Yesterday Converse and Dazed Media announced 4 creatives who will receive funding from the Create Tomorrow £50,000 grant to make their ideas and creative projects happen. In addition the grant will support 4 names from the Dazed 100 Academy to lead Digital Workshops as part of the initiative.

Presenter and DJ Henrie Kwushue was announced as the recipient of the Converse and Dazed 100 fund alongside photographer Alfie White, trans model and activist Ella Snyder and DJ and Gardener DJ Freedem.

Henrie will use the fund to produce original documentary series ‘Untold Stories’ a series of short individual docu-films through her production company HTK productions. She plans to hire creatives from ‘underprivileged’ backgrounds, in particular black women, writing on Twitter that she looks forward to helping them cover their expenses.

South London Photographer Alfie White plans to conduct a national photo essay examining the ways people have been affected by how the UK government have handled the COVID19 crisis. As well as looking at it on a global scale by collaborating with creatives worldwide to get a holistic view of how young people have been affected by the pandemic.

New York-based trans model and artist Ella Snyder will make a book that explores her position as a trans woman within the transgender community. The proceeds from the book will be donated to Camp Arunu’tiq, a summer camp for transgender and non-binary youths as she recalls her first time at the camp aged 11 years old being a space where she felt free to be herself.

New York-based DJ and gardener DJ Freedem wants to share the rejuvenating power of plants by hosting plant workshops to spread the positive affects of being around plants which he describes as ‘healing and transformative’. He will do this through his new initiative Underground Plant Trade that sees white people gift black people plants as a token of solidarity.

The fund will also be used to assist 4 Dazed 100 Academy talent such as Danika Magdalena popularly known as Sirius Film to host online workshops with the purpose of providing mentoring and insight into the creative industry, helping young creatives get their foot in the door.

It is inspiring to see the range of talent, ideas and projects that will receive much deserved funding which will not only benefit them but will be redistributed to serve the wider community.

It is especially crucial in these times that we consider how we can help others as well as ourselves and it speaks to the commitment that Converse and Dazed Media have to young emerging creatives by actively encouraging and facilitating the execution of ideas that promote connection and change.