Editor’s Note: In celebration of World Poetry Day (March 21), Harmony Magnet Academy from Porterville Unified School District encouraged scholars to participate in their event on campus to foster linguistic diversity through original literary pieces from the student body.
In encouraging scholars to participate in the event, those who participated were given the opportunity to share their original pieces and recite poetry in the multi-purpose building on their campus.
While various scholars shared their work with the student body, only three original pieces were selected to be published through The kNOw Youth Media. Thanks to The kNOw Youth Media, the youth in our community were given a larger platform to share their work, but most importantly, they were given the opportunity to be heard and understand that there is power in words; there is power in poetry.
In 2006, over 25 youth began participating in weekly after-school writing workshops where they congregated in the hallway of a two-story building in West Fresno and learned the essentials of creating media and telling their stories. The group evolved over the next five years and is now proudly recognized as The kNOw Youth Media.
Through our program, we create opportunities for our youth participants, who in turn create long-term positive change in their communities. Our approach weaves youth development and youth media innovation to produce our biannual youth publication, multimedia projects, and community forums.
The kNOw began as a project of New America Media, which was the country’s first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018 The kNOw became a project of Youth Leadership Institute.
