Education Matters celebrates 15 years as the voice of the youth
The official voice of the youth is hosting a summer journalism camp from June 1 to July 21.
By Freddrell Green, Author
ATHENS, GA – When school lets out, and Clarke County School District students are home, negative elements like poverty, drugs and gang violence tend to trigger the youth into engaging in illegal activity. But with programs like Education Matters, a youth-led radio show, students can utilize the airwaves as a vehicle for positivity in their lives.
This summer, Education Matters is hosting a free journalism camp from June 1 to July 21 at 855 Sunset Drive Suite 12 for students in grades fifth through 12th. The camp offers training in multimedia techniques such as radio hosting, audio engineering, videography, photography and advertising. Students who perform exceptionally well in the camp will be eligible to join as hosts or producers of Education Matters.
New generation, new talent
With this year marking 15 years for the program, founder and CEO Rick Dunn has brought Education Matters veterans Joshua Henderson and Cordell Blow back to serve as instructors for the camp. With both envisioning a brighter future for the program, they hope to enhance its visibility and efficiency simultaneously.
Since his return, Blow has taken the initiative to enhance the radio show’s content strategy. Having been in the same position as the current campers are in, he described his experience learning how to produce shows as “chaotic” and is working to streamline the production process.
“I came back knowing how we operate,” Blow said. “I’m just trying to improve it by creating new ways that we contact guests, structure the show or even introduce new segments or topics.”
Henderson wants to expose Education Matters to a wider audience through social media. With more exposure, he believes more youth can be enticed to take advantage of what being on the radio has to offer.
“The easiest way for a young child or any person in the youth to get in trouble is to just have time on their hands,” Henderson said. “Why not put them in something that’s structured to develop their skills as well as give them something to do over the summer?”
The work shows
So far, campers have seen tremendous growth since starting the program. Students like Aiden Dowdy, who’s been involved with Education Matters for four years, have been able to host their own shows, learn how to shoot and edit photos and audio engineer recordings using Adobe Audition. Dowdy was able to translate these skills into the classroom by increasing his reading scores by 42 points.
“It’s improved my vocal clarity, my speech and my reading skills,” Dowdy said.
A new horizon
With the future of Education Matters lying in the hands of Blow and Henderson, they intend to develop the radio show into a multimedia center with a variety of offerings for youth in Athens and the surrounding community to take advantage of. Blow particularly wishes for students to treat Education Matters as a safe space for them to express themselves creatively.
“In terms of going to an institution like a school, it’s structured towards how adults want you to act,” he said. “Here, kids are able to learn about themselves, express themselves and get to a place where they can talk to adults and understand them more.”