YMAP Projects

Carlow students are trained in media industry and practice, education issues and policies, and advocacy skills. Then, each Carlow student works with a group of high school students in Pittsburgh Public Schools or surrounding school districts to develop an advocacy project. The student groups consult with media professionals on their work. Also, they meet with education or civic leaders to present their plan for change in education. 

Media advocacy is a powerful tool for focusing public and institutional attention on problems and potential solutions. It also functions as an organizing tool to increase public participation; in this case, to promote participation among youth in education reform. The project provides the Carlow and high school students with a powerful learning, mentoring, and advocacy experience. 

This year in YMAP....

	Pittsburgh Obama - 9th Graders' Billboard Protests School Budget Cuts Spring 2012 Pittsburgh’s Barack Obama public high school put up outdoor advertising to protest local and state education budget cuts. Learn more >>
	American Friends' Service Committee of Pittsburgh's Racial Justice Through Human Rights (RJTHR) Group Spring 2012 Through a video, students comment on the differences in the ways education is being delivered to them. Learn more >>

Prior year's projects....

2010-11

	Career Connections Charter High School, NHS Spring 2011 CCCHS students concluded that parental encouragement was central to academic success. They developed specific strategies for effective parent-teen communication using billboards and TV commercials. Learn more >>
	Pittsburgh Obama Youth Media Advocacy Club Spring 2011 Students expressed their desire for healthier school lunch options by interviewing local urban farming advocates on PCTV-21 on how to start a school/community garden project, in addition to addressing other timely topics. Learn more >>
	Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (PYLA) at Brashear Spring 2011 Students focused their education concerns on a desire to return culinary arts classes to Brashear, bathroom accessibility and cleanliness, and communication styles in teaching. Learn more >>
	Pittsburgh University Prep at Milliones Civics Classes Spring 2011 Students explored what priorities and policies should be the focus in education today. Through writing letters to the editor, creating a talk show and advertisements, they gave a voice to their concerns. Learn more >>
	Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (PYLA) at Peabody Spring 2011 Students produced a talk show that explored their ideas for an ideal high school environment, titled 'A New Beginning' on PCTV-21, and ran ads on commercial TV to promote the show. Learn more >>

2009-10

	Westinghouse YMCA Lighthouse Project Spring 2010 Students worked with an award winning filmmaker to produce a documentary titled "Behind the Books," which will air on PCTV. Learn more >>
	Carrick Pittsburgh Young Leaders Academy (PYLA)/ Pittsburgh Cares Spring 2010 Students produced and placed radio, billboard and newspaper ads to address their concerns about school violence and stereotypes of teens. Learn more >>

For more information, please contact us.