Highlighting Organizations That are Serving our Greater Rochester Community: Eternal Soul Entertainment

May 2022

“We need to listen to our children; they are the future.” – Joyce Jones

What prompted you to launch Eternal Soul Entertainment and what drives you to provide programs and opportunities for youth?

I just wanted to fill this world with hope and love through music and the arts. I teach youth to build their hopes on things eternal!

"You are not the audience, and I'm not the artist; we are one in music." – Joyce Jones

Tell me about the Generation Z documentary.

The film will explore what kind of impact the events of 2020 have had on the lives of children. The COVID-19 pandemic, events of police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, at-home learning, income inequality, politics, the election and more will be addressed in this film.

What prompted you to do this?

I thought it was important to check on the mindset of youth and to share some of their thoughts, voices, and concerns.

What was the response?

The kids were so happy to participate and appreciated being included in a project that focuses on them.

How did you choose the youth in it?

Through family and friends.

Where are they from?

The kids featured in this documentary are originally from upstate New York, Brooklyn, and Texas.

What impact did you see that it had on them during the filming?

They were able to talk and release the effects of 2020 through this avenue.

As you reflect on this documentary, what are some of the things that stand out the most about it?

The documentary is also musical, so having the dancer in the documentary choreograph a dance to the Black Lives Matter movement was impactful. We also had spoken word segments on the right to vote. The young man who gave his perspective on our voting process was powerful.

What was involved in putting this together?

I hired the videographer and musicians and paid for a studio recording and paid the kids for their time. I also bought some clothes for a few of them.

What is your next project going to be?

I would like to do a documentary on a program here in the Rochester area about Mentors Inspiring Boys & Girls.

What else do you think is important for people to know?

We need to listen to our children; they are the future.

ESL is a funder of Eternal Soul Entertainment, having provided them a grant focused on equitably supporting Black and Latino organizations.