Youth Communications
Encyclopedia
Youth Communication is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth media organization based in New York City
that promotes youth literacy and civic engagement through youth-led media
. The organization was founded in 1980 by youth rights
pioneer Keith Hefner
, who won a MacArthur Fellowship for his work with Youth Communication in 1989.
Youth Communication counts many notable alumni, including the authors Edwidge Danticat (Breath Eyes Memory), Veronica Chambers (Mama's Girl), and Gina Trapani
(LifeHacker), the hip hop writer and actor Bönz Malone
, and the reporters Rachel Swarns (The New York Times), and Mohamad Bazzi
(Newsday).
Youth Communication has won numerous awards for its educational publications. In 2001 it won a Coming Up Taller Award from the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities. In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor
Michael Bloomberg
.
It has won more than a dozen Distinguished Achievement Awards from the Association of Educational Publishers, including a 2011 award for best high school curriculum in the Health and Character Education category for Real Men, its program on masculinity for urban teens.
In 2006 the organization began producing video stories, more than 40 of which are on its Youtube site.. They include news videos, personal stories, and "story behind the story" videos in which the teen authors talk about the writing process and why they wrote their stories. Youth Communication has also worked with outside directors. Ric Burns
directed a video about the organization called Changing Lives, One Story at a Time, and Michael "Boogie" Pinckney directed Alternative High, a story about one Youth Communication writer's journey from high school dropout to high school principal that accompanies the Real Men program.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
that promotes youth literacy and civic engagement through youth-led media
Youth-led media
Youth-led media is any effort created, planned, implemented, and reflected upon by young people in the form of media, including websites, newspapers, television shows and publications.-Movement:...
. The organization was founded in 1980 by youth rights
Youth rights
Youth rights refers to a set of philosophies intended to enhance civil rights for young people. They are a response to the oppression of young people, with advocates challenging ephebiphobia, adultism and ageism through youth participation, youth/adult partnerships, and promoting, ultimately,...
pioneer Keith Hefner
Keith Hefner (activist)
Keith Hefner is the founder and Executive Director of Youth Communication, an influential nonprofit organization publishing magazines and books by and for youth. The magazines are New Youth Connections, written by New York City teens, and Represent, by and for foster youth...
, who won a MacArthur Fellowship for his work with Youth Communication in 1989.
About
Youth Communication seeks to help marginalized youth develop their full potential through reading and writing so that they can succeed in school and at work and contribute to their communities. It publishes anthologies of stories by teens, many of which also include lesson guides to help teachers and other adults use the stories to help teens strengthen reading, writing, and social/emotional skills. Youth Communication also publishes two print magazines and associated websites: YCteen (formerly called New Youth Connections), a general interest magazine for urban teens; and Represent (formerly Foster Care Youth United), a magazine written by and for young people in foster care.Hundreds of stories and lessons by teens in the program are also available on the organization's websites.Youth Communication counts many notable alumni, including the authors Edwidge Danticat (Breath Eyes Memory), Veronica Chambers (Mama's Girl), and Gina Trapani
Gina Trapani
Gina Marie Trapani is an American tech blogger, web developer, and writer.Trapani founded the Lifehacker blog in January 2005, and led it until January 2009. She co-hosts a netcast on the TWiT.tv network called with Leo Laporte and Jeff Jarvis. She also hosted twelve episodes of Work Smart, a...
(LifeHacker), the hip hop writer and actor Bönz Malone
Bönz Malone
Bönz Malone was born in the Bronx and has been called the "Hunter S. Thompson of Hip Hop". He also co-wrote and starred in the prison film Slam, which won the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival Grand Jury Prize at Sundance....
, and the reporters Rachel Swarns (The New York Times), and Mohamad Bazzi
Mohamad Bazzi
Mohamad Bazzi , is a Lebanese-American award-winning journalist. He is the former Middle East bureau chief at Newsday and a current faculty member of New York University. Bazzi was the 2007-2008 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations...
(Newsday).
Youth Communication has won numerous awards for its educational publications. In 2001 it won a Coming Up Taller Award from the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities. In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
.
It has won more than a dozen Distinguished Achievement Awards from the Association of Educational Publishers, including a 2011 award for best high school curriculum in the Health and Character Education category for Real Men, its program on masculinity for urban teens.
In 2006 the organization began producing video stories, more than 40 of which are on its Youtube site.. They include news videos, personal stories, and "story behind the story" videos in which the teen authors talk about the writing process and why they wrote their stories. Youth Communication has also worked with outside directors. Ric Burns
Ric Burns
Ric Burns is an American documentary filmmaker and writer. He has written, directed and produced historical documentaries for nearly 20 years, beginning with his collaboration on the celebrated PBS series The Civil War , which he produced with his older brother Ken Burns and wrote with Geoffrey C...
directed a video about the organization called Changing Lives, One Story at a Time, and Michael "Boogie" Pinckney directed Alternative High, a story about one Youth Communication writer's journey from high school dropout to high school principal that accompanies the Real Men program.
External links
- Youth Communication website.
- YCteen website
- Represent website