After eight weeks with 17 youth aged 14 to 16, we successfully wrapped up our 2024 summer Step Up – Youth Media Force program. This year’s interns, all from diverse BIPOC communities, brought a wide range of backgrounds and cultures to the table. At the outset, we introduced them to various media production tools, including online graphic design platforms like Canva, animation tools such as Animaker, storytelling with Storybird, and the artistic process of filmmaking. As they learned to use these tools, we also exposed them to important social topics, guiding them to develop awareness campaigns on issues like media literacy, bicultural living, problem gambling, vaping, youth and gun violence, mental health, and voting. We had guest speakers from various organizations and agencies who shared their experiences and stories, helping the youth understand these topics in a meaningful context.
Reflecting on last year’s experience, which marked our return to in-person programming, we realized that many youth needed more guidance throughout the process. The internship, at times, felt more like a classroom than a work experience, so we adjusted our approach to better engage the interns this year. We divided the group into three smaller teams, each with its own supervisor and coach to guide them through understanding the subjects, discussing focus areas, and deciding on the best tools to convey their messages. Over the span of several weeks, we got to know each intern — their personalities, how they interacted with one another, their strengths and weaknesses. As the program progressed, we provided additional skills training, helping them grasp design principles, camera angles, and editing concepts.
Of course, each intern learned and worked at their own pace. Some discovered they weren’t as interested in certain skills, and it took time before they fully understood the process, started working better together, and began producing more polished and effective work. While a few preferred to work alone, the majority of the interns grew in their collaboration, producing stronger messages and visuals compared to the previous year.
As we gathered at the end of the eight weeks to review the interns’ creations, we could clearly see the growth in their workflow, creativity, and messaging compared to last year. We also identified areas where we can improve and plan to have review sessions to make next year’s program even better.
Asian Media Access is fortunate to receive strong support from MPS Community Education, which provided the space to host our summer internship, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for their partnership. To check out AMA youth products, please visit: www.youthincharge.org.
Youth-led Violence Prevention Videos:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/128ZvWZri8perng1_Y1A0jmuez4dQPuRy/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XQU6V5F8Gmxa42NVciv5PqLMXThS1iB4/view?usp=sharing
