What began as one student-shot film motivated by the devastating Columbine High School shootings swiftly evolved into a powerful movement to give youth a voice and empower them to be the difference in the lives of others. Over nearly a decade, Erahm directed four award winning student-shot documentaries, trained speakers, co-wrote a book, launched a student film festival and developed several corporate and youth leadership programs. To date, his films have reached over 7 million people, the live experiences have engaged over 2 million, the book is in classrooms around the world and the leadership programs have empowered thousands of active leaders. Teen Truth has become a premier global organization in building awareness to critical youth issues, implementing tangible solutions and saving lives. 

The GOFILM! Workshop is an intensive student and educator filmmaking program founded by Erahm and Shane Williamson, a student he mentored for nearly a decade. This hands-on weekend and two-week program teaches students how to see and hear movies differently, collaborate effectively with others and develop original ideas that engage, inspire and entertain. Since its inception GOFILM! students have improved their leadership and writing skills, received scholarships to universities and landed careers in the entertainment industry.

This unique five-month cinematic collaboration with the Sierra Health Foundation & Father’s and Families paired Erahm with twelve diverse youth from the juvenile justice system. Employing the filmmaking process to teach them how to think critically and creatively, work together, problem solve and express their truths, the youth screened their film at the conclusion of the project to the community at large in an effort to build awareness of the critical issues facing their city.

This groundbreaking collaboration with the US Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia paired Erahm with sixteen youth at a school Diane Sawyer coined, “one of the most violent schools in America.” During the nine-month project, Erahm used the creative filmmaking process to inspire his students to think strategically, express themselves artistically, overcome trauma and work together as a team. 

Shortly after the tragic death of his only brother, Erahm launched A Third Party in 2007 with several friends from high school and college. Hosting events that show families, friends and the greater community how they can support individuals and organizations in need of assistance, A Third Party has raised thousands of dollars for a school for the homeless and the families of fallen police officers in northern California.