Teachers and students are our VIPs, so it’s one of our top priorities to ensure that they feel supported and well taken care of. One of the ways we do this is through our annual kickoff meeting at KQED, a social opportunity to present this year’s program offerings. Watching all faces both familiar and new filing into the space at this year’s kick off; seeing teachers delighting in the little things like forging a new connection or absorbing the timeline of our historical photo wall; devouring scrumptious Goat Hill Pizza (quite possibly the hidden sixth food group if you ask anyone at the Q); and marveling at the production spaces–really uplifts the importance of holding space for our partners. For them, showcasing this behind-the-scenes look at how all the magic happens to bring content to KQED’s audiences perfectly highlights how very real this opportunity is for them and for their students.

Amanda Vigil (top right) and Cheyenne Bearfoot (bottom right) join Edward Hill (left) at Skyline High School to facilitate a pitch review session. Photo by Carla Herndanez Ramirez.

Another way we support teachers is our in-classroom and virtual touch points. Over the course of this season, the Youth Media team will have an impressive 80 touchpoints with Youth Takeover Classrooms that’s no small feat! These touchpoints include classroom visits to provide 1:1 feedback on students’ scripts and videos, field trip planning and YMC Showcase upload support for teachers, and of course the students’ field trips to KQED’s headquarters.

Cheyenne Bearfoot (left) listens intently to a student’s project pitch. Photo by Carla Herndanez Ramirez.

In the first quarter alone, we’ve met with five classes, and we’re thrilled to see these familiar faces and welcome our new friends back for another transformative year of youth-powered media!

2024-25 Youth Advisory Board (YAB): History in the Making

When you hear “advisory board,” what comes to mind? People on a panel offering input and feedback is the general connotation of that role. At KQED, our Youth Advisory Board does so much more than offer their diverse perspectives on programs, projects, and content – they’re making it. For the last 4 years, youth producing their own content has been the norm!

The 2024 -2025 Youth Advisory Board Cohort pose for a photo after the Season Eight kickoff meeting.

With over 130 applications pouring in this year, the Youth Advisory Board program continues to gain momentum and traction. Of our twenty members, we’re welcoming fifteen new folks alongside five returning members. The board members reflect the incredible diversity of the Bay Area, representing different ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. This is another area where our mantra – nine-for-nine – comes into play, and this year we’ve achieved a 7/9 broadcast county representation.

Alongside the YAB cohort, we also have our YAB Mentors; these are KQED colleagues from a range of departments and teams who work directly with these young folks to produce media projects for elevation to public broadcast. While we can’t reveal some of the finer details just yet, we can share that we’ve successfully confirmed six YAB Mentor projects – making this the largest team of collaborative mentors to date!

New to this year’s program is a partnership with WHYY, Philadelphia’s leading public media station. Using Youth Media Challenge curriculum, The YAB will work with WHYY’s video team to develop short videos (called interstitials) that will play on KQED TV channels between programs. The first batch of three, made by Abby K., Oumou C., and Amalia M., will air throughout the month of January 2025, and we’ll continue to roll out each new set of three for the next six months.

(left to right) Margaret M., Maite del Real, and Cheyenne Bearfoot collaborate on production elements. Photo by Amanda Vigil.

(font to back) Abby, Kayla, Oumou, and Hannah edit their television interstitials at KQED headquarters. Photo by Cheyenne Bearfoot.

This exciting opportunity to create TV interstitials has led to some more historic firsts. This past fall, the YAB came to KQED for day-long workshops on video production and post-production.

(left to right) Warren L. and and Amanda Vigil pose for a selfie during production. Photo by Amanda Vigil.

(right to left) Warren, Maite, and Amanda prepare for post-production in the KQED Edit Bays. Photo by Cheyenne Bearfoot.

During these workshop days, they got first-hand experience in KQED’s Digital Producers Space (DPS), recording studios, and edit bays to create high quality media. This has NEVER been done before!

YAB Alumni: Where Are They Now?

KQED YAB truly represents some of the Bay Area’s most outstanding young media makers. Regarding members who have “graduated” from the program, we’re often asked by colleagues, “Where are they now? What are they up to?” And the answer is that in-between their busy schedules and the remarkable things they’re doing, they still find the time to collaborate with us.

(left to right) Mahi, Secretary Weber, Ryan, Emily and Adonal Foyle discuss civic engagement and youth vote. Photo by GSW Staff.

In late October, YAB alum Mahi Jariwala and returning YABer Ryan Heshmati participated in the Golden State Warriors’ Voters Win Fireside Chat at the Chase Center to help underscore the importance of civic engagement and participation in the voting process.

Youth Media Specialist, Cheyenne Bearfoot (front) snaps a selfie with YAB alum Mahi (right) and returning YAB member Ryan (left) at the Golden State Warriors’ Voters Win Fireside Chat.

Mahi expertly moderated the panel, which consisted of California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Warriors legend Adonal Foyle, youth Department of Elections Ambassador Emily Gorodetskiy, and Ryan.

In September, YAB alum Khadeejah K. had the exciting opportunity to facilitate a KQED Live event panel , co-presented by Mindshift and Youth Speaks: Rhymes for Reform with SF Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin. The event was an interactive creative journey for families to explore how poetry can inspire and help us communicate our collective vision for the future of education.

Khadeejah K. moderates a panel for KQED’s live event Rhymes for Reform with SF Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin. Photo by Amanda Vigil.

Khadeejah poses for a photo with MindShift producer and writer, Nimah Gobir (middle) and panelist. Photo by Amanda Vigil.

Over the summer, Khadeejah also joined the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) as their social media intern. More recently, she was selected to be part of The New York Times Corps, a talent-mentorship program for undergraduates pursuing journalism.

Khadeejah, alongside current YAB member Nico F., was also featured on PBS Student Reporting Labs’ Edward R. Murrow award-winning, student-led and student-produced podcast, On Our Minds, for a special seven episode season that focused on the issues and impacts of the 2024 election for young people.

We’re so proud of our alums and contributing current members!

Looking Ahead: 2025

As we roll into a busy new year, Youth Takeover Field Trip season is upon us! Considered the ultimate VIP experience for our YTO teachers and students, it takes a minimum of 8 – 12 staff members to seamlessly pull off each classroom’s visit to KQED.

Here’s to a season of growth, collaboration, and meaningful change! We hope you’ll join us in meeting the FUTURE of KQED TODAY as we continue to share a more in-depth behind the scenes experience of what it’s like elevating youth voices and youth media to broadcast. To watch and listen to more youth media, check out our Youth Takeover showcase and our Youth Media Challenge showcase!

News Daily Newsletter

The Bay

Emma’s Must-Sees

Videos from KQED Live

Donor-Advised Funds

YABYAB

How Does Youth Media Inform Our Collective Future?