Dear Friends,

This newsletter shines a light on one of our heroes and the organization she founded after a tragic loss. Kathy Eldon's inspiring story of resilience and courage has been featured on MY HERO for many years. Her son, Dan Eldon, a young artist and photojournalist, was killed on assignment in Somalia, in 1993. Kathy and her daughter Amy Eldon Turteltaub founded Creative Visions Foundation in Dan's honor. Each year, they sponsor the Dan Eldon Activist Award at the MY HERO International Film Festival.

Read about how Kathy Eldon is fostering hope amidst the tragedy of the LA Fires.

Kathy Eldon - Founder of Creative Visions

photo: KathyEldon.com

Creative Visions mentors and supports the work of creative artists and activists working for social good. Their headquarters, and local community was severely impacted by the recent LA Fires. Since then, Kathy has been providing support to survivors and fostering hope through community. Read on to learn about an empowering project Creative Visions has launched.

Today, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Creative Visions on the

#CreateConnectCare campaign, a mental health and well-being initiative aimed at empowering young people ages 11-18. By sharing their stories, through literary, media, performance arts, or STEM, they build empathy, and spark change through creative expression. Submitted work may be featured in the #CreateConnectCare Gallery and will be considered for the 2025 Awards.

All who enter will be given a digital #CreateConnectCare Certificate of Participation and the first 500 students to submit their work will receive a Moleskine creativity journal (U.S. only). The deadline for entry is March 31, 2025 at createconnectcare.org.

Our partners at New Roads School are looking for environmental films made by middle and high-school students for its Climate Changemaker Teen Film Festival. The festival is open to documentary, narrative and music videos that have a theme of climate change. Winning films will premiere at the Climate Changemaker Film Festival in April 2025.

The deadline is March 22nd. Learn more

Submit your ocean hero short film for the Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award, sponsored by MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation's One World One Ocean Campaign.

The deadline is May 1st Winners are announced on June 8th, World Oceans Day.

Learn more about this and other Special Awards presented at the MY HERO International Film Fest

The WOJ Youth Reporter Award celebrates young reporters whose films shine a spotlight on everyday heroes. Whether it’s a community leader, a local activist, or someone doing amazing things in their own unique way, we want to hear your story. The Award is open to middle and high-school students and is presented by legendary journalism teacher Esther Wojcicki.

The deadline is September 1st. Learn more about this and other Special Awards presented at the MY HERO Internationa Film Festival

Esther Wojcicki, esteemed author and educator, along with Jonah Steinhart, her former student and, now, film and journalism teacher, have written a workbook for those interested in creating their own short films. This media arts education resource is made possible by the Scripps Family Impact Fund. 

Esther will be a presenter at THE SHOW @ASU+GSV Conference and Summit, which takes place April 5-7 at the San Diego Convention Center. Her topic — Why Teaching Kids to Create Videos Builds Critical Thinking Skills, It Also Happens to be FUN.

Submissions are being accepted for

the 2025 MY HERO International Film Festival.

Submit your short film here

Artists of all ages are welcome to submit a portrait of their hero to the Robert Shetterly Portrait Contest. Works submitted will be judged by artist Robert Shetterly, founder of Americans Who Tell the Truth, and MY HERO staff. The deadline is May 1, 2025.

The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Poetry Contest is open to poets, artists, filmmakers, and spoken word artists whose work showcases heroes working for peace, human rights and the environment. CLICK HERE to view contest requirements for the various categories. The deadline is June 1st.

Learn about all of the MY HERO Contests.

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