At the first convening of the Youth Narrating Our World Greenhouse Program in Chicago at McCormick Foundation headquarters, 16 students from four Chicago public high schools met to discuss, learn and engage in lively activities about the nature of credibility and the importance of voice in the larger public conversation.

The OpEd Project’s Michele Weldon and Deborah Douglas are leading the three-month mentoring program for these students from Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Lindblom Math & Science Academy, Walter Payton College Prep High School and Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep. Students participating were selected through an essay contest available to hundreds of students at the high schools. Below are two reactions from participants.

Confident from the start

By Kaylynn Cusic

After one session, I am confident the OpEd Project’s Youth Narrating Our World program is preparing me to become a true thought-leader. The OpEd Project is giving youth the chance to voice their valuable opinions through their writing abilities and more. This program is helping me realize the power of sharing my truths with the entire world. I am African-American and female, a group whose voice is underrepresented in the media and society. Despite all of this, I have to realize the value of my contributions to the public.

My influence can begin through writing, and the OpEd Project is equipping me with the tools I need to perfect my expressions and get my ideas out there in the world. Expressing thoughts and ideas has to start somewhere, right? For me, it starts here.

One of our discussions on what effective communication looks allowed me to realize the bigger picture. Of course, elements of effective writing include a captivating introduction, solid argument and accurate evidence, but it does not always have to follow a specific structure.

Most important, it should have a concrete outcome. In one portion of our session, we worked to come up with possible outcomes of our thought leadership. As a team, we listed all kinds of concrete outcomes, ranging from the changing of laws to the transformation of cultures.

Surprisingly, this activity was very challenging for me. It made me sit back and ask myself: What do I want to happen as a result of my ideas? This question was a true eye-opener and made me re-evaluate the purpose and intent of my goals. I learned that thought leadership has to be for positive social change, not merely for self-advancement.

Through the YNOW, I hope to produce work that has a lasting impact. I am very excited to see how my expressions of my ideas will be able to create positive outcomes in the world. My experiences through YNOW are setting the foundation of my journey to becoming a thought-provoking thought leader.

Kaylynn Cusic is a junior at Young Women’s Leadership Academy is Chicago. She plans to study biomedical engineering in college.

Youth Narrating Our World Day One: Road to Success

By Mia Resa

The first meeting for The OpEd Project’s Youth Narrating Our World was eye-opening. In my 17 years of living, never have I ever been in a position where I felt like I was in control. Many dream of being a strong influence in the world, many wish to accomplish something that will imprint this world forever, but this program gives one the opportunity to do just that.

At the end of the day, our bodies, our thoughts, and even our lives are temporary, but our words…words on paper shall be preserved. Youth Narrating Our World allows us, as youth of Chicago, to change the world with our diction and courage. The first day went very smoothly, and empowered us to realize our effect on the world.

Mia Resa is a junior at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep and wants to be a pediatrician/activist/emergency medical technician.

 

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