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 We have something to say, but is anybody listening?
That’s what many young Americans seem to be asking these days. According to a study by the Pew Charitable Trust, two thirds of young Americans believe their generation has an important voice, but that no one is listening to what they have to say.
Getting more teens to communicate – and more people to listen – is the goal of Adobe Youth Voices, a new global program designed to encourage teens worldwide to communicate their ideas, concerns and aspirations.
Serving youth in underserved communities
The program’s goal is to empower youth worldwide – particularly those in underserved communities – to comment on their world, using multimedia and digital tools to communicate and share their ideas, demonstrate their potential, and take action in their communities.
Adobe Youth Voices is built on research showing that motivation and engagement are prerequisites for learning. In a recent study of high school dropouts, almost half of the students said they dropped out because their classes were not interesting and they were bored.
 The initiative will engage youth from marginalized communities in exploring and commenting on their world using video, multimedia, digital art, web, animation, and audio tools; enhance the skills and knowledge of educators to use the tools more effectively with youth; and widely exhibit the student work in community, broadcast, and online forums. It is designed to capitalize on young people’s innate optimism and sense of justice, helping to transform disengaged youth into creative and articulate contributors in their communities.
"Adobe Youth Voices infuses learning experiences with technology, enabling teens to think more creatively, communicate effectively and work collaboratively - all critical skills for success in the 21st century," said Bruce Chizen, Adobe CEO. "Young people have great potential to stimulate dialogue and improve their communities. We want to ensure that they have the skills and tools needed to make this possible."
Three guiding principles
The program is built on three guiding principles – engage, enhance and exhibit:
Engaging young people in exciting and meaningful new ways. Adobe Youth Voices provides an unparalleled opportunity for middle school and high school youth to communicate their concerns, aspirations, and vision. Young people who may have been feeling disengaged learn how to think creatively, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively—all critically important skills that can help them attain a competitive edge in school, career, and life.
Enhancing educators’ skills and resources, the program provides comprehensive professional development in teaching strategies that incorporate cutting-edge digital tools. Those who work with youth can learn new ways to encourage the use of 21st-centurycommunications skills in telling stories that make a real impact.
Exhibiting participants’ work is a key element of the Adobe Youth Voices program. The program provides youth with forums in which to share their vision and voice for a public purpose—via traveling art exhibits, at film screenings and festivals, on the Internet, in publications, and through other local and global venues.
Partnering with experts: Leveraging leadership to deliver a powerful program worldwide
Working in collaboration with five leading youth media organizations, Adobe will introduce the program at 36 sites worldwide by year-end, including locations in San Francisco, San Jose, New York, Seattle, London, and Noida and Bangalore, India. Adobe is committing $10 million in funding over five years as well as donating Adobe software and encouraging employee volunteerism.
Adobe will support the program in collaboration with youth media organizations: Arts Engine; Educational Video Center; iEarn; Listen Up!; and What Kids Can Do, as well as a youth advisory council comprised of teens participating in the program.
Adobe employees will have the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of ways. Additionally, Adobe will support exhibition of Adobe Youth Voices projects at community festivals, film screenings and conferences. Online showcases of youth works will be available on the the site of the Youth Media Distribution Initiative and at www.adobe.com.
For more information on Adobe Youth Voices, please visit www.adobe.com/go/youthvoices.
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