Call to Action: Interviews for Fall 2017

There is power in speaking. There is power in listening.

How do you talk to your kids about the events in Charlottesville, VA? What do young people have to say about what they see in their world? Betsy and I are the cofounders of Connectopod, and we are also moms. We want our children to know that they can speak out when they are confronted with things that are difficult to understand.

Connectopod is a way for young people to engage their communities and their world in a new way.

Our program is youth led, and we have found that they are great at balancing the heavy stuff, (like our Malala and La Bestia episodes) with lighter stuff, like weird science! We've also connected our team with people in different professions to get them thinking about career paths they may never have considered. Connectopod is a venue for young people to talk about whatever they want to talk about. It's a way to value their expressions, while creating space for young people to explore and make choices.

Our youth reporters research, study, ask questions and follow up. They are curious about their world, and podcast is a powerful vehicle to learn more about their community and the people in it. We let their curiosity guide the way. We believe, without a doubt, that these skills and this process foster the development of empathy in young people and we are excited to reach more students in the coming months to do stories on topics that are important to them.

Connectopod is currently seeking interview suggestions for fall 2017. We are looking for interesting stories and people doing amazing work in the community. Artists and musicians, writers, teachers, unique professions and community organizers. If you know an organization or an individual doing great work that would like to be featured, we want to hear from you. Reach out to us at connectopod@gmail.com

We are also taking on new youth correspondents. For more information, email aLopez@connectopod.net

"You've Got A Voice ,Kid! Use it!"