Fifteen years ago in Philadelphia, filmmaker Teddy Weiss picked up his camera to capture the story of an afterschool program led by teacher A.J. Ernst. The photos and videos didn’t just document the program—they helped turn it into a fully funded nonprofit serving more students.

Since then, we’ve partnered on projects that matter to us: transforming schools, publishing research, creating art, and working alongside students, community leaders, and changemakers across the globe.

In 2025, standing on a rooftop in Mexico City, we realized the next chapter was clear: use our combined skills to help mission-driven organizations share their impact with clarity, beauty, and purpose.

Today, Next Thing Media works with nonprofits, educators, artists, and social entrepreneurs worldwide—crafting stories that inspire action and grow movements.