Tri-City

Directing Change is an evaluated suicide prevention and mental health program with the mission to educate young people about critical health topics through art and promote social justice and health by changing conversations in schools and communities.
Monthly Art and Film Contest
  • Open to youth ages 12-25
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026
  • Free to participate
  • Amazon Gift Cards (up to $300)
  • Use your creativity to record an original song inspired by the uplifting power of music and the importance of mental health
  • Your song can talk about your experience with mental health, bring awareness to a current social issue, or share a message of hope and comfort to someone who may be struggling
  • Download the flyer and submit entries here
  • Learn more at Hope & Justice contest page

Call for Original Music

Submission Categories: Hope, Justice, or Monthly Prompt

Featured Art

“Grilled Memories”

Claremont High School

Artwork by: Andrea Dorantes

“My entry is a representation of moments with family that bring people together and impact how we become who we are as people.”

View More Art

Submit to Contest

For contest rules, submission category details, entry form
and other information visit the contest page.

Annual Film Contest
  • Open to Middle, High School and College Students (12-25)
  • Deadline: March 1, 2023
  • Free to participate
  • Cash prizes for youth (up to $1000)
  • Regional winners advance to statewide round of judging
  • Award Ceremony in May

Submission Categories

  • Suicide Prevention
  • Mental Health
  • Through the Lens of Culture
  • Walk in Our Shoes
  • Animated Short
  • Hope and Justice

Featured Film

“Don’t Hold Back”

Claremont High School

Filmmakers: Brooke Barraza, Julianna Cuellar, Vivian Perez, Mia Poovakad, and Angelique Wiesner

View More Films

Submit to Annual Film Contest

For contest rules, submission category details, entry form and other information visit www.DirectingChangeCA.org

News and Awards

Tri-City Schools Receive Suicide Prevention Mini Grants

Four schools and youth-based clubs from Tri-City have been selected to receive a grant through the Directing Change Mini Grant Program this year. Each team will work with youth in their communities to teach lessons on mental health and suicide prevention and support youth as they create short films on these topics. These grantees will also be hosting events at the end of the school year to share the films and raise awareness in their communities around youth mental health and suicide prevention. Congratulations to this year’s grantees!

Virtual Information Sessions for 2025-2026

Interested in participating this year? Join a virtual information session to learn how you can get involved with Youth Creating Change in Tri-City this year, and the local resources available to support you. Staff from Youth Creating Change and Tri-City Mental Health will be available to answer questions and provide support as you get started.

Please register for a virtual informational session below:

DROP-IN OFFICE HOURS: Youth Creating Change and Tri-City Mental Health staff will co-host office hours throughout the school year to provide technical support on youth filmmaking. No registration required! 

  • Nov 4th from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
  • Jan 8th from 9:00 am – 10:00 am
  • Feb 3rd from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
  • Feb 19th from 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Mini Grant Application Due October 10th

Mini Grant Opportunity! Schools and organizations are invited to apply for Directing Change mini grants this program year. Mini grant teams receive up to $1,500 and commit to creating 5 films for the Directing Change Program, teaching at least one lesson on suicide prevention or mental health, and hosting a student-led event in which their youth films are shared. 

Apply here by October 10th: http://youthcreatingchange.org/2026-mini-grant-application

Tri-City Youth Place in May Hope & Justice Contest

Our May contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope); the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice); and the one word they would use to describe what young people need for mental health.

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

View the full list of May winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in April Hope & Justice Contest

Our April contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope); the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice); and the “Mental Health Thrival Tips” that help them when they feel anxious and overwhelmed.

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

View the full list of April winners across California here.

Tri-City Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements

Youth Creating Change announced the regional finalists in its 13th annual Directing Change Film Contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.

In addition to the films above, numerous other fantastic films from Tri-City also received “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2025 winning films here.

Tri-City Youth Place in February Hope & Justice Contest

Our February contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope); the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice); and the “anchors” that remind them to stay hopeful (Monthly Prompt). 

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • First Place Hope & Justice: “Fruit Fields” by Andrea Dorantes
  • Second Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “Baking Bliss” by Andrea Dorantes
  • Third Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “At the End of the Day” by Darby Craigmyle

View the full list of February winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in January Hope & Justice Contest

Our January contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope); the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice); and sharing the uplifting power of music and its relationship to mental health (Monthly Prompt).

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

View the full list of January winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in November Hope & Justice Contest

Our November contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope); the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice); and reflecting on where they come from, the circumstances and people that have shaped them, or what is in the stars for their future (Monthly Prompt). November’s prompt also promoted the Soluna App by asking youth to submit special entries highlight the app and helping share information about the ways young people can benefit from using it. 

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

View the full list of November winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in September Hope & Justice Contest

Our October contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and exploring how they’ve been taking care of their mental health during the election, as well as what representation in elected leaders means to them (Monthly Prompt). 

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • Third Place Hope: “Electric” by Charlie De La Rosa
  • Honorable Mention Hope: “One in Many” by Darby Craigmyle
  • Honorable Mention Justice: “Unseen” by Lily Rienstra

View the full list of October winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in September Hope & Justice Contest

Our September contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and reminding us that we are never a bother and can always reach out for help (Monthly Prompt).

Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • Second Place Monthly Prompt: “Subway Sunrise” by Andrea Dorantes, 11th grade, Claremont High School
  • Third Place Monthly Prompt: “Hey You” by Alexandria Kazandona, Max (Ava) Uribe, and Talia Maestro, 10th grade, Claremont High School
  • Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt: “Reminder” by Lola Garcia, Samantha Juneau, Mahalia Crawford, Draven Fausto, and Nairee Nath, 11th grade, Claremont High School
  • First Place Hope: “From Caged to Unafraid” by Kody Herrejon-Rutte, 11th grade, Claremont High School
  • Second Place Hope: “Raising Hope” by Alexa Sobenes, 12th grade Claremont High School
  • Third Place Hope: “Ripple Effect” by Vivian Perez, Angelique Wiesner, and Kelsey Struve, 12th grade, Claremont High School
  • First Place Justice: “Bulletproof” by Charlie De La Rose, 10th grade, Claremont High School
  • Second Place Justice: “Justice is (not) Blind” by Jolean Feng, 10th grade, Claremont High School
  • Third Place Justice: “Smoky World” by Xin Lu, 11th grade, Claremont High School

View the full list of September winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in May Hope & Justice Contest

Our May contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), the impact of social media on mental health (Monthly Prompt). Feeling inspired? Check-out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • First Place Hope & Justice: “Helping Hand” by Simon Rockwell
  • Third Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “End the Stigma” by Xin Lu

View the full list of May winners across California here.

Tri-City Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements

The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional finalists in the 12th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.

  • First Place Mental Health (Region 3): “Piecing it Together”
  • Second Place Mental Health (Region 3, Tie): “First Step”
  • Second Place Suicide Prevention: “I Can”

In addition to the films above, other fantastic films from Tri-City also received awards in various specialty categories, as well as “Honorable Mention” in their respective categories. View all 2024 winning films here.

Tri-City Youth Place in February Hope & Justice Contest

The February contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and reassuring young people that they are never a bother and can share their feelings with others (Monthly Prompt).

Feeling inspired? Check out more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • Second Place Monthly Prompt (High School): “Whenever and Wherever” by Jolean Feng
  • Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (High School): “Eye Care About You” by Alexa Sobenes
  • Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt (High School): “Razzles” by Jacquelyn Varela

View the full list of February winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in December/January Hope & Justice Contest

The December/January contest asked youth to create art, films, written works, or audio pieces about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and what they wish their parents and other adults knew about youth mental health (Monthly Prompt).

Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • First Place Monthly Prompt (Visual Art – High School): “Alienated” by Jolean Feng
  • First Place (Hope & Justice): “Striking for Patients” by Emma DeWees

View the full list of December/January winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in November Hope & Justice Contest

November’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and the uplifting power of music (Monthly Prompt).

Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

View the full list of November winners across California here.

Tri-City Youth Place in September Hope & Justice Contest

September’s contest asked youth to create art, films, or written works about how they cope with tough times (Hope), the changes they want to see in their communities (Justice), and their “anchor” (Monthly Prompt), which could be a hobby or activity, a form of self-care, or any little thing that brings joy, helps them cope, and reminds them about their reason for living.

Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • First Place Monthly Prompt – Art: “Guiding Light” by Xin Lu
  • Third Place Monthly Prompt – Art: “My Protector” by Emma DeWees
  • Second Place September Hope & Justice – Art: “Sucked In” by Alexa Sobenes

View the full list of September winners across California here.

Statewide Winners Announced in Annual Directing Change Film Contest

Statewide winners in all categories were announced by the Directing Change Program & Film Contest! Two student-created films from Orange County (“We’ve Never Been Closer” and “Seams”) were screened at a red-carpet award ceremony hosted at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 16th. Congratulations to the filmmakers who placed!

Tri-City statewide winners:

Congratulations to the filmmaker who created the 1st Place Animated Short “Seams” and the team who created “We’ve Never Been Closer”!

Tri-City Youth Place in April Hope & Justice Contest

April’s Hope & Justice contest asked youth to share actions young people can take to improve and support the world we live in to celebrate Earth Day. Congratulations to the youth from Tri-City who placed in the contest!

Feeling inspired? Checkout more Hope and Justice art and film submissions from Tri-City youth.

  • First Place Hope and Justice: “Breakout” by Charlotte Griffiths
  • Third Place Hope and Justice: “Marigold” by Kaylani Raxajack
  • Honorable Mention Hope and Justice: “Help Yourself” by Ky Nguyen (This entry addresses themes of violence and abuse and may be upsetting for some.)
  • Second Place Monthly Prompt (Tie): “Corroding Coral” by Charlotte Griffiths
  • Honorable Mention Monthly Prompt: “Reusable Bags” by Abby Villanueva

View the full list of April winners across California here.

Tri-City Students Recognized for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Achievements

The Directing Change Program & Film Contest announced the regional and statewide finalists in the 11th annual student contest encouraging young people to create short films and art projects about suicide prevention and mental health.

View all 2023 winning films here.

If at any time you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide, or are concerned about someone call Tri-City’s Supplemental Crisis Line at (866) 623-9500 or call/text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Both of these are available 24/7.