Peter Rosten
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After my 35-year career in the entertainment business as a writer/producer for film and television, my work became about making money – the passion was gone. In my 50’s, and realizing I had “more yesterdays than tomorrows”, it was time for a change. In 2002, I moved to Darby, Montana.
In 2004, I founded and am currently CEO of the MAPS Media Institute in Hamilton, Montana.
Funded through the Irwin & Florence Rosten Foundation, MAPS empowers young minds through creativity, communication skills, confidence, inspiration and passion. We offer courses in design, film, music, technology and entrepreneurship. In addition to their course work, students learn many essential life skills, such as critical thinking, innovation, communication abilities, teamwork, problem solving and leadership. We are proud of our rural roots and, in 2014, MAPS was honored as one of the top 50 after-school programs by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
The impact we are having is best said by Luke McLean, a MAPS student from 2004-2006: “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the influence of Peter and the MAPS program.” Luke is currently employed as on-air promotions editor for BYU Broadcasting and recipient of three 2015 regional Emmy awards.
The skills, experience and, hopefully, wisdom acquired in our lives are incredibly valuable in helping to pass the torch to the next generation. They need us and, to maintain a sense of purpose in our lives, we need them. Win-Win.
(Peter Rosten was honored as a Encore.org Purpose Prize Fellow in 2014.)