Transitional Youth Mobilizing For Change

Tobacco Use Prevention Education:TYM4Change has officially adopted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park for the length of a year! We are going to be involved in their summer program under the TUPE curriculum/funding, hosting community park clean ups, in addition to building our KEY Documentary around the geographic center of the park, and ideally directly impacting policy changes as the park undergoes construction updates, in addition to conducting interviews with members of the community, park officials, and more.Feb 27th; Our youth ran our internally-created TUPE curriculum for the first time. Youth Volunteers explored TUPE activity The Toxic Truth and FNL activity The Wall.Mar 5th; A representative from Tobacco Use Prevention Education recently came to our Weekly Youth Meeting and watched the Youth Volunteers conduct The Toxic Truth, a TUPE curriculum that TYM4Change originated a few years back. We are wrapped on our six-week TUPE course that we were hosting at MLK Park every Thursday between 2:30pm-4:30pm until July 20th. We are in the process of building relationships with the community in addition to creating youth-produced media focused around anti-smoking and anti-vaping campaigns. One of our newest youth, Jamonie Rucker (16), worked directly with Jovon to write and produce an anti-vaping rap titled T.U.P.E. Flow that we made into a music video with the help of some of the kids from MLK Park.

FILM AND OTHER MEDIA ACTIVITIES:Voices 4 Kern Podcast. In February 2023, staff worked with the youth to begin a podcast highlighting the voices of our youth. The podcast topics blend culture and prevailing ideals surrounding family, mental health, and more along with coming-of-age issues. Our third episode |This Doesnt Feel Like Heroin| features subjects such as substance abuse, homelessness, mental health, and the stigmas that come with them.The staff and youth continue to present monthly podcasts that vary in subject matter.Summer Youth Media Workshop. Staff is hosting a Mon/Wed Media Workshop where youth can come into the office and learn the basics of editing, filmmaking, and more. Were offering the course during summer vacation to increase youth hours as much as possible during this time.