What’s New & Noteworthy at Media Power Youth
Summer Camp Means Summer Fun!
Summer is the time for fun, creativity, and community! Summer camps are a place for those things to thrive in a safe and structured environment. Some children lack a strong social foundation, making them feel isolated and alone during the summer months. Introducing your child to summer camp provides them with a group of peers to interact with that more often than not, share the same interests.
The Power of Mentorship
Summer is here! With it comes sunshine and the promise of freedom that many students, and parents alike, yearn for. It’s a time when the basketball court comes alive with the rhythmic beat of endless pick-up games. The lake hums with joyful cheers, awesome splashes, and memories that last a lifetime. Kids are free to hang out with friends until the sun starts to set and the street lights flicker on.
Seeking High School Students for 2023-24 Advisory Board – Apply by April 30th!
Media Power Youth is a youth-development organization that inspires young people to engage with media in thoughtful and creative ways that support their physical and mental well-being. We offer rich learning experiences on media and technology that help students, teachers, and communities build media literacy skills and use media responsibly to advocate for the causes and people that matter most. Through our youth advisory board, the Youth Media Squad, we partner with teens to create new youth programs that address the current issues facing young people. Members also have opportunities to build new media creation and advocacy skills. We are now accepting applications through April 30th. KEEP READING
Preventing Cyberbullying With Practical Skills
Last week, we had the opportunity to get a taste of what Parkside Pride is all about. We spent two full days at Parkside Middle School talking to students about practical skills they can use to combat cyberbullying. We discussed and practiced conflict resolution, empathy, and emotional regulation skills, empowering teens to shift the digital spaces they encounter for the better.
Giving Back, With Double The Impact!
by Donna Onacki, Media Power Youth Board Treasurer
The holiday season is upon us! It evokes a feeling of gratitude and giving that inspires many to give back to their communities. Some people do this by supporting organizations with missions that are important to them. However, there are many ways to give back. You could volunteer time, tip a little extra, or shop local. If you choose to help a non-profit deliver programs and services as your way of giving back to your community, one of the best ways to maximize the impact of your gift is by utilizing an employee match benefit. KEEP READING
Helping Children Ask The Important Media Questions
In today’s world, media impacts children’s lives in almost every way. It educates, entertains, persuades, and influences how they see the world. It can be overwhelming trying to help them create a healthy relationship with it due to how encompassing it can feel. However, there is one skill that you can start teaching children today that will help them improve their relationship with media!
How Brands Hack Your Brain
It’s common knowledge that branding can change your feelings about a company. However, it also changes how your brain is wired. Effective brand marketing prompts consumers to link brands with their identity and influences their feelings and behaviors. This has interesting effects on our economy, society, and decision-making. Two professors from the University of Pennsylvania: Americus Reed II, a marketing professor, and Michael Platt, a professor of marking, psychology, and neuroscience, delve into this question and more in a thought-provoking YouTube video presented by Big Think. KEEP READING
Misinformation Movie Magic
We are proud to present our latest media creation project! This “Flip the Script” Camp is a project-based summer camp designed to teach teens and tweens about misinformation while building their science literacy skills through the art of movie making.
Adjusting My Relationship with Social Media
by Clay Cohen, Media Power Youth Summer Intern
I jumped at the possibility of becoming an intern at Media Power Youth because I am fascinated by the hold social media seems to have on my friends, family, and myself. Over time, this new social technology will only continue to intertwine itself in all facets of our lives. My goal was to develop a deeper understanding of media literacy so that I could be better equipped to mentor my friends and six younger siblings. I’ve learned that whether social media positively or negatively affects an individual’s mental health depends on the person and situation.
Making a Difference Through Media Education
by Jessica Dorsey, Elementary Educator Advisory Board Chair
As a fourth-grade teacher working with nine and ten-year-olds, I know how much media is a part of young students’ lives. Kids see media messages in books, on TV, on the radio, and in advertisements. However, in schools, we don’t often explicitly teach students how to ask questions about media and the sources of information they are consuming and ultimately trusting. When I found out about Media Power Youth’s new curriculum, Media Literacy for Safe & Healthy Choices, I loved the way it facilitated conversations about media and health and how the lessons allow students to ask questions and analyze information provided to them. KEEP READING