A CONVERSATION WITH: CHARDAY
This blog is part of our series, A Conversation WITH. As a media organization, we highlight members of our team - past and present - that have done awesome work with Wide Angle, while also pursuing their own creative goals.
Charday Hall - she/her pronouns - is a Wide Angle Board member, Parent Representative, and former Wide Angle participant, teacher and staff member. She has been an advocate for Baltimore's youth for more than nineteen years. She brings more than twenty years of non-profit experience as an Event Coordinator, Public Speaker, Grant Writer, and Media Instructor. She is a Healthcare Provider for Johns Hopkins Hospital, Entrepreneur, and Mother to one amazing son.
Current read: Just as I Am: A Memoir by Cicely Tyson
Song on repeat: "Easy on Me" by Adele
Favorite spot in Baltimore: Teavolve
Tell us about your experience participating in Wide Angle programs. What made you join? What programs did you do? Were there any memorable moments or projects that you worked on?
I was a tutor for Kids on the Hill Tutorial Program. Rebecca Yenawine [the Founder of Kids on the Hill] offered all the tutors an opportunity to take a photography/videography class with Gin Ferrara [the Co-founder of Wide Angle]. I received permission from my parents to attend and fell in-love with the entire process. Well not so much the editing but definitely everything else. I joined the MVP program for high schoolers. It was us (the original MVP group) that created the logo of the children holding the media equipment. That is the most memorable graphic project. I thoroughly enjoyed creating my independent piece, Youth Soul (view below), because it was the first time I was able to use my poetry in that way. My poetry was the one thing I kept private. It was sacred to me because that was how I expressed all the things I didn't feel comfortable sharing with people. Gin and Sue helped me to feel comfortable with being vulnerable. I don't know if I ever told either of them how much their pep talks aided me in coming out of my shell and accepting of my flaws.
Original logo
Charday Hall delivers a powerful statement about youth voice in this performance / poem dedicated to her grandmother.
What is something that you learned while working as a Media Instructor at Wide Angle?
OMG!!! So many life lessons. The most significant lesson that I learned is that I was much more than a Media Instructor. For one student in particular, I became his second Mom. For many of my babies I was a listening ear, cheerleader, and confidant. I’m honored to still be for some of them even now.
You’ve worn so many hats at Wide Angle! In what ways has the organization changed and in what ways has it remained the same?
Yikes! WAYM has grown beyond what I could have ever imagined. I joined shortly after Gin founded MVP. I am actually one of the original members. We went from squatting in borrowed spaces to meeting in Gin and Rebecca’s living rooms to having a space of our own. There was a time when Gin and Sue ran and operated EVERYTHING while sharing an office. We received stipends before paychecks could be factored into a budget. Our budget was so small that some semesters we questioned if we would have enough snacks for our youth. That is a distant memory now that WAYM has a roster of staff members, a board with many members, and a budget that allows as many snacks as needed.
WAYM has always had the necessary ingredients: longevity, sustainability, passion, desire to serve, open-mindedness, acceptance of those served, and presence in the community. WAYM is a safe space for many. Always has been. Sue plays a major role in keeping WAYM on moral high ground. Her dedication to this organization has never waivered. If anything, once Gin retired, she upped the ante.
What has it been like to see your son participate in Wide Angle programming?
Preston has participated in one session of BSO. It was exciting to see him engage with his peers and Instructor. It’s because of that class, I bought him his first Go-pro. He is using it to record footage for his youtube channel. Naturally I was flooded with memories from when I was an Instructor. I hope he is able to build long-lasting relationships as I have been able to. Sometimes I stand in the hallway outside his bedroom when he is attending virtual class and just watch in admiration. Knowing that I am a part of an organization that now provides a creative safe space for my son overwhelms me sometimes. Always happy tears and smiles. Seeing him overcome his nervousness reminds me of some of my former students. Giving him similar pep-talks, I giggle to myself at this 360.
Still shot of Charday from her Wide Angle video, Youth Soul.
Describe WAYM in one word.
Relevant
How has learning, teaching, and working with the media impacted you?
I don't consume media like a typical person. I always consider the source of the information, take nothing at face value, and understand that there is always a motive. I am that person that examines movies not for the plot but for the angles, settings, props, inconsistencies, etc. It’s affected how I teach my son to view different sources of media as well. Always formulate your own opinion. Don't just jump on the bandwagon or popular trend.
What’s one film you think everyone should see?
I will have to really think about this one! I can't think of one film in particular but I do wish people would support independent films more. Sundance is an amazing source for independent films.
What nourishes you?
My relationship with God and those closest to me. Ummm my inner peace because it took me a long time to obtain it. Guilty pleasures such as an eventful vacation and nice glass of white wine. My son’s laugh has the power to change my mood immediately. Learning new things. I am currently on a hunt for a pottery wheel.
What story do you tell through your work?
It doesn’t matter how many odds are stacked against me. As long as I have the will and an outlet, I will always strive for my next success. I will also help as many as I can along the way.
Tell us the funniest thing that happened to you recently.
Idk if this is funny or embarrassing. Maybe a little of both but I was on a zoom call (thankfully it was with a friend) I laughed so hard water shot out of my nose. Which made both of us laugh even harder. Sympathies to my laptop screen!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Hannah Shaw is the Communications Specialist at WAYM. She is a multidisciplinary designer and received her BS in Marketing from UMD and MA in Social Design from MICA.