About The kNOw
Our Story
In 2006, over 25 young people began participating in weekly afterschool media workshops in West Fresno. With little space to meet, the youth congregated in the hallway of a two-story building at the corner of Fresno and Irwin streets. At first, many of them came because their friends brought them. But as months passed, they kept coming every week and began to grow in their knowledge of media and writing. Almost three years later the group has emerged into what the community now acknowledges as The kNOw Youth Media!
Our mission is to engage teens in media creation as a vehicle for creating wider public awareness around youth issues. Through this we aim to build community among youth, improve their literacy skills and increase the quality of life for all families in the Central Valley.
We are a project of Pacific News Service/New America Media (PNS/NAM), the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of over 2,000 ethnic news organizations. PNS/NAM is dedicated to bringing the voices of ethnic groups, immigrants, young people, elderly into the national arena.
Our Projects
Media Production:
- Magazine: published twice per year
- Videos: produced by youth on various topics
- Photography: photoessays and Photovoice projects
Forums:
- Weekly Meetings: for The kNOw youth
- Open Workshops: fun workshops open to all youth, and facilitated by The kNOw youth
- Safe Zones: safe spaces where young people gather to discuss some of the most pressing issues affecting their lives
- Community-Wide: spaces where adults and young people come together dialogue
Incarcerated Youth: With support from our local partner, Focus Forward, every week, we get the opportunity to visit the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus and conduct writing workshops with incarcerated youth through our sister program, The Beat Within. Our Fresno team consists of: Patricia Johnson, Leonardo Castillo, Aaron Benson, Nigel Medhurst, Lily Romero and Mai Der Vang.
The kNOw Youth Crew
- Miguel Bibanco
- Omar Carter
- Houa Chang
- Jana Fuller
- Meme Garrido
- Kevis McGee
- Luis Pacheco
- Arena Phaphilom
- Kevin Shelton
- Angelina Thao
- William Thao
- Maria Valdez
- Gabby Vang
- Yee Leng Vang
- Marcus Vega
- Jaleesa Vickers
- Denise Yang
Staff
- Mai Der Vang, Youth Media Director
- Patricia Johnson, Advisor
- Jaleesa Vickers, Youth Assistant
Youth Links
- The kNOw Myspace
- Silicon Valley De-Bug
- YO! Youth Outlook
- The Beat Within
- Game Theory Academy
- Focus Forward
- Californians For Justice
- Youth Leadership Institute
- The Center For Multicultural Cooperation
- Stone Soup Fresno
- The Boys And Girls Club Of Fresno County
Community Links
- Joseph Smooke Photography
- The Rios Company
- Community Alliance
- Fresno County Gang Prevention Council
- Read.Watch.Listen. at www.fresnoteens.org
- Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development
Support The kNOw
The kNOw is supported by:
- The S.H. Cowell Foundation
- The California Endowment
- The S.C. Johnson Fund, Inc
- The Stuart Foundation
- Pacific Gas & Electric Company
- Cultural Arts Rotary Club of Fresno
We welcome YOUR support! To find out how you can support or volunteer for The kNOw, contact Mai Der Vang.
