Young people have a terrible reputation for not caring about anything besides themselves. But the real problem might be that adults are not asking them what they care about. So we did. 10,000 Stories asked middle school and undergraduate students “what is important to you” and “what change do you want?”
And did they tell us. Youth grabbed the opportunity to name important issues facing their communities -- gun violence, pollution, racism, xenophobia, gender inequality, bullying, and homelessness -- and link it to their lives. These students want to be and are active and engaged in the world -- they are concerned about their schools, neighborhoods, communities, and the state of Minnesota. As they developed their ideas, they thought carefully, advocated for change, and listened to each other. And they want to have their voices and stories heard. So we went to the State Capitol to share them. Youth marched to the State Capitol in St. Paul carrying signs that they have created about social issues of great importance to them. At the peak of a busy session, many esteemed legislators and mayoral candidates came to talk and listen to youth. Students dialogued with the politicians in the rotunda about the work they have done and shared the digital stories and zines they have created about social issues including immigration, neighborhood violence, gender equality, climate change, bullying, mental health, public school education, and institutional racism. It is important to educate youth about civic participation and democracy in ways that emphasize empower them and emphasize community engagement. We believe that K-20 liberal arts education can be critical to this endeavor. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences emphasizes the importance of participatory “readiness” for civic engagement through K-20 liberal arts education. Empowering youth to engage is a key to our mission. We believe that youth stories and voices need to be heard now.
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Digital stories are short first person narratives that link personal and social issues using a combination of text, images, video, voice, music, and/or sound. Digital stories generally have scripts, ranging 300-500 words, that are presented as audio voiceover or a video recording. A completed digital story is presented as a brief, rich, and multilayered video with multiple elements. Part of the efficacy of digital storytelling is that it allows youth to share their thoughts, perspectives, and knowledge via digital media. 10,000 Stories: Minnesota Youth Make Media seeks to populate a digital archive with a wide range of Minnesota stories by and about youth through democratizing the production of media stories and perspectives.
It is important to teach our youth not only how to access the internet and media, but also how to become media-makers. Digital media-making can be a productive way to engage youth who are already familiar with digital devices and media as users, but not as producers. Integrating the use of digital media-making into ongoing educational practices will achieve better results than tacking on technology as extra. Integrating digital learning has the potential to engage youth differently than standard learning practices. Digital storytelling is one pedagogical technology that can engage students as a process and a product. Digital learning is an important trend in education and should be made available to all students, especially those in low-income neighborhoods and under-resourced schools who may have limited access to digital educational resources and new initiatives. We do not want to further educational inequities through access to digital learning and skills. Many youth consume media, but are rarely given the skills to produce their own. Minnesota currently has the largest educational achievement gaps and ranks last in the U.S. for racial integration.
As a doctoral candidate in feminist studies at the University of Minnesota, I have read plenty of theory about social justice pedagogy and youth. There was no amount of theoretical reading that could have prepared me for the hands-on, practical experience of being at Parkway in 2016. Being in the classroom with students and helping them craft their own narratives about their lives and experiences was truly powerful. I feel like this age group, 11-14, have some of the most poignant insight into our society, taking in an incredible amount of cultural information and examining it. One of the things that struck me about working with Parkway students in creating their digital stories was how infrequently we as scholars and educators tap into this unique perspective on our world. We study students, curriculum, and education-- but rarely stop to ask, without agenda, what do you think? And why?
The students themselves often weren’t used to this kind of thinking about their contributions. I remember several puzzled faces when I insisted this wasn’t just a research project, and that we really wanted to hear their personal narratives and how they connect to what they see in the world. The end result was dazzling. I was tasked with putting together the presentation for the Parkway Goes to College event, in which several of their stories were showcased before an audience at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. As I watched their stories, some from students I had worked closely with and others from students I never had the opportunity to meet, I was moved. I knew we were onto something with the 10,000 Stories project, and I knew I needed to be a part of continuing to make sure youth in the Twin Cities can share their stories. -Caitlin Gunn During the spring of 2016, the 10,000 Stories began with a bang! We partnered with Parkway to collaborate on a unique media-making project for the entire school. Undergraduate and graduate students of color entered the classroom to work with middle school youth. They got to know each other and the UMN students talked about what it was like to be in college. Each week the group team came to Parkway to talk to youth about social justice and work with youth on their digital stories.
On May 4th, 2016, the 10,000 Stories team hosted a video festival for all Parkway students and staff at Northrop Auditorium. Out of the hundreds of digital stories, about a dozen were selected to be shown as part of the festival. The event featured several speakers including University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts John Coleman, and former Mayor of Minneapolis RT Rybak. Students were also treated to campus tours, an outdoor lunch, and games on the plaza. The event was impactful and empowering as youth viewed their peers' awe-inspiring videos, explored the university, and imagined new educational futures. Some were ready to sign up for the U that day! |