Real Voices, Real Stories, and Real Education

Real Voices, Real Stories, and Real Education: Boosting Youth Leadership and Engagement

Scenarios USA is a national nonprofit that has been at the forefront of assisting youth in telling their own narratives in addressing harmful social norms. The program provides a unique and effective way for teenagers from marginalized communities to utilize their voice and be heard by an audience they did not know they could access. The common core state standards-based curricula are project-based units of work that engage students grades 6-12 in thinking critically and writing creatively about around issues that shape their individual identity and healthy decision-making, especially those at the intersection of race, class and gender. Thousands of students who go through the curriculum submit stories to a writing contest. Stories are chosen, and the young writers are partnered with acclaimed Hollywood filmmakers to transform the stories into short films for national distribution. This episode of Spotlight on Youth we will feature Scenarios USA’s founder, a former teacher who used the curriculum, and a program Alum that had her story produced into a film. Guests will discuss the components, process, and impact of this innovative program.

Guests:

Earlaina Kemp, Youth Scenarios USA Alum, winning film MANchild 

Maura Minsky, Executive Director, Scenarios USA

Richard T. Rik York, Former Scenarios USA Teacher, Cleveland Municipal School District