Editor’s Note: The California Endowment has launched a project called #2Young2Vote in an effort to promote youth voice on matters of policy. Though youth under 18 cannot vote, the young people of The kNOw care deeply about many issues facing their community that can be addressed through voting. Photos by Kody Stoebig.
“Vote 4 mental health awareness.”
“Vote to support creative education!”
“Vote for clean schools.”
“Less roach infestation in schools.”
“Vote for a better environment.”
“Vote for a better school environment.”
“Vote for schools ’cause we need more teachers to teach our young ones.”
After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Communication from Fresno Pacific University and a Master’s in Theology and Film from Fuller Theological Seminary, Tim returned to his hometown community in Fresno. He spent over 5 years teaching courses on media production and theory at Fresno State University and Fresno Pacific University and was the academic advisor for the Fresno Pacific University student newspaper.
Tim joined his passions for storytelling, education and social justice in January, 2014 when he started running The kNOw Youth Media in Fresno. In May of 2016, Tim became Director of YouthWire, where he led four youth media programs across the state. In the two years Tim was director, YouthWire printed over 200,000 newspapers distributed in dailies across the state, sent reporters to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, was featured in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Fresno Bee, KQED and The New York Times’ Race/Related newsletter, and led storytelling training for over 75 youth from at least 12 different communities in California.
Tim currently serves on the journalism advisory board for Fresno City College and was a New America CA 2017 Fellow, the first from the Central Valley.