On October 5, 2024, the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts’ (LVA) first student-made nonprofit had its major Glow Run fundraising event at the Bob Baskin Park. Founded by senior multimedia communications majors Violet Gude and Aliyah Billings, Behind The Lens is the newest Las Vegas-based journalism storytelling collective. Their mission is to document and give limelight to other nonprofits that significantly impact the community.

“Behind the lens uses journalism to tell the greater story of change in the community, and then also using it to make our own impact on more access to journalism education,” said Billings.

The Glow Run was held so Behind The Lens could reach 501(c)(3) status and become an official nonprofit. Gude and Billings had the help of groups Shine a Light and WHAV to connect them with helpful resources for starting out, specifically from WHAV’s founder.

“Through her, she’s been helping us with our articles and all of our paperwork for our 501(c)(3) status,” said Gude.

Teachers and students from LVA attended the Glow Run to help support their peers. Ms. Ust, Ms. Strehl, Mr. Strehl, and Mr. Mutzhaus came to support, bringing his own nonprofit, Critical Care Comics, to help out as well.

Behind the Lens doesn’t stop here at the Glow Run. Gude and Billings have expressed how far they want their organization to go and where they see it going.

“It was the realization that it was bigger than just LVA. It was like all of Las Vegas that we were like, we’re not seeing enough journalism resources. We need more resources within our Las Vegas community,” said Billings.