When did your organization launch and why?
Media Power Youth (MPY) was founded in Manchester, NH in 2000 as part of a community health clinic, Child Health Services (now Amoskeag Health), by a group of physicians and health advocates who were concerned about the influence of media on the health and behaviors of youth. Its first initiative was the launch of a school curriculum, Media Literacy for Safe & Healthy Choices, designed to help students develop the critical-thinking skills needed to make healthy decisions in the areas of nutrition, violence prevention, and substance misuse. This curriculum was the first in New Hampshire to be listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
What does your organization do? What are its main goals? Main initiatives?
Media Power Youth is a youth development organization that inspires young people to engage with media in thoughtful and creative ways that support well-being. Our programs help educate children and adults about the impact of media on youth mental health, risk behaviors, and relationships. We help children and teens discover strategies for navigating stress and social dilemmas both online and off. We also create opportunities for youth to realize the benefits of different forms of media and build the communication skills needed to advocate for their own well-being and the health of their community.
What makes your organization stand out? What would you say is the most unique thing about your organization?
Our programs focus on digital wellness and building the foundational life skills that contribute to positive mental health. We tackle tough topics including cyberbullying, vaping, body image, and even how to think about screen time differently. Many of our programs were co-created with youth as part of our Youth Media Squad.
What are recent projects or new resources that your organization would like to share with other NAMLE members?
We partner with under-resourced communities and are raising funds through our annual campaign to be able to expand our media creation programs so that children who face socio-economic barriers can learn the advocacy skills they need to take charge of their own well-being. We bring our programs to local libraries, community centers, and schools. We could not do this work without the generous support of individuals. Members can contribute by making an online donation or reaching out to our Executive Director, heather.inyart@mediapoweryouth.org to learn more about how to volunteer.
What are the connections between the work of your organization and media literacy?
We utilize media literacy as a framework to build life skills and engage youth in thinking about social norms, risk behaviors, and relationships. Program participants practice confronting cyberbullying, anxiety, misinformation, body image, substance misuse, and other social-emotional experiences that young people frequently face. Our learning opportunities help young people discover their agency in shaping digital communities and assist adult mentors in better understanding how to support youth through the complex social challenges technology creates in their lives. We provide curriculum resources, professional development trainings, parent education events, and youth workshops.
Why is media literacy important to your organization?
Our mission is to help young people build the social-emotional skills they need to thrive in our media-driven world. Media literacy is an essential component to ensuring that our young people are prepared to weather the challenges and seize the opportunities that media and technology afford us.
The views and opinions expressed in the Organizational Spotlight blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NAMLE or its members. The purpose of the Organizational Spotlight blog is to highlight our Organizational Partners and give them a place to share their reflections, opinions, and ideas.