Dubois County supports various leadership and networking organizations that establish themselves for mentoring or a cause with the focus to give leadership tools for the next generation. Through organizations such as Emerging Leaders, Dubois Leadership Academy, Raise Up, Dubois County Future Farmers of America, and many more. Participants have gained not only a supportive network but aspirations to use these tools to explore their goals in their current careers or in careers they wish to accomplish.
Jasper Native Tommy Craven sat with members of the 18WJTS team to discuss what inspired him to follow his dream of becoming a filmmaker and to share of his journey from his hometown to New York. Craven highlights the reality of setting goals and stepping stones to what a person aspires to be by using the current skills you have…
Craven expressed that he has enjoyed his life in New York and through his employer learned of an opportunity to expand his career. He has now garnered a career position at NBC Universal in Los Angeles. Craven tells that he wanted to move to LA right after college but has now seen his journey as an asset to his professional development. Craven elaborated on his activism at home.
Craven illustrates that home will always be a special place in everyone’s heart and seeing others come back and settle down in Jasper is admirable. He added that to realize and attain his goal of creating his own t.v. show he needed to be in L.A. where the film making industry is most prominent. Craven is proud of the growing diversity and acceptance of different identities in Jasper along with all the innovative projects underway. Craven advocates for the LGBT movement and People of Color standing up to oppression and that he is able to demonstrate advocacy through his films. He encourages current and future generations, by stating that speaking up and having a strong foundation in what you believe is a right for everyone. He has submitted films in places such as Rhode Island, Philadelphia, North Carolina, and here in Dubois County.
