East Bay Youth Media Awards - Celebrating Youth Voice In Media

Several years ago, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson made a commitment to support innovative youth media organizations in Alameda County that empower youth to create positive and uplifting stories and train them for 21st-century jobs in media, technology and communications. This inaugural awards event will serve as a funding vehicle to benefit three organizations that have a local, national and global impact: Youth Radio, KDOL Media Enterprise Alliance, and United Roots. Through partnership with these three community-based organizations, Supervisor Carson aims to spark critical youth engagement and raise awareness about the incredible young talent emerging from the East Bay.

The East Bay Youth Media Awards will honor the innovative contributions of young leaders ages 13 to 25 in the fields of print journalism, radio, video production and digital media. Numerous instructional classes, after-school programs and nonprofit organizations in the East Bay offer youth in-depth training in reporting and media production. Youth will be nominated by their peers and industry professionals to receive awards in various media categories.

Supervisor Keith Carson's key goal is to support Youth Radio, KDOL Media Enterprise Alliance, and United Roots in offering activities for youth in a safe space that encourages creativity, self-expression, critical thinking, and 21st-century skill-building for self-sufficiency.

Proceeds to Benefit:

Youth Radio, a nationally recognized media program established over 20 years ago and recently celebrated by the White House as a recipient of a 2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.

KDOL Media Enterprise Alliance, an Oakland school-based program serving hundreds of inner-city youth with the assistance of local media personalities.

United Roots, a grassroots urban media and arts organization with comprehensive education and training programs for urban youth.