The Media Arts Mentorship & Moral Leadership Lab, also known as The Choice Project – Stop • Think • Talk It Out, is a youth development program designed to help middle school students build strong decision-making skills, emotional awareness, leadership capacity, and responsible communication through hands-on media arts and mentorship.

At the core of the program is a simple but powerful framework: Stop • Think • Talk It Out. Youth are taught to pause before reacting, think through their choices and consequences, and communicate effectively—skills that are essential for success in school, relationships, and life.

Using media arts as a teaching tool, students analyze real-life scenarios, explore peer influence and digital behavior, and express their voices through storytelling, filmmaking, and creative collaboration. Participants create public service announcements (PSAs) that reflect real challenges youth face, such as peer pressure, conflict, online behavior, and leadership responsibility. Media production is intentionally used to reinforce learning—not distract from it—ensuring youth remain focused on growth, accountability, and self-expression.

The program is youth-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, providing a safe space for students to reflect, communicate, and lead. Through guided discussion, role-playing, journaling, and creative projects, youth strengthen confidence, empathy, teamwork, and leadership skills while learning how their choices impact themselves and others.

The Media Arts Mentorship & Moral Leadership Lab prepares young people to:

• Make thoughtful, responsible decisions

• Communicate calmly and clearly during conflict

• Use media and technology responsibly

• Develop leadership identity and confidence

• Work collaboratively and respectfully with peers

• Share their voices in positive, impactful ways

By blending social-emotional learning, leadership development, and media literacy, The Choice Project equips youth with practical life skills they can carry into school, community, and future career pathways.

By encouraging participants to pause, reflect, and communicate before acting, this program fosters emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and conflict-resolution skills that will serve as lifelong tools for success. 

Youth today face a myriad of challenges, including bullying, cyberbullying, substance abuse, peer pressure, and social media misuse. These challenges are particularly acute for at-risk youth, who often lack access to supportive family and community networks.

• Bullying and Cyberbullying: According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2023), 20% of students report being bullied, with 15% experiencing cyberbullying. These experiences can lead to depression, anxiety, and academic challenges.
• Substance Abuse: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that 1 in 6 adolescents aged 12–17 used illicit substances in 2022. Substance use is linked to poor academic performance, mental health struggles, and an increased likelihood of legal issues.
• Mental Health: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that more than 40% of high school students feel persistently sad or hopeless, with at-risk youth more likely to face untreated mental health challenges.
• Social Media and Peer Pressure: A Pew Research study (2022) found that 59% of teens report being negatively affected by social media, with increased exposure to unrealistic standards, cyberbullying, and peer pressure contributing to low self-esteem and risky behaviors.

These statistics underscore the critical need for targeted programs that empower youth to make informed decisions, manage emotions, and navigate social challenges.