Introducing the Creative Catalyst Scholarship Fund
THE VISION
Creativity is a catalyst for transformation and is best fostered when we collectively work alongside people with backgrounds and perspectives that differ from our own. When everyone shares the same lived experiences and cultural values, creativity suffers. The Touch team has been reflecting on how to create more equitable opportunities for all members of our society, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and those who do not benefit from the safety net of generational wealth. You can find hundreds of creative industry companies that say they are equal-opportunity employers that celebrate diversity (including Touch), but recruited talent pools of “diverse” folks frequently lack a range of identities. A lack of equitable access makes this industry a tough one to get started in. It’s our mission to ensure Seattle’s creative industry (agencies and clients) better reflects our various communities.
The Call to Action
With that driving purpose, we connected with our longstanding partners at the Seattle Colleges Foundation (SCF). In the spring of 2024, Touch invested more than $70K to launch the Creative Catalyst Scholarship Fund, which will provide tuition and flexible funds for local students enrolled in the Seattle Central College Visual Media Program. An additional $50K match is also on the table, with hopes to see the fund grow to serve more diverse groups of students sooner.
While Touch founded these efforts, we know we’re not alone in investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion within Seattle’s creative industry. We will continuously work to expand our contribution through partnerships with various local businesses and individual stakeholders. If you’d like to contribute to this scholarship, please visit the scholarship page on Seattle Colleges Foundation. Any donation of $100 or more will be matched at 100%, up to a total match of $50,000. If you have questions or would like to know more, please contact us at hello@touchworldwide.com.
The Outcome
The Creative Catalyst Scholarship fund goes beyond funding. Learn more about how we’re seeking to build relationships and provide opportunities for diverse groups of students in the Visual Media Program at Seattle Central College, and let us know if you’d like to be involved in these efforts. Thank you for your support and commitment as together we invest in today’s students and help build a more diverse creative community.
ON CAMPUS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Nothing speaks like the voice of personal experience. We will be regularly meeting on campus with students in the program to discuss real-world topics of interest such as – a day in the life of a video producer, setting an interview up for success, the ins and outs of lighting a set, and other stories from some of the Touch team living it every day.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE
We’re giving students a peek behind the curtain. We are on the lookout for client projects where we can include students in the work. We’ll pay them for their project contributions or offer a job shadowing opportunity to come alongside our team and learn on set. Students gain insight into our video production process, and we gain an extra hand. These are short-term, on-the-ground opportunities to participate in supporting a video shoot and get program hours toward a credential doing it.
PAID INTERNSHIPS
Many Seattle Central College students work and have expenses like housing, transportation, and childcare. This makes unpaid opportunities, no matter how valuable, inaccessible. In addition to job shadowing, we’ll also offer ongoing, part-time employment opportunities for 1-2 students each year. Despite our focus on visual media, interns will walk away with a well-rounded, full-service agency experience. Students will be responsible for supporting marketing efforts and working with each of our disciplines as client needs arise.
