Gary Langfield 
On Thursday February 19th, Chicago had its very first Youth Media Day, a day where 65 students from six different CPS schools got an opportunity to go to city hall and hold a press conference with Mayor Brandon Johnson.
A press conference held with the young media makers of tomorrow was nothing short of inspirational, but the day was even more jam packed with keynote speakers and impactful workshops.
Before the conference, the students got a motivating talk from the event’s amazing keynote speaker, Tia Ewing. She’s a broadcast journalist for Fox 32 News, dedicated to mentoring and serving the community. She talked about the early days of her career and how being yourself is a super power, giving advice like, “I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to change yourself.”
With passions set ablaze, the students went into 45 minute media workshops of their choosing. Photography, videography, journalism and social media creation were all available to the attendees. The instructors of each workshop were professionals, some not much older than the students, providing a very fulfilling sense of community. After workshops were finished and the participants ate lunch, it was time for the press conference with Mayor Johnson.
The conference showed the Mayor’s passion for wanting to hear what young people have to say about the issues that they face. The Mayor shared that he welcomes feedback when it comes to coming up with creative solutions that will actually be effective for change.
A senior from Hyde Park Academy asked Mayor Johnson, “What is your long term vision for youth in Chicago?”
He emphasized how he wants young people to stay in Chicago and raise their families here saying, “Everything I’m investing in you, it’s so you can reproduce right here in Chicago.”
He boasted about Chicago being the best city in the world and with events like Youth Media Day, it’s hard to argue with him. A day of civic engagement and media development for the young people in CPS is what we need every year.
This monumental step in Gen Z’s development as media makers was crafted by people who genuinely care and it really came through in the experience.
This City Hall event was in partnership with True Star, Shine On, Chicago!, and Chicago Public Schools.
When asked about the partnership behind Youth Media Day, DeAnna M. Sherman, co-founder of True Star, had great things to say about the outcome of the day. “Youth Media Day represents everything that is great about Chicago. In this case, that’s youth organizations like True Star and Shine On, Chicago! coming together with the city, CPS, NABJ, and other youth media orgs to create a transformational moment our young people will never forget. This is the collaborative effort we need. This is what youth voice in action looks like. This is what democracy looks like when young people are centered.”
Youth Media Day is about giving young people experience and access to dive head first into their media career. It’s the first of its kind and has set a fire in young content creators across the city. We definitely need to see this event every year in Chicago because, like Mayor Johnson said, “Journalism is the key to protecting our democracy.”
By Gary Langfield Jr.
@ima_menace21
Our Voice, Activated! is a call to action for all of us to stand with Chicago’s youth. When you invest in True Star, you are directly supporting young people in finding their voice, building their confidence, and learning how to use their creativity as a tool for impact and opportunity. Activate your voice by donating today.
