YMP Has Brought a Smile To My Face

6/16/2016

by Jennifer Shields

The sky was overcast, and it looked like it could pour any minute. However, it was a bright and sunny atmosphere in the Youth Media Project office. As the coffee was brewing, we gathered in the video/photography house and waited for the day to start. We laughed and joked as we also waited for the last few stragglers to come along. It felt refreshing to just sit and enjoy each other’s company. Once the coffee was brewed, many, including myself, got a cup and began to form the discussion circle. Finally! The day had begun.

Eventually morning turned into the afternoon and with it an incredible rain. Although the rain continued to pour, it did not stop us from having a nice day. We planned the next steps in moving forward in our media process. We planned our website, and then recording biographies of each YMP member in the podcasting house to put on the website.

In reality, it was just another day at YMP with group discussions included. Tons of topics were brought up, and many seemed worthy to write about. You could feel the excitement in the air as my YMP friends and I talked about these or other possible projects. Like always, YMP has brought a smile to my face. YMP has enabled me to be grateful for the new friends gained, the exposure to new ideas, and the new experiences.

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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