La Convivencia Presents: 
International Day of Peace Film Contest 2019

THEME: WHAT DOES COEXISTENCE LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

Our Esteemed Judges

Picture
 Samantha Bobila is Director of Fund Development at YWCA Princeton. She has several years’ experience in fundraising and development in the non-profit sector. Bobila currently serves on the Mercer County Government and Policy Committee and advocates on legislative issues that support and strengthen the non-profit community. Bobila was a former member of the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ Multicultural Group, which advised the division on cultural competency in the provision of behavioral health services. She has a Master’s Degree in Women’s Studies from Rutgers University, with a focus on critical race theory. The daughter of Filipinx immigrants, she is passionate about racial justice and anti-racism work.
Picture
Michele Russo is President & CEO of Young Audiences Arts for Learning. Michele has dedicated her professional career to providing arts education experiences for students. Prior to current position, Michele was Associate Director of the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Program and Festival, ensuring that high school students experienced the art of poetry through live readings and discussions.  Previously, Michele was Senior Education Associate at Young Audiences, managing artist in residence programs, statewide partnerships and national initiatives. Michele is a graduate of The College of New Jersey and is a Lead NJ Fellow 2014.
Picture
​Adriana Abizadeh has served as the Executive Director at the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) for three years.  She received her BA from Rutgers University in Political Science and her MS in Public Policy from Drexel University. She is extremely interested in the idea of second-class citizenry in countries across the globe, particularly as it relates to social services, rights, and basic needs. She is currently serving on the board of the Trenton Circus Squad, Trenton Health Team and is a co-chair on the executive committee of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. She is passionate about serving others. Under her leadership LALDEF is now four times the size it was just three years ago and serves over 3,000 people each year.
Congratulations to all the participants and winners of the La Convivencia 2019 Youth Peace Film Contest.
​La Convivencia would like to thank all the students who submitted their wonderful entries.
As stated earlier, the purpose of this program was to include student’s voices in creating a more peaceful community.
All students should be commended for the work that they are doing, and we hope they will continue their efforts in furthering this cause.
Winners were chosen by a panel of judges and they selected the winning entries based on how well it exemplified the entry requirements. We would like to show our gratitude to the wonderful judges who took time from their schedule to judge all the submissions.
​We invite everyone on December 7, 2019 from 3-5 pm to receive their certificates and awards.
​The following are the winners of the La Convivencia 2019 Youth Peace Film Contest:
                                                                           High School Category:
Outstanding Award:   Zachary Wen
Award of Excellence:  Leah Lichtenfeld, Lyla Lichtenfeld, Leah Caiola, Nida Mubaraki, Daniel Delate, Brandon Semmel,                                                   Katherine Blando, and Ava Blando
Award of Merit:          Jonny Blando
Honorable Mention:  Hannah Schor
Honorable Mention:  Lorin Cho​
                                                                            Middle School Category:
Outstanding Award:  Vibha Sanjay, Kaitlyn Yang
Award of Excellence: Heidi Torgerson​
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the filmmakers that submitted their work for consideration this year. Thanks again to everyone for helping us to make the contest a success and we encourage you to continue this important work!
All participants and winners are invited to:
Holiday Day of Service Event on Saturday, December 7th, 2019 from 3-5 pm
At Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church
154 South Mill Road, West Windsor, NJ from 3 -5 pm
to receive their awards and certificates.
THANK YOU FOR  PROMOTING PEACE AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS!

Middle School Entries

Define Co-exist
​Vibha Sanjay, Kaitlyn Yang
Peace
Heidi Torgerson

High School Entries

Coexistence
Zachary Wen
New in Tow
Leah Lichtenfeld, Iyla Lichtenfeld, Leah Caiola, Nida Mubaraki, Daniel Delate, Brandon Semmel, Katherine Blando, and Ava Blando
Embrace
Jonny Blando
Diversity of Coexistence
Giavana Caraccioli, Jamie Martinez, Britany Toxquiere 
What Coexistence Means to me?
Nabeel Ahmed, Sharjeel Ahmed
Behind the Diagnosis
Hannah Schor
La Convivencia International Day of Peace Film Contest 
​Lorin Cho
Loose Change, A Silent Comedy
Sean Wang, ​William Ge
This contest was made possible through the sponsorship of Fellowship in Prayer, Princeton. We greatly appreciate their continuous support to La Convivencia.