Coming Up on the Youth Channel: Your Life, Your Way

Summer seems to be going by at lightning speed and our summer youth participants have been hard at work creating short videos that will debut later this month. In the meantime, watch next week’s Youth Channel programming that features go-getters who are using their voices to bring awareness to important issues.

Watch “Girls Empowered,” “Gender Benders” and “Ujamaa Project” for stories about marginalized groups of people and the challenges they face. Then watch “Family Portrait” for a story about the effects of divorce on children and “NIGHTCAP” for post-high school advice.

The Youth Channel airs programming every weeknight from 6-7pm on MNN 4 (FiOS 36, RCN 85, Spectrum 67 & 1998) and MNN HD (Spectrum 1993). To learn about MNN’s Youth Media Center and the work they produce, click here.
Check out the upcoming schedule below:

Monday, August 7

Girls Empowered

Girls Empowered is a show that aims to create conversations about the challenges that women face in a patriarchal society. This episode discusses the very prominent issue of gender income inequality and why although many women work hard and excel in many of the fields that males dominate, there are still gaps between men and women’s income who hold the same positions or are in the same field.

Tuesday, August 8

Gender Benders

Gender Benders seeks to open up a dialogue for people who are bending the gender rules, giving them room to explore, question, and affirm their identity.

Guests:

• Lawrence Tantay, LGBTQI Health Equity Specialist, Center for Health Equity, NYC Health Department

• Maxx, Staten Island NYC Teen Connection Youth Leader, NYC Teens Connection, NYC Health Department (please refer to Maxx as they)

Wednesday, August 9

The Ujamaa Project: Lysa Danielle

Swahili word ujamaa means 'extended family', 'brotherhood' or 'socialism.’ As a political concept, it asserts that a person becomes a person through the people or community.

How often do you hear about an organization that caters to the homeless woman? Well, that is exactly what Lysa Danielle and her organization PHLARE Project set out to do. Every month they hit the streets to deliver care packages or as Lysa calls them, Pride packages, equipped with sanitary pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes and other toiletries.

Enjoy an in-depth conversation with Lysa Danielle and our Host Mena Elkoush on why she created the Phlare Project, her goals, and vision for the future.

Thursday, August 10

Family Portrait

Family Portrait follows Serenah Vaughan, a Florida high school student whose life is changed after her parents’ divorce. The film examines the impact parental separation has on children’s relationship with their parents, their mental health, and academic performance. The film also explores the social factors that contribute to the breakdown of families from vulnerable communities.

Friday, August 11

NIGHTCAP

As you prepare to make the transit out of high school, you probably are wading through mounds of advice from family, friends, teachers and school counselors. Have you been told: "everyone should go to college" or "pick a college with a good name." What about the classic: "college prepares you for the real world."

Well, in this episode of NIGHTCAP, you might be surprised at what Education Pathway Specialist, Ruby Reyes has to say about some of this well-intentioned advice. Also, closing out the show is R&B songstress, Noelle Kay in our NIGHTCAP Spotlight.