The NorthPoint Center gathered a group of curiously attentive high school students in the Youth Curator Program, offered by the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG), to engage 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.
The program is led by Tina Burnside, the museum’s curator and head of its development team. Ms. Burnside is also a civil rights attorney and writer in Minneapolis. The program’s mission is designed to inspire, motivate, and educate young, upcoming journalists and photojournalists to use their gifts and talents to write news articles reflecting current affairs, culture, and stories that educate and engage their communities.
Williams-Dillard delivered sage advice, encouraging the students to recognize their desire to grow and make an impact with their writing, much like her grandfather and the founder of MSR did.
Williams-Dillard shared her beginnings in the publishing business when she was eight, learning how to use the address-o-graph machine. She encouraged the youth group to start where they are, bridging the age gap with their current ambitions. She spoke about the power of the press in advancing civil activism and how building relationships with influential changemakers was instrumental in driving societal change. She highlighted the contributions of each family member 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 examine their connections and let those stories fuel their passion for writing. When asked how things have changed since she started with the newspaper compared to the current generation, Williams-Dillard explained that while there has been improvement in the empowerment of the Black community, racism still exists. She emphasized the imperative to continue the legacy of student advocacy to promote justice for all in any capacity they can. She encouraged the students to write and send her their stories.
Youth Program Specialist Sabrina Ford followed up by directing the students to express 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.