October 20, 2022 In an era that’s ushered in multitudes of media misinformation with societal outcomes ranging from extremist denialism and revisionist history to banned books and autocratic usurping … [Read more...]
Agents of Influence Spy Game Educates Middle Schoolers About Misinformation
September 20, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Sept. 20, 2021 Launching on 9/21/21, autumn solstice, Agents of Influence kicks off new beginnings in edu gaming to combat misinformation. For over a year their team has stealthily brainstormed … [Read more...]
Headstream: Accelerating Youth Mental Health Innovation
December 22, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Dec. 22, 2019 With the world in need of joy juice to focus on visionary solutions over dire planetary predictions, youth particularly are impacted knowing they’ll be around the longest and are feeling … [Read more...]
Roll Red Roll: Sexual Assault Does Not Just Go Away, Neither Should This Story
June 16, 2019 by Leave a Comment
June 16, 2019 “I can’t wait for this story to go away…” is uttered by a radio personality towards the end of the film Roll Red Roll, the true crime documentary exposing over 400 texts and digital data … [Read more...]
Students Plea To Take Action Against Gun Violence, Adults Fail Miserably
June 4, 2019 by 2 Comments
June 4, 2019 As “wear orange” events pop up around the nation this weekend to protest gun violence, and students march in solidarity demanding action from impotent lawmakers tethered to gun lobbyists, … [Read more...]
Youth, Vote! Step Up with Easy Digital Tools That Inform
November 3, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Update, Nov. 6, 2018: VOTE today! If you need to know WHERE, put your address into GetToThePolls.com and out pops all your nearby official voting hubs! Nov. 3, 2018 Instead of reliving the rage … [Read more...]
Youth Taking Action? Here’s How to Best Support Them
September 19, 2016 by 1 Comment
Sept. 19, 2016 When media pundits paint with a large brush focusing on "youth narcissism and selfie culture" amidst passionistas and purposeful prosocial projects that amplify student voice, it's … [Read more...]
Girls Sports: Progress in Toys + Media (Pt 3)
May 5, 2016 by Leave a Comment
May 5, 2016 At the White House convening on Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Media & Toys, the lack of diversity in STEM fields created headline news about economic woes for our nation’s future, so … [Read more...]
Supergirl’s Adoption Lens: Swooping Past Stereotypes
April 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
April 14, 2016 Most know Superman and Supergirl are adopted, along with Peter Parker as Spiderman, Dick Grayson as Robin, and heck even Bamm Bamm Rubble from the Flintstones...but all too often in … [Read more...]
The Gift of Failure Applies Far Beyond Parenting
December 6, 2015 by 1 Comment
Dec. 7, 2015: I've decided to freecycle the book I bought as my holiday gift to readers, so add your own "gift of failure" in the comments section (or tweet @ShapingYouth) for a chance to win it! … [Read more...]
#DigCitSummit Pt1: Debating The Facebook Dislike Button
September 24, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Sept. 24, 2015 As a partner organization in the first ever Digital Citizenship Summit October 3, 2015 bringing in thought leaders and stakeholders from the student, parent, educator and industry … [Read more...]
A Social Media Helpline for Schools: I Can Helpline
May 19, 2015 by 2 Comments
May 19, 2015 Once upon a time, call-in centers were helpful first responders to direct levels of care, staffed with human specialists not robots, touch tone prompts, and layered redirected voicemails … [Read more...]
I Am Elemental: Superheroes Strike A Pitch Perfect Toy Tenor
May 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment
May 11, 2015 With superheroes crushing box office numbers with Hulk style force and toy merchandisers frantically scrambling to address market demand for sheroes deleted from mass media like an … [Read more...]
Selma March: The Power of Empathy, Storytelling
March 7, 2015 by 1 Comment
Mar. 7, 2015 Selma March, 50 years later, commemoration of Bloody Sunday. #Selma50Anyone who has seen the movie "Selma" knows the split second power of media storytelling to jolt viewers into a … [Read more...]
50 Shades of Disempowerment: Teach Your Children Well
February 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Feb. 12, 2015 “What people do in private is their own business.” But what happens when Hollywood makes a movie glorifying, promoting and normalizing violence against women and coerced sex? It … [Read more...]
Reading Between the Lines: A Media Literacy Education in Domestic Violence
January 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Jan. 30, 2015 For the first time ever, the NFL will air a pitch perfect, poignant PSA by No More.org against domestic violence that resonates on multiple levels and can be used as a tool to uncork … [Read more...]
“Tuesday Tucks Me In” Awarded Best Amazon KidLit
November 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Nov. 11, 2019 Update: This Veteran's Day I found a resource list called "Operation We Are Here" with kidlit books, educational explainers and resources specifically supporting military families and … [Read more...]
Disney’s Citizen Kid: November Media Thankfulness
November 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Nov. 4, 2014 Disney's Citizen Kid Kicks off our Media/Marketing Month of ThankfulnessI love the concept of media shining the spotlight on extraordinary kids doing prosocial things, whether it’s … [Read more...]
Creative Galaxy: Inspiring Kids With Art In Everyday Life
July 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Aug. 24, 2016 Update Glad to hear Creative Galaxy will be back for season two starting Sept. 16, 2016 as I keep reading more research about the tactile, artistic, creative benefits of hands-on art at … [Read more...]
Speaking Out: A Rainbow of Reasons We Need Diverse Books
June 24, 2014 by 2 Comments
June 26, 2015 Update Photo essayist/youth archivist Rachelle Lee Smith of visual literacy book Speaking Out will be in town signing copies at Reach and Teach San Mateo tonight 7-9pm. Apropos on this … [Read more...]
