Hello! My name is Josh Mink and I am a senior at Shaker Heights High School. I am the oldest of six and love to stay busy with family, friends, and around my community.
At school, I am Senior Class President, Vice President of Youth Ending Hunger Club, and a member of the Student Group on Race Relations (SGORR). Through all of these activities, I help support my peers, advocate for diversity and tolerance, and throw myself into a variety of projects.
Additionally, I am the President of my high school’s Film Club. As President, I create lessons and teach our 35+ members about the entire filmmaking process from the basics of storytelling to marketing your film after it is complete and everything in between! Also, I organize films to watch and lead discussions about them. Finally, I have set up a scholarship foundation so that every student is able to attend film festivals throughout the Cleveland area – we recently went to the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival!
One of my biggest passions is advocating for others and standing up for just causes. On May 24, 2022, nineteen children and two adults were murdered in the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Like many of my peers, I knew I had to do something. So, in under 24 hours, I co-organized a school-wide walkout against gun violence. Over 700 students participated as we walked and voiced our thoughts with megaphones and handmade signs. This event caught the attention of Cleveland Magazine, WKYC, ABC’s Channel 5, and more. Soon, we were the headline around Cleveland. I have linked an article below so anyone interested can read more.
From all of my experiences in leadership both in film and social justice, I aspire to be a film director who focuses on telling stories that will help others. I want to create more stories that are entertaining while simultaneously bringing attention to issues that must be addressed.
That is why I am so excited to intern with the GCFC! The GCFC is focused on helping to create films that are both amazing in quality and empowering for the local and national community. Thank you, GCFC!
Cleveland Magazine news article: Click Here