YMI empowers young people through programs that combine digital arts and civic engagement. Students are trained in video and audio production techniques, digital photography, radio journalism, graphic design, music recording, website tools, print media and more. In learning these technical skills, youth not only have the opportunity to express themselves using digital arts, but are able to address issues that affect their communities and develop marketable job skills in the process. In addition, YMI offers our local youth part-time employment opportunities as media producers through our fee-for-service program, which is described below.
To date, YMI has now offered over five years of programming, having directly served over 350 youth, while indirectly touching thousands through youth-led radio and video pieces. YMI’s continuous growth over the last several years has led it to become an essential resource for many young people throughout South Seattle.
- Youth Out Loud Summer Program – The Youth Out Loud summer program is an intensive training that exposes young people to a variety of media and communication issues and technologies. The youth cover complex themes, such as media democracy and media justice, which offer participants perspective about why their voices are so important. They also develop technical skills in the various forms of media studied—including graphic design and Photoshop; camera techniques and video editing software; audio recording and editing, and technologies in community media, including radio and television. [Download the application and APPLY NOW!]
This program is funded in part by the City of Seattle, Department of Information Technology and by the Google Community Grants Fund of Tides Foundation.
- After-School Programming – Throughout the year YMI partners with youth serving organizations, after-school programs, and more to provide trainings/workshops with young people to deepen their knowledge in media justice and media technologies. Our trainings have focused on a variety of topics including: Photoshop 101, graphic design workshops, Media Justice 101, Video Editing Basics and more. YMI youth peer trainers facilitate and conduct the majority of these training, with support from YMI staff.
- Fee-For-Service – Outside organizations and businesses regularly contract with YMI for our youth to produce various media for them, including: promotional videos, digital photography and graphic design work. YMI employs youth media makers who have demonstrated a particular level of dedication and technological proficiency to work on these contracts. This program serves as an employment opportunity for our youth and is also a small revenue stream for YMI. For a list of prices click Here.
- Youth Summits – YMI regularly takes on special projects throughout the year. Our most recent project is a 100-150-youth summit that will take place in White Center in March of 2009. The purpose of this summit is to facilitate a conversation with young people to find out what their priorities are for community development in the area.
- Step Up! Youth Leadership Development Pathway – Upon completion of the summer program, YMI students have the opportunity to go on to become new “peer trainers,” one of the pathways for youth leadership and development at YMI. Through peer trainer workshops they have the opportunity to facilitate other trainings with community groups.
- Youth Leadership Council (YLC) – In June of 2008 YMI established the YLC in an attempt to provide increased leadership and training opportunities to our most dedicated youth. Currently it is composed of 6 veterans of YMI workshops. The YLC meets monthly to plan upcoming projects and make decisions that affect the organization.
