Youth Voice: When most of us think of schools we think nice, friendly, and most importantly safe environments. As time has progressed, we as a nation have come to realize that this is not true for all schools.
Author: The kNOw Youth Media
The kNOw works to support and equip young people with the journalism and advocacy skills they need to tell their stories and the stories of their communities.
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.
Three years ago, members of SUCCESS (Students United to Create a Climate of Engagement, Support and Safety) started working to make Fresno schools better through restorative justice. Because of their hard work, FUSD board members voted on May 8 to implement restorative justice practices in several Fresno schools. Watch the resolution, the vote, remarks from SUCCESS youth and see what the future holds for restorative justice in Fresno.
As the years progress we hear about more and more environmental disasters caused by humanity’s mistreatment of the planet. Just this year, droughts, Hurricane Sandy
This week in Boston, terror struck our nation again. For youth, 9/11 is a distant memory, and the marathon bombings are a tragic and current reminder of the evil in this world. Here are impressions and responses from The kNOw youth as they process this tragedy.
Data shows that one in 9 students are suspended nationally, with racial disparities widening. The Central Valley city of Fresno, CA. is among districts seeking to reverse this trend. Under a zero-tolerance school discipline policy, the district has long seen high numbers of both suspensions and expulsions. But in a major reversal last week, Superintendent Michael Hanson announced that he would begin funding district-wide restorative justice programs.