Youth Narrating Our World Greenhouse (YNOW) works with the next generation of thought leaders to help them understand who isnarrating our world and how they can use their own voices to enrich and diversify the landscape and change the conversation.

With a curriculum that includes study and discussion of historical and current effective, game-changing cultural arguments, participants learn the value of participating in the media landscape actively.

Chicago high schools Young Women’s Leadership Charter School, Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Walter Payton and Gwendolyn Brooks high schools will  participate in the launch of YNOW in Chicago.

The OpEd project will also host a training seminar for McCormick grantee partners in an interactive day-long seminar will challenge participants to think more carefully and more expansively about their knowledge and experience, and why it matters. Participants will explore the source of credibility; the patterns and elements of powerful evidence-based argument; the difference between being “right” and being effective; how to preach beyond the choir; and how think bigger—so that we can have greater influence and value in the world. We will also discuss newsworthiness, timeliness and why connecting ideas to news events matters.

About the OpEd Project

The OpEd Project’s mission is to increase the range of voices and quality of ideas we hear in the world.  A starting goal is to increase the number of women and minority thought leaders in key commentary forums to a tipping point.  The OpEd Project envisions a world where the best ideas—regardless of where they come from–-will have a chance to be heard, and to shape society and the world. Working with top universities, foundations, think tanks, nonprofits, corporations and community organizations, the OpEd Project scouts and trains under-represented experts to take thought leadership positions in their fields;  we connect them with our national network of high-level media mentors; and we vet and channel the best new experts and ideas directly to media gatekeepers who need them, across all platforms.

Impact

• 20 students (5 each from four high schools) will be chosen to participate in the three-month YNOW Greenhouse in three separate day-long convenings.
• 20 students will have high level mentoring for three months during the Greenhouse.
• 20 students will have access to mentor editors in 2013.

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