VOICES OF YOUTH KALAMAZOO

REGISTRATION FOR SPRING 2025 IS NOW CLOSED.


NOW RECRUITING YOUTH!

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? Take photographs? Create art? Or create a podcast or radio story?

Would you like to be published? 
 
Are you looking for a way for the issue you care about to be heard about 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

∙ Artist / Any medium

This project is generously funded by the Stryker Johnston Foundation in partnership with the Maple Street YMCA.

VOICES of YOUTH KALAMAZOO will be offering its Spring Session starting Saturday, March 1 and continuing on  March 8, March 15, and concluding on March 22. The workshops, which include mentoring sessions, will meet at the YMCA, 1001 W. Maple Street. The first workshop will run from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the following three workshops running from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A special free Y membership is provided for participants and their families during the period of the cohort.

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.

In addition to professional writing mentors, there will also 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 lens and reported with an eye toward ways the issues are related to structural and ongoing systemic racism.

WORKSHOP BASED/INSTRUCTIONAL LEARNING

Earlene McMichael, a professional print and radio journalist, will facilitate the workshops providing step-by-step guidance on 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.  

COMPENSATION

Participants will be paid $25 for each workshop (there are at least 4, for a total of $100.) Students will also be paid $150 for completion of a project.

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. Our goal will be to present stories and artwork at a spring Downtown Kalamazoo Art Hop.

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 or Guardian

• 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 in partnership with the YMCA and underwritten by The Stryker Johnston Foundation. 

If you have questions, please email editor@swmichigan.secondwavemedia.com