Mississippi Youth Media Project
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YMP Student Voices

Hear from our current class of 2017 Youth Media Project participants in their own words.

Learning New Skills, Confronting Diversity, Speaking Our Minds

6/20/2017

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By Kelsee Ford

​I arrived to this summer's program a day late, June 3, because I had a JROTC event the previous day. I walked into this bright office looking the same as last year, but seeing unfamiliar faces. I introduced myself to those I didn't know, and hugged those I had made close bonds with last year, noticing an abundance of new kids ready and willing to learn. I remembered some of those faces from Murrah High School, but students I rarely saw. 

I then had to miss a week because of Girls State hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary at the University of Southern Mississippi. I returned June 12, and since then I’ve started my day off with 2 doughnuts for $1.74 at Monroe's downstairs.

​Monday, June 5, was a day I wasn't prepared for; I wasn't aware that we were having a Youth Day of Dialogue that day. We split into groups and talked in-depth about certain words dealing with race. Knowing how to use words is vital, because obviously I haven't been using them in the correct way. ​

One activity that stood out to me was the step-back-or step-forward exercise. I had mixed feelings about it, but overall it enforced some of the things I already knew. 

I think everybody’s favorite part of the day is lunch. It’s even better when we don't have to pay for it so thanks to those who have catered us so far. 
  
Our lunch walks are the best. I believe that’s were we all kind of loosen up and just talk about anything. On Tuesday, June 13, just about all of us went to lunch at Chick-Fil-A. As we stood in line, I noticed Chauncey Nettles looking at his phone, nothing out of the ordinary. I looked a little closer and noticed he was looking at the menu.  

“Chauncey, you do know the menu is up there, right?” 

He responded with “Oh yea, my bad, I forgot. My mind was else where." That was probably one of the funniest things I’ve witnessed in a long time. 

YMP is a program everyone should have the experience to be in. We meet new people, learn new skills, become more comfortable with diversity and are able to speak our minds. Rain or shine, we always have a good and productive day.
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Major Sponsors and Supporters of YMP

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Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) is a leader in informational broadcasting. MPB has exhibited a commitment to educating and informing Mississippians. MPB has partnered with YMP to lend tech equipment and provide youth engagement and media specialists to train students. 
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E3, a project of Parents of Public Schools of Jackson (now Ask for More), supported YMP in summers 2016 and 2017 with stipends for students, and other  resources.
The Community Foundation of Greater Jackson (now The Community Foundation of Mississippi) is the
​fiscal sponsor for E3.
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Podastery Studios in downtown Jackson offers a network of locally produced podcasts. Beau York, founder of Podastery, has generously donated his time to train YMP students in podcasting skills and allowed Youth Media Project students to borrow professional podcasting equipment to learn
​production skills.
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Dialogue Jackson, formerly Jackson 2000 Inc., is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to fostering understanding and building harmony between people of different races, ethnicities and backgrounds. The group became YMP's fiscal sponsor in 2017 and hosts youth dialogues for teens.. 

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Choice Printing in downtown Jackson is an in-kind sponsor of YMP offering YMP copying and printing services from its Capitol Towers location.

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Good Design & Code >>

Good Design & Co offers high-end UI/UX, web development, app development and branding services. Principal J.C. Hiatt is helping YMP students publish their own website for stories, video, podcasts and more.
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Jackson-based Workplace Solutions by Barefield is a Steelcase authorized dealer offering high-end office furniture and technology solutions. Workplace Solutions has loaned chairs, mobile desks and mobile whiteboards to create a collaborative office for YMP participants.

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Jackson-based Fuse.cloud (formerly Broadband Voice) offers Voice-over-IP phone systems, fiber Internet connections and technical services. Fuse.cloud has sponsored phones, VoIP phone service and technical assistance for YMP.

SPECIAL THANKS TO DR. GEORGE SCHIMMEL and NATALIE IRBY FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS OF PRODUCTION IMACS FOR THE YOUTH MEDIA PROJECT.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO YMP.
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