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VOICES OF YOUTH Battle Creek

NOW RECRUITING YOUTH FOR THE NEXT SESSION! 
Starts Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at First Congregational Church, Battle Creek

A journalism project that lifts youth voices and is focused on community issues that are important to youth.

Through this project you have an opportunity: To be heard. To contribute to community discussions. To affect change.

Do you have a curiosity for learning new things?

Do you like to write? 

Would you like to be published? 
 
Are you looking for a way to share about an issue that is important to you and a place to showcase your artistic talent?

If you have an interest in learning why journalism is important to affecting change, sign up now to participate.

Be part of a team presenting these issues to the community in a way only youth can.

There are several roles from which to choose: 

∙ Writer 

∙ Researcher

∙ Photographer 

∙ Social Media

∙ Artist / Any medium

VOICES of YOUTH BATTLE CREEK will be offering its third session starting in March 2023. Workshops dates are set for Tuesdays, March 7, March 14, and March 24, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 145 Capital Ave. NE.

There are opportunities to help write a long-form feature article. Writers will learn through the program how to shape these stories with support in research, interviews, and writing.

The topics we are addressing will be of importance to them. There will be opportunities for youth to take on roles in creating photography, and artwork supporting stories in these topic areas. 

All stories are approached through a solutions journalism approach and reported with an eye toward ways the issues are related to structural and ongoing systemic racism.

WORKSHOP BASED/INSTRUCTIONAL LEARNING

A professional journalist will lead the workshops providing step-by-step in how to write, how to research, and how to interview sources for a story. A syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the session. 

MENTORS

You will not be working on this project alone! Each topic will have its own Writing Mentor and Art/Photography Mentor.  

COMMITMENT DATES

Please sign-up at this LINK.

COMPENSATION

Participants will be paid $50 for each of three workshops (total, $150).

All roles will be compensated at local journalism industry standards for their content upon publication. 

PLATFORMS 

Stories and digital images will be published online on the Second Wave Media website. 

For an example of previous work that has been published click here and here

We will also be exploring opportunities to showcase the work through other platforms or events. 

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS: 

Because this is a deadline-focused project with specific due dates for completion, attendance at all workshops is required. Communication between Participants and Mentors is critical for success.
 
Here’s what we need to know about you!

Your legal name

The name you prefer to use
 
Your preferred pronouns

Contact info: Phone number, email, physical address

Parent, Guardian, and or YAK Leader contact information 

• You will be asked to sign a Letter of Agreement that outlines the expectations as mentioned above. 

This is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build your high school experience resume! To register click here

Issue Media Group (IMG) is the parent company of Southwest Michigan's Second Wave. IMG publishes weekly online magazines leveraging the power of solutions-based and narrative journalism. Our publications aim to connect readers to their city’s most visionary and active people, businesses, and organizations. We work with like-minded stakeholders who have shared values and missions through an underwriting model of publishing.

Our journalists engage the community through regular editorial advisories, events, and conversations to build trusted relationships with leaders and residents that shape the community’s unique stories. The company was incorporated in Detroit in 2005.

FUNDING: 

This program is underwritten by the Battle Creek Foundation, Kellogg Community Foundation, and the BINDA Foundation.