In Los Angeles, jam skaters draw from a community and culture built over generations at Venice Beach and at rinks across the city. Roller skating hit the mainstream as a safe and relatively accessible pastime during the pandemic, with its international popularity bolstered by people recording their shaky progress on social media. Skates were sold out for months, and skaters have become major influencers on Instagram and TikTok. But longtime skaters are quick to remind everyone: This isn’t a fad.

Extension Project: Give your middle and high school students the opportunity to create and publish original dance videos with an accompanying artist statement with the First Person Youth Media Challenge Project.