One student journal publication at CSUN aims to spread social justice awareness through their work at C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. (Creating  Awareness Productions Through Universal Research & Educational Documentaries) and is looking for additional entries to finish their second edition..

This year, the journal is offering CSUN students a chance to share their experiences and work that showcases, promotes or is inspired by social change.

The goal of this group is to give students a voice that they normally wouldn’t have. But through this journal they have the opportunity to share their stories of making a difference said Sara Tekle, a founding member, and president of C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D.

“As a group of students we felt that we needed to identify social issues that were underrepresented in the college community and make a change,” Tekle said. “Our publication is looking for stories of food, environmental and political justice that are often overlooked or misconstrued in our society.”

Through our research, programming, writing and documentaries, we plan to educate and inform individuals about the issues that have been affecting many of us throughout our lives, Tekle said.

A significant goal of the group is to capture oral histories and document them so they may not be forgotten, said Kate Parsons, lead editor, and group member of C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. Whether to inspire, change, educate or enlighten the masses, C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. produces real world issues from a universal standpoint. Encouraging shifts is a huge objective with the journal, and in order to promote change, spreading awareness is essential. The art of non-fiction storytelling and writing articles for publication is C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. mains means of heightening consciousness and promoting civic engagement.

“Where would we be today without the civil rights movement and women’s suffrage?” Parsons said. “People think that they can’t make a difference, but there is so much proof to the contrary. Even if your involvement is on a smaller scale you’re still affecting change.”

Parsons also added that topics include, but are not limited to volunteering, charity, women’s rights, minority issues, political activism, the Occupy Movement,  food issues, animal cruelty, tuition increases, elder issues and childcare. C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. wants to display students voices and is looking for student volunteers or students that are inspired by someone who is making a social change.

“Maybe you’re involved in your community through your house of worship, or maybe you did a video or film on a social justice issue. Whatever it is, we want to hear and see what you’ve been doing,” Parsons said. “And we’re a curated journal so if students are accepted, their work will be published which is important for resume building and graduate school applications.”

C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. was founded three years ago by Dr. Theresa White, a CSUN Pan African studies professor and a few other founding members. The journal will be available both on print and online.

“Even by doing good for one person, you make a difference,” Parsons said. “I think Ghandi said it best: ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’”

Interested in submitting work to the C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D. journal?
You can submit photos, films, short stories, poems and essays
Deadline: March 13
Send your submission to capturedrg@gmail.com