More and Better This Year

6/19/2017

by Asia Mangum

I have a good feeling about this year of YMP. We have even more people then the last group when I was here last summer. The new students have a lot to offer and are genuinely excited and passionate about the program. But to be honest, I was worried that we couldn't work together as well as I worked with the last group. However, every day I come here I'm reminded that not only do we work well together, but I'm confident we will achieve more and better things this year.

Making friends came easy this year because I felt comfortable in a familiar environment. Meeting new people is an opportunity I can never pass up, so getting to know the new students was my favorite part of the experience. They are each different in their own way. I don't think anything is forced between us; we share common interests and learn from each other every day.

One of the girls here, Maleah Briggs, went to the same summer camp I went to. I was so happy to have met her, because I never met anyone who went to KAA (Kids Across America), a Christian summer camp for kids through ages 11 through 18, besides the group I went with. While we were at KAA, we participated in various activities, such as canoeing, archery, ski tubing, tree tops and etc. We bonded over our experience at summer camp, and we ended up forgetting to interview each other for our bios.

I am anxious to interview people and tell their stories. Finishing the Regina Briggs story, last year made me feel so proud of myself. I will never forget her because she was the first person I ever interviewed, and I was so honored to tell her story about being in a gang when she was younger. She was such an empowering and inspiring woman. Her story is proof that you can overcome any dark time in your life. Stories such as Ms. Briggs' are the kind I want to continue writing. I'm looking forward to reporting and writing more stories, even if I have to go through constant revisions and editing.

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Our Sponsors and Supporters

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.

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.

Podastery Studios in downtown Jackson offers a network of locally produced podcasts. Podastery has generously donated their time and allowed YMP to borrow professional podcasting equipment to learn production skills.

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..

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

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.

Special thanks to the Mattiace Company for supporting and maintaining YMP's creative and inspiring office space on the 13th Floor of Capital Towers in downtown Jackson.

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 the Youth Media Project.

SPECIAL THANKS TO DR. GEORGE SCHIMMEL FOR HIS GENEROUS DONATION OF A PRODUCTION IMAC FOR THE YOUTH MEDIA PROJECT.

YMP Student Voices