambridge Culinary School. Thanks, Chef!

(L to R) Marlon Orozco, Abhi Indrekar, Troy Ellerbee, Chris Hope, Kiara Cole, Chef, Lucas Raagas

At The Loop Lab, we are driven by our passion for nurturing talent, fostering inclusivity, and empowering artists to embrace their full potential. We are grateful for your continuous support, as it is the fuel that propels us forward. Together, let us create a thriving community that celebrates diversity, artistic expression, and the transformative power of media.

Stay inspired and keep pushing boundaries!

Warm regards,

Christopher Hope

Academy Updates - June 2023

Lucas Raagas, Academy Manager, is prepared to welcome Cohort 6 on their first day!

After a long and competitive admissions process, we kicked off our sixth cohort of the Media Arts Apprenticeship program on June 20th! With a record high of 57 applicants in a single year, we accepted our largest group to date of nine apprentices. We are also excited to announce that our MAA program has moved to Boston! The training portion of the program will mainly be taught in Downtown Crossing, The Loop Lab’s newest location. This allows us to teach more students and take advantage of capturing the sounds and visuals of this lively area.

Cohort 6 roster:

• Xavier Asamoah

• Destiny Cuevas

• Kuran Freeman

• Nino Leite

• Soti Levy

• Anna Montano

• Noel O'Neil

• Andres Osorno

• Chelsey White

Some of our newest apprentices test out lighting and diffusion.

This year’s admissions saw a total of 57 total applicants, up from 39 total applicants in 2022, and we had 18 applicants reach our final round of internal deliberation, an improvement from 13 in 2022. After deliberate and conscious outreach efforts, we are welcoming in more women than we have had in a single group, and more Cambridge folks (3) than we have had since the beginning of The Loop Lab! Here’s a more specific look at the demographic breakdown of applicants from 2022 to 2023:

Additionally, our high school programming will be taught by two new instructors, starting with Cambridge’s MSYEP program in July. Matt Feener and Xavier Montes (an alum of the MAA Program) are taking the lead and already in the process of creating their lesson plans, including use of the new software - Descript. We were happy to arrange a partnership with them, resulting in free access to their premium audio and video software (that also incorporates AI) for our students and instructors.

The Academy is looking forward to a host of exciting things in the upcoming calendar year. We are currently working on offering drone classes in partnership with Brandeis University, which will be offered to both our current students and alumni. Furthermore, we are adding a few exciting internship locations for our apprentices, and the official announcement of those partnerships will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned!

Studio Updates - June 2023

(L to R) Abhi Indrekar, Abraham Lopez, Coy Walker, Chris Hope, Marlon Orozco, and Amanda Caballero at Vu Studios for filming with AVIXA Productions.

Coy and Amanda set up their camera.

Loop Lab Studio recently returned from InfoComm 2023, the renowned AV industry trade show, held in Orlando, Florida this year. Our studio, academy, and admin teams were honored to be invited to participate. At InfoComm, The Loop Lab had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the talented AVIXA Production team in filming behind-the-scenes (BTS) footage of the latest AV technologies being showcased. In working with AVIXA, we received a special invitation from Vu Studio to film their cutting-edge Virtual Production XR Volume Stage in Orlando. Adding to the excitement, Media Arts Apprenticeship alumni Abraham Lopez, Amanda Caballero, and Coy Walker played a vital role as part of the production team responsible for capturing the mesmerizing virtual technology stage.

Loop Lab Studio in the field filming an interview for the INOSAAR documentary

In addition to our involvement with InfoComm 2023, Loop Lab Studio has been working on an inspiring documentary project in partnership with the University of Edinburgh’s International Network of Scholars & Activists for Afrikan Reparations (INOSAAR). This project focuses on Benin’s culture and explores the topic of reparations in the African American Diaspora. We were privileged to be hired to record interviews with African-American diasporic individuals residing in Massachusetts. As the project progresses, our studio will also assist with post-production by involving our esteemed interim production manager, Abhi Indrekar, as an editorial consultant.

Furthermore, we would like to introduce the Boston Media Arts Empowerment Award, a unique award driven by Loop Lab Studio and funded through the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture in Boston. This award will uplift emerging artists from underestimated backgrounds by providing the video and/or audio services needed for greater exposure within the Boston arts community. Valued at $1000.00 per production, this award exemplifies our commitment to elevate and amplify the voices of Boston-based artists. From July 3 to July 31, 2023, we will be accepting our first round of applications. Over the course of 20 months, we will assist 30 talented individuals in bringing their artistic visions to life.

Loop Lab Studio continues to push boundaries and collaborate with industry leaders to create innovative and captivating audiovisual experiences. We are grateful for the opportunities we have been given and look forward to the exciting projects that lie ahead.

Funder Spotlight - June 2023

State Street Foundation

The State Street Foundation makes grants for nonprofits and non-governmental organizations, with a focus on creating lasting economic benefits in the communities where their employees live and work. The Foundation invests in high-performing nonprofits that achieve measurable results in basic education, college success and credentials, and employability. The Foundation also shares The Loop Lab’s commitment to promote leadership efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion, including real efforts to address equity gaps based on race, ethnicity, socio-economic status.

In addition to providing essential support for our flagship Media Arts Apprenticeship program, State Street has also provided employee volunteer and consulting support, working in partnership with Loop Lab employees to develop the structure and design of our newsletter. The Foundation also was a primary sponsor for the very first Loop Lab Apprentice Showcase, held at The Brattle Theatre in December 2022.

Devonshire Foundation

The Devonshire Foundation is a Boston-based private family foundation that seeks to create measurable and sustainable impact by supporting ready-for-growth programs addressing social and environmental issues. The Foundation focuses on helping organizations build their capacity to have greater reach and better outcomes with a more sustainable future, providing multi-year capacity-building funding to organizations that address one or more of its mission areas:

• Programs serving economically disadvantaged children and young adults

• Supporting environmental sustainability and justice

• Increasing the impact of the nonprofit sector

The Foundation is providing essential multi-year support, enabling The Loop Lab to significantly build its organizational and program capacity as we seek to expand the reach and impact of our media arts programming and Loop Lab Studio services throughout Greater Boston.

The capacity building and operating support provided by both foundations, in partnership with our other supporters, has also positioned The Loop Lab to formally establish program operations at a new location in downtown Boston. On behalf of the board, staff and apprentices that we serve, we would like to sincerely thank both foundations for their critical philanthropic support of The Loop Lab.

Updates from our Executive Director - March 2023

Dear Loop Lab Community,

ED Chris Hope, TLL alumnus Tyrie Daniel with United Nations Delegates at the UN HQ, NYC, 2023.

I hope this message finds you well. As we move into the new year, I am incredibly proud to reflect on the amazing accomplishments that The Loop Lab has recently achieved. As many of you know, we are dedicated to providing certified apprenticeships and media arts training to BIPOC communities in the Greater Boston area, and I am thrilled to share some of the highlights that we have accomplished through your support.Our team was even invited to speak and network at the United Nations HQ in New York, providing a global platform to share our work and inspire change. I was invited to speak on a panel sponsored by Jobs For The Future, and I brought several apprentices with me who got the chance to network and even talk with the United States Secretary of Education! We have also collaborated with the YWCA Cambridge by providing their participants with free photo headshots, empowering individuals to put their best foot forward in their professional lives.

In December, we produced an apprentice film screening and showcase sponsored by Audible, State Street, and Cambridge Trust Company. These film projects, in collaboration with Audible, are an annual tradition and they came out incredibly well. The showcase was an incredible opportunity for our apprentices to showcase their talents and skills, and we are grateful for the support of these sponsors.

Chris Hope serving on national panel on apprenticeship learning by Jobs For The Future at SXSW EDU, 2023.

In addition to these accomplishments, we have expanded our team with the addition of an academy manager, administrative intern, a development manager, and a grants/budgets manager. These talented individuals will help us continue to grow and expand our reach. Finally, I want to share some exciting news about our partner, Elisa Hamilton and her project Jukebox, which our studio and apprentices help to provide post-production editing for. The project was featured in the Boston Globe, shining a spotlight on the incredible work that we are proud to be a part of.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of our amazing community, and I am incredibly grateful for all that you do. As we move into the new year, I am excited to see what we will achieve together.

Thank you,

Christopher Hope, Executive Director, The Loop Lab

Funder Spotlights March 2023

The Wagner Foundation was established in Boston in 2005. The Foundation’s mission is to “confront the social and historical disparities that perpetuate injustice, focusing on health equity and economic prosperity.” In support of seeking economic prosperity, the Foundation supports access to economic opportunity through training, apprenticeships, and other employment programs. Wagner states that “to equip the next generation to find and create jobs of the future will require a creative approach to working with business partners, greater investments in training and skill-building, challenging systemic barriers while augmenting existing pathways to economic mobility.” The Loop Lab’s board and staff fully embrace this declaration and, through our apprenticeship and impactful storytelling work, we are honored to partner with the Wagner Foundation in their quest to confront societal disparities that perpetuate injustice.

Established in 2003, the Liberty Mutual Foundation’s grant-making priorities focus on organizations and programs in Boston, Seattle/King County and Dallas that “provide accessibility for individuals of all abilities; security for men, women and children experiencing homelessness; and educational opportunities for children and youth living in poverty.”

The Loop Lab is proud that Liberty Mutual sponsored our organization in our selection for the 2021 Social Innovation Forum’s Innovator cohort.  This important partnership has helped us make significant strides in building our organization’s capacity in support of our mission to “empower content creators of color to have careers in media arts through job training and paid internships.” 

As a corporate and philanthropic leader in Boston, the Liberty Mutual Foundation has also developed a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Plan as “one powerful way we build a high-performing and innovative workforce where people of all backgrounds can grow in their careers, foster stronger relationships with colleagues and deliver a superior customer experience.” The Loop Lab applauds this inspiring effort and fully embraces the values and objectives associated with this initiative.

Loop Lab Academy Updates - March 2023

The Loop Lab Academy has experienced a ton of success in the past few months! We’re still feeling the adrenaline from an outstanding night screening the apprentices’ final film projects with Audible at the Brattle Theatre last December. After walking the orange carpet and presenting their films, our apprentices took the stage to speak on their experiences, personal challenges, and perceived growth in a Q&A session with moderator Jonathan Allen of Leadership Brainery. Topics covered included:

 ✦ Mentoring in Cambridge by Xavier Montes ✦ 

✦ Mental Health Services in Cambridge by Anthony Saunders & Coy Walker ✦ 

✦ Job Preparation and Training in Cambridge by Briana Maltez & Mitchell Williams ✦ 

✦ Arts as a Profession in Cambridge by Abraham Lopez & Damien Wellington ✦ 

If you missed the screening, Audible will soon be sharing the videos for your online streaming enjoyment. Keep an eye on our social media for their release. After six months of rigorous instruction, all eight apprentices from Cohort 5 have now graduated from the training portion of our [Media Arts] Apprenticeship Program. 

Since then, six have gone on to internships with studios and arts organizations, and one is in a full-time position at MIT! 

Abraham Lopez → Multicultural Arts Center (Internship)

Amanda Caballero → Academy Outreach Ambassador

Anthony Saunders → Loop Lab Studios (Internship)

Briana Maltez → Loop Lab Studios (Internship)

Coy Walker → Red Thread (Full-Time Job)

Damien Wellington → The Dance Complex (Internship)

Mitchell Williams → Q Division Studios (Internship)

Xavier Montes → Black Math (Internship)

While we couldn’t be more proud of our students, we’re also proud to announce the promotion of two Academy team members. Marlon Orozco has accepted and started a new role as our first Senior Instructor, while Lucas Raagas has now moved into the new role of Academy Manager. That being said, the Academy team is looking to add a new full-time Media Arts Instructor! Though we are actively interviewing candidates, we are still accepting applications. If you are interested, or know anyone who may be, please spread the word. The job description is here!

As previously mentioned, we are gearing up for the next cohort! The application for our Media Arts Apprenticeship Program is now open and will close on May 12, 2023. We are excited to welcome a new cohort in June 2023, and to build on the abundance of success in 2022. Find the application here. Share with your friends, family, and community!

Lastly, we are hosting outreach events and info sessions to advertise our programming, especially our Media Arts Apprenticeship program. If you see us at a career fair, job fair, or collaborating with other organizations for info sessions, say hi!

Loop Lab Studio Updates - March 2023

Anthony on his SXSW Experience

Food, culture and good ole southern hospitality are a few of the pleasantries deeply associated with Austin, Texas. For this only being my second time west of the Mississippi, I was very eager and excited to embark on this journey, but not for just the fun and excitement but because this was my first time going on a trip dedicated to work. Both in preparation for and during the trip, I needed to give myself small reminders so I could stay on track and stay focused on the task at hand. In Austin, I was slated to not only represent The Loop Lab to the best of my ability but to also showcase myself and what I do outside of the work day. Over the four day trip, I was able to build confidence in myself and work on my elevator pitch for both The Loop Lab, what the company represents, and for myself and what I do. 

For my first ever work trip, I was pleasantly surprised by many things, everything spanning from the people to the food. My biggest highlight of Austin was how nice and willing to talk everyone was– typically I’m used to locals not being that friendly from where I’m from. My favorite part of the trip was meeting Chris’ family; they were awesome and very warm people. I wasn’t surprised by that at all–knowing who they are related to, I expected more of the same. Oddly enough I found out I may somehow be related to them and if not related, our families definitely crossed paths in the past. That was discovered over a beautiful dinner at Garrison located at the Fairmount in Austin, Texas. 

Over the course of the four days, I was able to indulge in a lot of SXSW fun. I met people from all over the world and made connections with so many people I couldn’t count. The most important meeting to me was when I met the Secretary of Education–he was great. Going into the room, I was a bit nervous but I was met with a lot of hospitality and good energy, which made those feelings fade quickly. I quickly engaged in conversation with someone at a table who seemed easy to speak with - she was. After speaking for a while, she revealed that she worked for the very person I was there to meet and she ended up liking what I said enough to personally tell the Secretary of Education about me. He finally arrived and kept his acknowledgement to the room brief and engaging but wrapped up what he had to say by asking to speak with myself and Briana Maltez first. He asked us what we do and he listened to every word. I awkwardly asked for a picture after and he gladly accepted. I’m glad I was able to go on this trip and am grateful for the opportunity. I wish more people from my cohort could have experienced this but hopefully I was able to open up some more doors.  

Briana on her SXSW Experience

ATX! Known for its live music and walking around 6th street, you can tell it lives up to its name. Being at SXSW was really important for the Loop Lab, as it was a great opportunity to get the exposure it deserves. As a newly graduated apprentice and now an intern for the Studio, it was an honor to be invited to represent the organization. I’m naturally introverted, so off rip I knew I'd be overwhelmed but overtime it came natural to me. 

If someone were to ask me, “hey, what is the Loop Lap?” (which happened a lot at SXSW EDU since we had on Loop Lab merch), I could confidently answer. Not to mention the vibe of the people who would approach me–it was comfortable to talk to them. I wasn't used to it because it’s so different from Boston, but it was definitely a nice change. You can walk around Austin and really strike up a conversation with anyone. 

What was really interesting was the expo center at SXSW EDU. It was really cool to see the panels where there were different projects and companies being showcased. There was a competitive program where high school kids made their own creative projects such as upgrading a 3D printer, making a horse race tracker, gravity swinging balls, and a life size sensor motion maze using billiards. Another panel was a company that made learning fun for elementary kids by using science games to entertain the kids but also to educate and open their eyes to different career options instead of the typical ones. The highlight was being able to meet the U.S Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona and telling him about my experience as an apprentice and intern. Anthony and I were the only interns, so he’ll remember us and what The Loop Lab is about. 

Studio Interns, Anthony Saunders & Briana Maltez, ED Chis Hope with U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona

I want to say thank you to Chris Hope for inviting me to this wonderful event. It was awesome to be in the crowd supporting him as he spoke about The Loop Lab and his mission. Thank you to Jobs for the Future for inviting The Loop Lab to SXSW and for the opportunity to talk about my own experience with The Loop Lab.

Loop Lab Studio Updates 2022

The Loop Lab Studio

This year, we were joined by Abhi Indrekar as the Interim Production Manager for the Studio. Abhi has more than 10 years of non-fiction/fiction filmmaking experience as a director, cinematographer and editor. He, along with a dedicated group of talented subcontractors, produced more than 40 video and audio projects this year alone. 

In the fall, The Loop Lab Studio received an opportunity to be involved in a long term project with MIT's Global Opportunity Initiative (GOI). We’re helping to create 12 podcast episodes for GOI's Beyond The Resume podcast series. Beyond the Resume is hosted by GOI Founder George Westerman. During more than 18 years with MIT Sloan School of Management, he has written three award-winning books, including Leading Digital: Turning Technology Into Business Transformation. You can listen to the first three edited podcasts here.

We are also honored to be awarded a contract with the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture through the City of Boston to create engaging videos for 30 artists and creative workers in Greater Boston. This project will provide recent graduates of The Loop Lab Academy with an interest in film production an opportunity to learn more by assisting with the directing, filming and editing of the many pieces to come. We cannot wait to get started! Check out the announcement of the award here. 

We’ve spent much of the year assisting with an ongoing Cambridge-based project known as the Jukebox, which is a community story sharing platform made accessible through a vintage jukebox machine. Created by artist Elisa Hamilton, the Jukebox opened and released (its first) 25 audio accounts about the Cambridge neighborhood at newly renovated space The Foundry this past fall. The project is still in the production stage as there are 75 more stories to be recorded and edited with The Loop Lab Studio. You can see it in person and experience the special collection of voices or listen here. 

As transition into a new year, we are in search of additional production gigs for 2023. Whether you're looking for new marketing content, a mini-documentary film, podcast creation & editing, live streaming or otherwise, Loop Lab Studio has all the creative and innovative solutions for you and your business/projects. Please reach out to us for your video, audio, and livestreaming needs. We look forward to discussing your project over a cup of coffee or chai in the new year. Happy New Year!

Loop Lab Academy Updates 2022

The Academy’s fifth Media Arts Apprenticeship cohort started just as summer heated up in the first week of July. We were thrilled to welcome eight apprentices from the Greater Boston area into the learning space this year. Their first unit focused on audio production. During this session, they learned how to set up an audio interface, microphone and computers in order to then record and edit their voice on professional audio editing software like ProTools.

The Postcast | July

The assignment was to create a podcast that each apprentice had to produce, record and edit. Projects varied from games shows to artist interviews, movie reviews to true crimes. Once the podcasts were completed, The Loop Lab hosted an intimate Listening Session where the apprentices presented their finished project to peers, staff and community. You can listen to the finished podcasts here.

Photography | August

The second unit of the program was photography. Here they learned the basic functions of a Canon 60D DSLR camera. Once a certain level of comfort was established, the cohort were directed to develop a narrative of their choice portrayed through 8 - 16 images. They learned skills in composition, lighting, and using the camera on manual settings. Each apprentice had a chance to learn how to assemble a C-stand, lighting stands, and properly and safely store gear, like camera bodies and lenses. 

Here are the images that were submitted for their photography  project.

Narrative Video Project | September

As the Media Arts Apprenticeship came to a close, some of their final projects focused on producing narrative videos through storyboarding and filming workshops. Each apprentice developed their own narrative focused on a specific individual interest. They learned advanced filming techniques using 2 camera setup with Black Magic Cameras and complex color correction in DaVinci Resolve. Projects ran the gamut from skateboarding culture to dancing to gardening. Here are examples of the videos that were produced.

Audible Video Projects | November

Last of all, the cohort adventured out into our community, the city of Cambridge, and filmed and edited videos on different topics for Audible. Some of the topics covered were mentoring, mental health, arts as a career, and job training. Yesterday, the apprentices were joined by their instructors, TLL staff and board members, family, friends, and many community members for a celebratory screening of their films on the big screen at the Brattle Theatre. Their following discussion on the experience with moderator Jonathan Allen, Co-Founder and Director of Development at Leadership Brainery, may have been nerve wracking for many but showcased the sheer amount of growth we witnessed over the past five months. Keep an eye out for a link to the films if you missed them last night/

Congratulations to all of the apprentices that have now completed the instructional portion of the Media Arts Apprenticeship! 

Funder Spotlights 2022

Barr Foundation

The Barr Foundation focuses on three primary areas: Arts & Creativity, Climate, and Education, complemented by grantmaking to strengthen New England’s social sector, and by targeted, time-limited Special Initiatives. Along with 14 other grassroots nonprofits across

Massachusetts, The Loop Lab was selected for Barr’s Powering Cultural Futures Initiative. This multi-year initiative will explore ways that philanthropy can shift power to these agencies placing their needs first, fueling expansion of BIPOC arts via long-term flexible capital, technical assistance, network development, and attracting donors to finance these approaches. Over the next six years, each participant can consider and move toward an operating model and scale that matches its aspirations and incorporates factors including its programmatic strengths and ambitions, the hopes and needs of its community, and its mix of human, financial, and organizational resources. The Loop Lab is excited and honored to be included in this important ground-breaking Barr initiative.

Audible

Audible is the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, enriching the lives of millions of listeners every day, and a driving force behind today’s audio entertainment revolution. As part of their mission to Activate Caring within their communities, since 2019, thirty-seven Audible volunteers have played a critical role supporting Loop Lab trainees to produce 17 mini-documentary style videos highlighting various social issues within the Cambridge community. These mini-documentaries are the trainee’s final projects and are meant to simulate what it would be like to work with a client to produce a video. Audible volunteers work alongside the trainees from developing the content and scripts, to conducting interviews with community members, through the final edits, and public showcasing of the projects. Audible’s commitment to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities and to striving for social and economic justice, is a natural fit with The Loop Lab in our commitment to end inequality and racism through digital storytelling.

On behalf of The Loop Lab Board, staff and, especially the young people we serve, we thank these important Loop Lab supporters.