Our Mission: To support and equip young people with the journalism and advocacy skills they need to tell their stories and the stories of their communities.
Our History: 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 annual youth print publication and digital content year-round.
We were a part of YouthWire, a collection of 5 youth-led media hubs across California. YouthWire began as a project of New America Media, which was the country’s first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2,000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018, The kNOw Youth Media became a project of Youth Leadership Institute.
Our Staff:
Daniel Gonzalez (they/them)
Senior Program Coordinator
Daniel is a Central Valley native originally living in the rural community of Easton on the outskirts of Fresno. They are passionate about youth-driven policy change and decision-making, and have a strong commitment to local issues. Daniel first joined yli working in Friday Night Live in rural Fresno County communities. They have successfully implemented merchant education and positive social norms campaigns around underage alcohol and tobacco prevention in Reedley, Selma, and Orange Cove. Daniel joined The kNOw Youth Media team in 2022. They have worked closely with queer-identifying youth and staff to create community spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in Fresno yli programs. Daniel is a proud alum of Fresno State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, a minor in Philanthropic Community-Based Leadership, and a certificate in Applied Sociological Research. They completed the Humanics@Fresno State program and are a former Bulldog Pride Fund Harvey Milk Humanics Hope Award Scholar. On weekends, you can find Daniel at local drag shows alongside friends, watching horror movies, or listening to countless hours of pop music.
Johnsen Del Rosario (he/him)
Senior Program Manager
Johnsen joined The kNOw Youth Media as a youth reporter in 2015, writing on health and justice issues in the community. As a reporter, he wrote the graphic novel, “How Did We Get Here? Fresno,” an in-depth look at how Fresno’s political, social, racial, and economic history shaped the City of Fresno to what it is today. With a strong passion for youth development, youth voice, and community health, Johnsen became staff in 2018 and now manages The kNOw Youth Media and other storytelling programs as a Senior Program Manager. Johnsen graduated with a degree in Mass Communications and Journalism from California State University, Fresno and was part of Fusion’s Rise Up: Be Heard journalism fellowship in 2017.
