VAM’s existing relationship with youth communities made it easier for Woods to let go of the reins. “They already love integrating young people into their sets,” she says, “and I hope it’s something more people do.”
Woods also appreciated the relatability of Huicochea’s treatment. “I work with students at YCA [Young Chicago Authors], and what I really liked about Ashley’s treatment was that it was so personal. She would say things that I thought applied to people broadly in Chicago, but it was still like, ‘I grew up in Humboldt Park, and my family would have carne asada in the backyard.’ She used pictures of her family members to show examples of the shots, and that was really cool. It felt like looking into someone’s actual life in a very specific way. I always love that specificity. It makes it possible for something to feel universal.”
Ashley HuicocheaProsser Career Academy Treatment winner, director shadow
Emilio NietoLindblom Math and Science Academy Art direction shadow)
