About The kNOw

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.

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 are 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 2000 ethnic news organizations. In 2018 The kNOw became a project of Youth Leadership Institute

The kNOw exists through the generous support of The California Endowment, which is funding a 10-year, $1 billion program called Building Healthy Communities. 14 communities across the state are taking action to make where they live healthier. They’re doing this by improving employment opportunities, education, housing, neighborhood safety, unhealthy environmental conditions, access to healthy foods and more. The goal: to create places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. Ultimately, they are aiming at nothing less than a revolution in the way all of us think about and support health for all Californians.

The California Endowment is a foundation committed to improving the health of all Californians, especially those in underserved communities. They’ve made thousands of grants since 1996, and the most important thing they’ve learned is that our health doesn’t begin in a doctor’s office. Where we live has an enormous impact on our health. Being able to breathe clean air, to send our kids to school without fear of violence, to have a convenient place to buy fresh foods, to live near a park where we can walk and play – these are the things that prevent us from getting sick in the first place. We are a proud partner of Fresno Building Healthy Communities. 

Our Projects

Media Communications:

  • Magazine: biannual youth publication distributed by The Fresno Bee
  • Multimedia: youth-produced videos, audio stories, photography

Forums:

  • Community-Wide: forums where adults and young people come together to dialogue on larger community issues