The NorthPoint Center gathered a gaggle of curiously attentive highschool students within the Youth Curator Program, offered by the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG), to interact them in discovering the craft of museum curation. Program participants learn skills in research, interviewing, photography, and art. On July 13, they received motivational insights in newspaper publishing from Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) Publisher and CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard.

This system is led by Tina Burnside, the museum’s curator and head of its development team. Ms. Burnside can be a civil rights attorney and author in Minneapolis.  This system’s mission is designed to encourage, motivate, and educate young, upcoming journalists and photojournalists to make use of their gifts and skills to put in writing news articles reflecting current affairs, culture, and stories that educate and have interaction their communities.

Williams-Dillard delivered sage advice, encouraging the scholars to acknowledge their desire to grow and make an impact with their writing, very like her grandfather and the founding father of MSR did.

Williams-Dillard shared her beginnings within the publishing business when she was eight, learning the best way to use the address-o-graph machine. She encouraged the youth group to begin where they’re, bridging the age gap with their current ambitions. She spoke in regards to the power of the press in advancing civil activism and the way constructing relationships with influential changemakers was instrumental in driving societal change. She highlighted the contributions of every member of the family to the newspaper, including her grandmother, Launa Newman, who accessed and reported on matters of relevance through her social groups and committees.

With each anecdote, the youth group gained insightful motivation to look at their connections and let those stories fuel their passion for writing. When asked how things have modified since she began with the newspaper in comparison with the present generation, Williams-Dillard explained that while there was improvement within the empowerment of the Black community, racism still exists. She emphasized the imperative to proceed the legacy of student advocacy to advertise justice for all in any capability they will. She encouraged the scholars to put in writing and send her their stories.

Youth Program Specialist Sabrina Ford followed up by directing the scholars to precise their generation’s passion for change. She encouraged them to be empowered by their experiences and to let those experiences fuel their success.

Kimerlie Geraci welcomes reader comments at kgeraci@spokesman-recorder.com.