Engagement. Mentorship. Empowerment.
Founded by Drs. Kari Smalkoski and Jigna Desai in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Youth Story Squad offers a rich interdisciplinary, culturally relevant curriculum that uses digital media-making to engage youth academically, socially and emotionally, and builds in mentorship opportunities with UMN undergraduates.
MYSS addresses educational opportunity gaps and amplifies voices through storytelling while growing and sustaining partnerships with Twin Cities public schools. Many of the youth we work with will be the first in their families to attend college, just like some of their first-generation UMN mentors. After working with us:
68% better understand a path to college
78% believe they can succeed in school
81% of middle school students imagine college in their future
The Next Chapters in our Story
Acquiring new knowledge transforms lives; it opens up educational and career possibilities for youth who do not have access to digital media-making technology and curriculum in their schools and homes. For these and other reasons, we are expanding to high schools and eventually greater Minnesota.
This will give us more opportunities to work with incredible K-12 students, UMN undergraduates, and public school teachers. Our plans include giving our youths’ stories a national platform, expanding our technology, sharing our curriculum, researching and evaluating the impact of our programming, and broadening our reach.
