Our Team
Founder & Executive Director
Jeff McCarter started Free Spirit Media in order to share his extensive experience as a cameraman, editor, and Emmy Award-winning producer with underserved urban youth. More >
Development & Operations Director
Katie Ackert joined Free Spirit Media in the fall of 2007 as FSM's Resource Director. She manages development, marketing, finances and operations for FSM and is excited about building and expanding FSM's partnerships in the philanthropic and business communities. More >
Program Coordinator at GCYC
Journalist and educator, Tracee Brock, came to Free Spirit Media in the summer of 2008. She is passionate about instructing youth in broadcast journalism and live-event production. More >
Program Director
With over 15 years of youth development experience, Melissa brings an array of management, evaluation, and program design expertise to FSM. More >
HoopsHIGH Coordinator
Shaun is the HoopsHIGH Coordinator for Free Spirit Media, making sure urban youth have opportunities to develop skills to be successful beyond high school. Shaun runs FSM's flagship program HoopsHIGH, which teaches students how to produce their own sports broadcast. More >
Lead Instructor, North Lawndale College Prep
Elizabeth Czekner is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. She holds a B.A. in art education and a teaching certificate from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Fine Arts from Columbia College Chicago where she focused her graduate studies in video, new media theory and practice. More >
Program Coordinator, Power House HIGH & Westinghouse High
Laura came to Free Spirit Media as part of the Northwestern Public Interest Program in the summer of 2008. She orignally worked as a Program Associate at FSM's program at the Gary Comer Youth Center where she helped teach journalism and filmmaking to underserved Chicago youth. Laura currently runs FSM's new video production programs at Power House and Westinghouse High Schools. More >
Production Associate
Ryan Kolegas joined the Free Spirit Media team in 2009. He is a Production Associate with Free Spirit Media's Flagship program HoopsHIGH and teaches high school students what it takes to produce their very own high school sports broadcast. More >
Technology Coordinator, GCYC
Chad started as FSM's technology coordinator at Gary Comer Youth Center in December of 2008, instructing youth in the technical aspects of broadcast journalism and live-event production. More >
Program Associate
Christiana joined Free Spirit Media in the Spring of 2009. She is a producer and instructor for FSM Productions, which provides opportunities for Free Spirit Media high school students to work on professional media projects for a variety of clients. More >
