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:
Ashley Flowers (she/they)
Senior Program Coordinator
Ashley was born and raised in Fresno. She developed a passion for nonprofit journalism while pursuing a bachelor’s in Sociology at Fresno State and working as Assistant Director at the grassroots organization No More Slumlords. Returning to Fresno State for a master’s degree in Public Administration, Ashley joined the student newspaper, The Collegian, where she received multiple awards for her coverage of local topics. Ashley continued to work with nonprofit organizations like Centro La Familia Advocacy Services upon graduation, solidifying ten years of experience in local journalism, storytelling and communications. Ashley is the Journalism & Storytelling Program Coordinator, leading The kNOw Youth Media, Multilingual Storytelling and Youth Artivism, and supporting Journalists of Color. Ashley’s work in these programs serves to support and equip over 50 young people each year with the journalism and advocacy skills needed to share stories of their communities and prepare for a potential career in journalism. In their free time, Ashley enjoys watching horror films, attending concerts, and traveling.
Johnsen Del Rosario (he/him)
Senior Program Manager
Johnsen Del Rosario 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. In 2018, he joined yli as a program coordinator for The kNOw Youth Media. Now as a Senior Program Manager, Johnsen supports staff in leading journalism, storytelling, and arts programs in Fresno County, and advocacy and civic engagement initiatives in Madera County. Serving 50+ young people annually, these programs and initiatives focus on leadership development, advocacy campaigns, and narrative change through storytelling and journalism. 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 and the Alliance for Boys & Men of Color data fellowship in 2024.
