The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Kids pick brains of cool people in web chat series
When you're 10 and you're preparing to meet an adult who's cool and pretty famous and super accomplished, there are a couple ways you can play the situation. You can make a list of questions in advance so you're sure not to forget them, or you can play it more chill and see where the conversation leads.
Xavier Pierson chooses the latter.
“I just go there and see what happens,” he explains.
This week Xavier and 14 other local kids are taking part in a video chat with Mike Feehan — local artist, illustrator for DC Comics' graphic novel Snagglepuss and Netflix's Stranger Things and GLAAD award winner — as part of a series of online discussions for youth presented by Unpossible NL.
Called You Could Do This Too, the web chat series sees kids who pre-register meeting some exceptional local people with interesting careers and spending 40 minutes online with them, picking their brain, learning how they got to make a career doing something they love and finding out how to get on a path to do the same.
Unpossible NL is a nonprofit organization with the goal of building creative courage in Newfoundland and Labrador; the Unpossible team is behind the Stand-up Challenge and co-ordinates the yearly RPM Challenge for musicians.
Unpossible NL was founded by Elling Lien; his partner, Sarah Smellie, is a board member, a journalist, Xavier's mom and creator of the web chat series.
“I started organizing them first for Xavier and all his friends. Like many parents, I was desperate for something for him to do that wasn't playing Fortnite,” Smellie says with a laugh.
Schools and many workplaces in the province have been closed since mid-march due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving lots of parents balancing working from home and attending to some easily bored young “coworkers.” Smellie figured a discussion with someone cool and interesting could be educational and motivating as well as fun.
So far, she's right. After organizing successful sessions with comedian Matt Wright and video game designer Gordon Little (“They were awesome,” Xavier reports), Smellie decided to go public with the video chat series.
Next week will see awardwinning filmmaker Jordan Canning — whose director credits include Schitt's Creek and Baroness Von Sketch Show — meeting with kids, and on June 2 it's Jud Haynes' turn. Haynes is a musician and graphic artist who has designed album covers for the likes of Alan Doyle and astronaut Chris Hadfield.
“There are a lot of people from Newfoundland and Labrador doing unusual and unique and interesting things as a career. There's no shortage of amazing people,” Smellie says. “The goal is to show kids these people went to school here just like you, they grew up in the province like you, they have similar interests as you, they're making a career and doing well with these things they love and you can do it, too.”
The chat sessions are loosely for kids aged nine to 12 — Smellie has already been asked if a series for teens might be possible — and tickets are at a pay-what-you-can rate, with a suggested fee of $15. The money is used to pay the guest presenters, Smellie says — something particularly important in an economy challenged by the public health crisis.
Xavier says his mom's concept is solid. He hopes she will invite the members of The Outhouse, who produce sketch comedy videos on social media, to do a session soon (she's on it).
“I really think it's a pretty good idea,” he says of the video chat series. “I really recommend parents register their kids for this because it's a good way for people to get to see each other and learn about stuff. It's really fun and it's interesting.”
Ticket information and information on upcoming You Could Do This Too sessions are available on Unpossible NL'S Facebook page. Kids participating in the chats are encouraged to ask questions, and those who make their list in advance can send them to sarahsmellie@gmail.com if they like.