Teaching young people about media,
teaching the world about young people.

 E-News: December , 2004 

*FRESH SUPPORT  
 
Just Think recently received first-time grants from two prominent California organizations. The Community Technology Foundation of California awarded over $33,000 for our Family Media Forum, a program designed to improve communications between youth and their parents around media related themes. (For more information about the Family Media Forum, click here, or call Isabel at 415-561-2900.)

The second grant came from the Mary A. Crocker Trust for our overall Media Education program. Just Think is extremely grateful for their support. We look forward to partnering with both organizations as we continue to deliver critical media education programs and curricula. 
 
*HIP-HOP IS HERE  
 
Just Think's newest curriculum made a huge splash on both sides of the country last month. Flipping the Script: A Hip-Hop Guide for the Classroom was the center of attention at the H2Ed Summit, a national conference presenting the best uses of hip-hop as an educational tool. Held at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Summit included a standing-room-only workshop by Executive Director Dave Yanofsky and Kenny Smith.

The New York event followed closely on the heels of the curriculum launch at the San Francisco Women's Building, a festive party that featured youth performances from Youth Speaks, The DJ Project, Sisterz of the Underground, and Urban Dance.

The curriculum kit, which includes a production guide with standards-based lesson plans and other resources, companion video, DVD, and website, sold out at both events. (Click here to order the packet at our special kick-off price, or learn more about the curriculum.)  
  
*STUDENT VOICES  
 
Our groundbreaking media education program at two San Francisco public middle schools is starting to take root. We've trained teachers at both sites in media literacy and media production, and are currently supporting these educators as they integrate media tools and approaches into their classrooms.

The student work is starting to pour in now. One of the first completed projects is a series of posters outlining the rules of the school. The students in this 6th grade class created storyboards, took photos with digital cameras, and then designed the final posters, which are now placed around the school. (view their work)
 
  
*ON THE ROAD  
 
Just Think recently traveled to Los Angeles to deliver two workshops at Campbell Hall Middle School. The first was an evening with parents discussing issues surrounding media effects on youth. In the second workshop nearly 40 girls and their moms participated in a Family Media Forum about body image and the media. The girls met for the first hour and participated in activities that asked them to define body image and evaluate print media messages. They also completed a survey about their own attitudes toward their bodies and behavior choices around body issues. Then mothers joined their daughters for a presentation of the survey results and more media activities.

 
*HOLIDAY HELP  
 
As the holiday season approaches, the need for media education becomes ever more apparent. With each new TV ad or Internet pop-up that targets youth, and with each child's request for the latest video game, candy bar, or iPod, our work at Just Think grows more critical.

We enter the New Year with a profound sense of optimism about what youth can accomplish when given a chance. With the belief in the ability of youth to positively change their lives and impact their communities, we ask for your support. By donating to Just Think, you will enable us to keep reaching and teaching youth and educators in the Bay Area and beyond. Your contribution will directly support our vital local workshops and trainings as well as the dissemination of our innovative national curriculum.

All of us at Just Think wish you a joyful and media literate holiday!